A carport is a necessity on any property, as it protects your car from sun rays and rainy weather. However, building a carport by hiring workers can be costly. So, what if you can make your carport yourself by following a few simple instructions?
I think it sounds incredible, but is it as simple as it sounds? Doing any work for the first time is a hectic task, but by paying attention to the specific steps and guidelines, you can quickly and cheaply build your carport.
1. Materials to Gather to Build a Carport
Gathering the material and inspecting that what you have is sufficient for building a carport is a crucial step. Listed below are the essential materials you will need to make a carport.
1.1. Roof Sheets
The roof sheet is used to make the top of the panel, and you can select from any material you choose.
1.2. Posts
The posts will be used to grip your support beams. Generally, the lumber material is comfortable to work with but you can also choose to fix the metal posts.
1.3. Gravel, Concrete, and Metal Anchors
To secure the base of the posts, you will need a bag full of concrete mixture and gravel, along with the metal anchors, to make the base strong.
1.4. Braces
Braces are available in wood and metal. You will need two braces for each post to secure posts with support beams.
1.5. Shovel and Gravel
Shovel and gravel will be used to level up the space of the carport.
1.6. Caulk
Caulk is used to fill the gaps and joints to make the roof waterproof.
1.7. Support Beams
Support beams are wood pieces that make a roof support frame.
1.8. Other Hardware Equipments
Additional hardware includes screws, nuts, bolts, and other tiny materials that will be used in the construction.
2. Steps to Build a Carport
You can choose to build a carport with the materials of your choice. Here, I am building an authentic carport supported by wooden beams. Follow the steps given below to build a carport from scratch.
2.1. Compute the Space for the Carport
The standard carports, made for just one car, generally have a length of 16 feet with a width of 9 feet, and they are ideal for mid-sized vehicles. However, you need a larger space if you want to make a carport for larger cars or park two cars in it. This choice entirely depends on whether you make a carport for one or two vehicles.
You can measure the dimensions of your carport according to your requirements by keeping in mind where your six supports will be fixed and ensure to mark them. The three supports or poles will be placed at an equal distance along the length of the carport.
Furthermore, level out the excavation space of the entire carport using gravel, a shovel, or sand.
2.2. Dig Up the Post Holes
After levelling the ground, excavate six deep holes measuring two feet in length for your posts. Dig three to three holes on either side of the port. Ensure that all the posts are at equal length and breadth. People who live in windy regions are recommended to dig deep holes up to four feet.
2.3. Fill Up the Post Holes
The six beams or posts of size 4×4 are attached with metal anchors at the bottom. Then, fill all the six holes with six inches of gravel. Now, insert the posts one by one into each hole with a mixture of concrete and fill the holes thoroughly with it.
Now, you should wait to let it get dry and hard to give your carport a strong base. Before moving on to the next step, give your concrete a day to set up correctly.
2.4. Locate Beams to Support
In this step, you need pieces of wood measured in size 2×6. These pieces of wood will be fastened on the top of your support poles or posts to build a frame for the roof. Attach these wooden pieces or beams to the posts with the help of screws.
Analyze that all the beams are fastened at the same level and distance. Meanwhile, you also need to ensure that your work is solid and the frame is strong enough to take the weight of the roof even when the weather conditions are not favourable.
2.5. Construct the Roof
Use the six 2×4 rafters and fasten them one by one to the top of the end support beams. Mark the distance between each rafter and place all of them at the median, starting from the front beam to the one at the back.
After fastening the rafters to the beams safely, place the sheets of plywood on the rafters and secure them with screws. Attach a roofing panel above the plywood sheets for more security and stiffness. You can use made from any type of roofing panel material as per your choice such as PVC, aluminum, standard shingle, or polycarbonate.
2.6. Give the Final Touch & Finish
To finish the construction of your carport, secure each beam with its supportive posts with two braces at 45-degree angles. You will need a total of 12 braces to ensure each post. Fill up the tiny spaces on the roof with enough caulk to seal them, as it will keep away the unwanted elements. Finally, give a final touch by painting and staining the entire carport structure.
3. Conclusion
Making your carport can be cheaper than hiring people to do this. By following correct instructions and by paying proper attention to the guidelines, it is not difficult to build your carport from scratch. However, it may take some time, which is fine. What matters should be that you make your carport by taking proper safety measurements. As you finish construction, your carport is ready to shelter your precious cars.
Last Updated on by Janhavi Ramesh Kowligi