If you just bought a small boat or an RV and are unwilling to part with more money by extending your garage, it may be the time to polish up your DIY skills and build a carport.
It is a faster and more affordable way to provide shelter for your additional vehicle, whatever it may be.
There are other benefits to having a carport aside from the additional parking. It gives you more space to entertain guests and your kids an outdoor place for playing.
If you do it right, it could even increase the value of your property.
So bring out your tools and follow these steps, and in no time, you would have a place for your car or yourself, depending upon your need.
Preparation stage
Before you start digging and hammering, there are a few things you need to find out and take care of:
- Find out what the council requirements and the National Construction Code regulations are with regard to outdoor structures. It depends widely on your location, so make sure you get the information specific to yours. Secure the necessary permits to eliminate any unpleasant surprises down the road.
- Dial Before You Dig. It is the name of the free national referral service that can help you locate the utility lines in your home, and you can reach them at telephone number 1100. It is important to prevent any disruption in your utility services from inadvertent damage during your build.
- Gather the following basic tools:
- Shovel
- Measuring tape
- Hammer
- Hand saw
- Carpenter’s square
- String line
- Adjustable wrench
- G-clamps
- Level
- Ladder
If you could rent or borrow the following power tools, it would make your build easier:
- Circular saw
- Angle grinder
- Rivet gun
- Nail gun
- Hammer drill
You would also need the following protective gears:
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Ear protection
The building materials would depend greatly on your preference and the weather you are trying to protect against.
You have the option to use pressure-treated lumber, which is more durable, especially for drier climates.
Or you could use galvanised metal, which is the preferred material for prefabricated carports. You would also need cement or concrete for the foundation.
Building the carport
Once you have picked out the perfect spot for your additional parking space, you can start with the build.
- Clear out the area and set out the perimeters for your vehicle. Most cars would need 16 feet by nine feet of space. If you have more than one car or own a bigger vehicle, adjust your measurements accordingly.
- Mark the corners of this space with a peg. Four of your posts will go here later. Six posts are sufficient to ensure the structure is stable. Install hurdles about 2 metres further from the pegs and attach strings to set out the footing system.
- Dig out the holes for your posts, one in each corner and one in the middle of each of the longer sides of the perimeter. The size of the hole should be indicated in your permit; otherwise, a depth of four feet should be enough.
- Pour in about six inches deep of concrete inside the hole then plant one post inside it. Using the level, make sure that it is vertical or plumb. Support the post with braces or brackets if necessary. Do the same for the other five holes.
- Once the initial post footer has hardened, fill in the hole with more concrete, ensuring that the post remains vertical throughout the process.
- Saw out the notches on your posts where the front and back beams should go. Attach the front and back beams on top of the corner posts. Secure the beams into the post with the nail or by drilling in coach screws.
- Install the rafters by fastening flush against the front and back beams. They should be equidistant from one another. For a 16-foot side beam, they should be three to four feet apart.
- Lay down the steel roof sheet or plywood across the rafters and secure with the nail. Allow for a six-inch overhang at the front and back of the roof for a more even appearance.
If using wood, caulk out the seams before installing the shingles over the surface.
Finishing the job
After construction, there are additional steps you can take to protect your carport from the external elements and make it last longer.
You can reinforce the wood joints with L-shaped metal brackets, and treat the exposed wooden parts with a protective stain.
Alternative to DIY
If all these seem like too much work, you could always order prefabricated carports and have them installed by a local warehouse or shed supply company.
It would cost more than building it yourself, but would still be cheaper than a garage remodel.
