| Buying a carport to protect your expensive | | | | scheme of your house. |
| automobile can be very confusing. Whilst you can mix | | | | Custom made timber carports |
| and match construction methods, in the main you | | | | Timber carports can look fantastic. Turned posts and |
| have basically three main choices for your permanent | | | | fancy facades can add a lot of style to your carport |
| carport construction: | | | | project. Unless you are skilled in construction, and |
| | | | your local planning regulations allow, you will probably |
| 1. Prefabricated galvanised steel carports; | | | | need to engage a professional to construct your |
| 2. Custom made timber carports; and | | | | timber carport. There are many free designs |
| 3. Custom brick or stone carports. | | | | available, or you can engage a draftsman or architect |
| Prefabricated galvanised steel carports | | | | to design a carport to suit your house. |
| Galvanized steel carports will have a zinc finish which | | | | This type of carport construction can be flat roofed |
| protects the carport frame and roof from corrosive | | | | with metal; or pitched roof with metal, tiles, shingles |
| elements, such as water and salt. This will in turn | | | | or a whole myriad of construction materials. Painting |
| generally diminish the possibility of rust. The thicker | | | | and roof construction can be easily matched to blend |
| gauge of the carport metal, the greater the | | | | in with your existing house. |
| protection from various natural hazards for your | | | | Custom brick or stone carports |
| automobile. | | | | The top of the tree definitely is the carport |
| Depending on your local planning regulations, some | | | | constructed with brick or stone piers. Definitely a job |
| areas may allow home owner/occupiers to construct | | | | for the qualified tradesman, if you can afford this |
| their own carports. This can be a very rewarding | | | | construction style you may as well go the whole hog |
| experience, but it is not for the uninitiated. If you | | | | on roof finish as well. |
| think that you don't have the necessary skills to | | | | Looks and price differentiate this style of carport |
| construct a pre-fabricated carport yourself - your are | | | | construction form the others, but be careful your |
| probably right; so its often a good investment to pay | | | | home may actually be suited to one of the other |
| a professional to do it for you. Many prefabricated | | | | styles - so get that second opinion! |
| carport vendors offer installation with the sale, and | | | | Before attempting to build your own carport we |
| this makes a lot of sense because if something goes | | | | strongly recommend that you consult a building |
| wrong, the problems are squarely in their court. | | | | professional. Its easy to make a mistake and |
| The upside of this method of carport construction is | | | | construction mistakes can be costly and |
| speed and cost, but they can look a little out of | | | | time-consuming. That big quote may not look as |
| place and a bit cheap if not done well. They can be | | | | expensive after all if you consider the risks of |
| painted if prepared properly to match the colour | | | | carport construction DIY. |