A Wooden Carport Adds Value to Your House With Minimal Investment

The addition of a wooden carport to your existing home or other structure can make a lot of sense. Not only does it provide extra protection from the elements, if done correctly it can give your house an upgraded look. A properly proportioned carport with the additional of some fancy wooden finials or trim work can really add value to your house.

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.

If you are interested in building your own carport, a popular option is to find a carport kit online and have it delivered. This is cost effective, and quick and simple to construct. The only problem with this is the limited choice that car port kits are available in – metal carports are typically the only type that you will be able to find. A good alternative is to look for carport plans online. These can be purchased for mail delivery, or downloaded electronically (which is instant), and often include a detailed order and cut list, so shopping and assembly is simplified for anyone who feels qualified to take on this weekend DIY project.

If you have some building experience, then you may not even need to order plans online. If you do some research and find some good images that you think would suit your house style, simply save the picture, and design a plan from that. You will want to have your plan verified with an engineer to make sure that it meets local building codes. If you won’t be building the carport yourself, then you might just be able to give the picture and dimensions to a good local contractor, and they will be able to engineer and build your car port.

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.

As building costs increase carports are becoming a very popular alternative for providing all weather protection for your vehicles. Wooden carports are seeing a big resurgence in popularity, as people are looking for the most attractive way to add value to their homes, while minimizing their time and cost investment.