Carport Ideas
Carports protect vehicles from the elements, but with the ideas below, they can even enhance the look of your home. Whichever carport idea you’re considering, keep these tips in mind:
- Plan the structure’s dimensions so they’re suitable for the vehicle and allow easy entrance to and exit from the vehicle.
- Follow any homeowners association or building codes that apply to your project.
- With any carport or gazebo kit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for assembly and securing the structure to the ground.
- If you’re shopping for a carport or gazebo kit, pay attention to the structure’s snow load and wind ratings and make sure they’re appropriate for the conditions in your area.
Wood Carport Ideas
A wood carport can combine shelter for a vehicle and the beauty of natural wood. A custom-built wood carport gives you a structure with a rich, refined look that will work with any house and be especially at home in a landscape that has lots of trees and planting beds. Exposed ceiling beams enhance the beauty. You’ll also have the opportunity to add privacy features like wood slat walls or to design an enclosed carport for maximum protection.
You can find prebuilt wood carports as well. These often have a wooden frame topped with a rugged metal roof for long-lasting protection from the elements. Some wood gazebos are large enough to function as carports.
Enclosed Carport Ideas
Enclosed carports offer the most protection from weather and UV rays. An enclosed carport can range from a custom-built structure that’s attached to your home to a prebuilt model with a sturdy metal frame and a weather-resistant canopy.
- Custom-built enclosed carports are typically permanent structures. They let you create a cohesive look with your home and add features like functional windows, siding and a shingle or metal roof.
- Prebuilt enclosed carports have the advantages of being comparatively inexpensive and easy to set up or take down.
Custom-built carports will be more expensive than prebuilt models and typically require a professional contractor, but your contractor will have ideas for enclosing a carport that will maximize your investment and give you protection and a great-looking structure for your landscape.
Ideas for a Carport Attached to a House
A carport that’s attached to your house can look more like a regular extension of your home and not just an add-on feature. You can find prebuilt attached carports that will meet your needs, but you can also talk to a building contractor about attached carport ideas. If you have a contractor build an attached carport, consider features that will integrate the look, such as:
- Using the same roofing and siding on your house and carport
- Adding gutters to your carport and integrating them with your existing gutter system
- Painting any trim work on the carport to match your home’s door and window trim
- Planting foundation plants to continue your existing planting beds
Your contractor may have even more carport design ideas that make the structure look like an integrated part of your home.
Modern Carport Ideas
Even if you want the simpler option of purchasing a prebuilt carport kit, you can find models that feature a modern design. Dark-painted metal frames and gently curved roofs are often features of a carport with a modern design. Translucent panels continue the modern aesthetic and provide UV protection but don’t block natural light completely. If you choose to build a carport with a modern design, you can follow similar design principals.
You can heighten the modern look of these structures with thoughtful landscaping. Accenting a modern carport design with low-profile plantings, landscape rock and a walkway of square concrete stepping stones can help it blend with the landscape while maintaining the modern look.
Inexpensive Carport Ideas
A prebuilt carport kit will be a less expensive option than contracting a professional to design and build a carport or than building one yourself.
If you simply need basic shelter for a vehicle, your best option may be a canopy-style carport kit. You can find these with and without sidewalls and door flaps and they typically have the advantage of being easy to take down when you don’t need them. You can find single-car carports as well as two-car carports.
Again, as with other carport designs, the right landscape design can make a big impact on the look of the structure. Mulched beds and shrubs can make any area blend better with the overall look of your home.
DIY Carport Ideas
If you're a highly experienced do-it-yourselfer who is familiar with building structures, a DIY carport is an option. You can use some of the ideas above to design a carport to fit your needs and budget.
If you don’t have the experience, time or tools to build a carport yourself, a carport kit is often the best idea for a DIY carport. A basic kit offers easy assembly and, in addition to being a more budget-friendly option than hiring a contractor, you can have your shelter up in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks. If you’re looking for an easy DIY carport idea, one of these kits might be the perfect fit. You can find different roof styles including:
Different styles make it easier to find a model that works well with your home and landscape.
More Carport Ideas
Depending on the type of carport you’re setting up, there are more ideas to consider:
- If the roof is suitable, add solar panels.
- Install privacy panels to shield the area from view.
- Add a planting bed to improve curb appeal.
- Have an electrician run power to the carport and install lights.
- Connect your home and carport with a stepping stone walkway.
- Install vehicle-rated pavers to create a driveway for the carport.
Ideas for a Carport Without a Car
Of course, you don’t really need to have a car to have a carport.
- The right carport can function as a shelter for bikes, outdoor toys and even exercise equipment.
- A wood or wood-look carport can be an attractive shade structure, sheltering an outdoor sitting area and a play area for children or pets.
- Adding string lights and an outdoor dining set can turn a carport into an inviting space for evening meals.
- If you’re building your own carport or having one built for you, you can have an electrician include wiring for lights, outdoor ceiling fans and even a television. Ensure there’s structural support for a swing or simply add a freestanding swing or glider for the ultimate in outdoor comfort.