Flexible Carport/Shading Solutions Designed to Match Every Need
Whether you use them as a shed, a place to protect your car, or just a shading source in your yard, carports are valuable additions to any property. Yet getting the right carport for your needs begins with selecting the right type. There are four main ways to sort different carports into easy-to-use categories. Choosing a variety of carports from each category will instantly give you a good idea of what to order based on your unique needs.
Carports Sorted by Roof Style
It’s best to start sorting out the main types of carports by comparing their roof styles. All carports will feature one of the following five roof styles. Once you’ve selected a roof based on its features and appearance, you’ll be able to select the other three essential categories for the design of your carport. Starting with the roof gives you a good idea of how you might want to connect it to the home or keep it freestanding for a more significant visual impact.
1. Curved Edge Roof Carport
Curved roofs can be designed in various shapes, such as barrel, dome, wave, and saddle, to name a few. Curved roofs can provide a number of benefits, including increased natural light, improved insulation, and enhanced aesthetic appeal. They can also help to reduce wind resistance, which can be important in areas with strong winds or heavy snowfall. Additionally, curved roofs can be more structurally stable than flat roofs, making them a popular choice for larger buildings.
2. Straight Roof
A straight roof aluminum carport is a type of carport that is designed to provide shelter and protection for vehicles. It is typically made of aluminum, which is a lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant material. The roof of the carport is straight and flat, providing a simple and functional design.
The aluminum carport is designed to be easy to install and maintain, making it a popular choice for those who want a convenient and low-maintenance solution for protecting their vehicles. The straight roof design provides ample headroom and allows for adequate ventilation, helping to keep the interior of the carport cool and dry.
Straight roof aluminum carports are also highly customizable, allowing for the addition of features such as additional posts, sidewalls, and doorways, to suit the specific needs of the owner. They are also available in a variety of sizes and styles, making it easy to find one that fits the dimensions of your vehicle and the available space in your yard.
In conclusion, a straight roof aluminum carport is a functional, durable, and cost-effective solution for protecting your vehicles from the elements.
3. Arched Roof Carport
An arched roof carport is a type of carport that features a curved roof design. Unlike traditional straight roof carports, the arched roof provides a more aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching appearance, while still offering protection for your vehicle.
Arched roof carports are usually made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, which are strong and durable materials that can withstand the elements. The curved roof design can provide better protection against rain, snow, and other weather conditions, as water and snow are more likely to slide off the rounded surface than to accumulate and cause damage.
The arched roof design also provides increased headroom compared to straight roof carports, making it a good choice for those who need extra space to park taller vehicles, such as SUVs or vans. Some arched roof carports even have curved sidewalls that complement the roof design, adding an extra touch of style and elegance to the overall look of the carport.
Arched roof carports can be customized to meet specific needs, such as adding extra posts, sidewalls, or doors, to provide additional protection and privacy for your vehicle. They are also available in a variety of sizes, making it easy to find one that fits the dimensions of your vehicle and the available space in your yard.
In conclusion, an arched roof carport provides an attractive and functional solution for protecting your vehicles from the elements. With its increased headroom and weather protection, it is a great choice for those who want both style and functionality in a carport.
4. Round Roof
A round roof carport is a type of carport that features a circular or dome-shaped roof. This unique design provides a visually appealing and distinctive appearance, while also offering protection for your vehicle.
Round roof carports are typically made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, which are strong and durable materials that can withstand the elements. The circular shape of the roof allows for rain, snow, and other weather conditions to slide off easily, helping to prevent damage to your vehicle.
In addition to their distinctive appearance, round roof carports also provide ample headroom, making them a good choice for those who need extra space to park taller vehicles, such as SUVs or vans. Some round roof carports even have curved sidewalls that complement the roof design, adding an extra touch of style and elegance to the overall look of the carport.
Round roof carports can be customized to meet specific needs, such as adding extra posts, sidewalls, or doors, to provide additional protection and privacy for your vehicle. They are also available in a variety of sizes, making it easy to find one that fits the dimensions of your vehicle and the available space in your yard.
In conclusion, a round roof carport provides a unique and attractive solution for protecting your vehicles from the elements. With its circular design, ample headroom, and weather protection, it is a great choice for those who want a functional and visually appealing carport.
5. Gable Roof Carport
Perhaps the most popular, gable roof carports feature flat ends on the short sides of the roof. A gable roof will shed water and snow well, but the look can be a little boring compared to other styles.
6. Hip Roof Carport
Second in popularity is the hip roof carport. All four roof edges feature a slope that rises to meet the ridge line in the center. Due to the increased number of angles, these roofs tend to shed water well but may accumulate a larger snow load in the winter.
7. The Dutch Gable
The Dutch gable roof design is a great choice for a unique look that is still surprisingly practical. The edge of the roof is surrounded by a slanted section like a hip roof, but the center line of the roof breaks out into a visible gable with two flat ends for the best of both designs.
8. Skillion Carport
Skillion carports are nearly flat, but they usually feature at least one sharp angle to help shed water. They offer the most modern look aside from flat roof carports.
***Aluminum Carports does not carry Gable, Hip, Skillion and the Dutch Style Roofs.
Carports and the Raw Materials Used to Build Them
The second category of carports involves the materials used for their construction. Among these raw materials, aluminum is the best choice. Aluminum carports tend to last the longest because this lightweight metal is durable and resists rotting, corrosion, and much more.
Steel carports are heavier, require a thicker foundation slab, and tend to rust over time. Wood looks natural but is prone to rot even when stained or painted.
Corrugated metal siding is the best way to enclose any kind of carport, and it lasts the longest when it’s made of aluminum. Some manufacturers offer a unique material known as Alumawood. This material is a good choice because it’s actually aluminum, but it provides the look of wood thanks to careful coloring and embossing.
Carports by the Number of Vehicles and Vehicle Types
Now that you know what roof type and material you want for your carport, it’s time to consider carport kit types based on their size. Instead of just looking by the dimensions or square footage, consider how many cars will fit inside.
Single-car carports are popular not only for parking cars but also as sheds or basic shading structures. They tend to be limited in size but large enough for a single car to park inside with the door shut. This can be a compact or sedan, requiring a footprint as small as 12 feet by 14 feet to accommodate it. Or it’s possible to size a single carport much more extensive for a truck, van, or RV.
Double car carports are much wider, but often only have a depth of 14 to 18 feet. You may need a width of 24 to 28 feet to compensate for multiple car doors opening at once inside the carport without causing damage.
It’s also common to want to store various vehicles together, such as a small car and a large van. Storing your work truck and your daily driving sedan in the same carport requires custom sizing. The height and depth should be sized to the largest vehicle since the smaller one will easily fit in.
Custom carports can be ordered in any size and design to fit your biggest RVs, boats, and more. Just because the name includes a car doesn’t mean you’re limited to storing those vehicles within the structure.
Carport Types by Their Relationship with the House
When exploring types of carport images, don’t forget to visualize your own home. You’ll need to decide where the carport will sit in relation to your home for both visual impact and access.
1. Free Standing
Popular for easy access, these carports can be designed with a double set of doors for a pull-through design. Drainage won’t cause issues for your foundation either.
2. Attached
Connect the carport to your home and it could double as a covered patio or simplified garage addition.
3. Open-sided
Link the carport to your home but leave the sides open for good ventilation and a summer shading solution.
After you go through all four of the main categories for carports, you’ll have a good idea of what you want for your own property. Whether you need a residential storage solution for your car or extra storage space outside your business, an aluminum carport is a great choice. Explore our options today or use our custom carport design form to visualize what you could add to your property within just a few weeks.
