Can A Wood Carport Spiff Up Your House
Building a wooden carport has many advantages that you might not have realized. Other than providing covered storage for any type of items, most commonly your car or truck, a carport built with the style of your house in mind can really improve the value of your property. Because building with wood is so flexible, you can fashion your carport with any type or period of contemporary architecture to complement the style of your existing structures.
You may have always dismissed carports thinking they were only useful for storing your vehicles. Even if you don’t need extra vehicle storage, there are plenty of other uses for either attached or detached car ports. Think of it as simply a roofed structure which is not completely enclosed. You could use the weather protected space in the summer or winter for all sorts of things – storage for items other than cars, a summer outdoor dining room, a covered porch, etc.
A quick internet search for carports will mostly result in metal carport kits that can be ordered online and shipped within days. It is more difficult to find a wooden carport kit online. However, it is possible to find plans for a wooden carport online. Many companies can email plans within hours of receiving payment. These plans are all certified by engineers. As long as you follow the plan carefully you will have a structurally sound carport.
If you aren’t happy with a metal carport kit, and don’t feel qualified to build a wooden carport by yourself from plans, then another very good option is to search online or in magazines to find a picture of a car port that suits the style of your house, and have a plan created from the picture. If you know a good local contractor, they should be able to take the picture and with your size specifications engineer a building plan that conforms to local building codes.
There are some metal carports that actually resemble wood. This type of carport is built with 6 by 6 metal legs that resemble timber legs. The finishing work on this type of carport tends to be a little less ornate than that found on real wooden ones. There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of structure. The major disadvantage commonly mentioned is the lack of a construction project feel. Lots of guys relish the idea of getting out the table saw and hammering a few nails. This type of experience is lost if building with pre-formed metal.
Carports are making a big splash at home improvement shows all over the country. There are a lot of contractors discovering a big demand for the product. Wooden carports are the most popular as this type of carport has a classic feel and can add real value to your home.
To learn more about wood carports visit carports.
Tags: auto, house, sheds