A Home for Your Car: Carport vs Garage Comparison Guide
Did you know the average cost to add a garage to a house is over $10,000?
It’s no wonder some people look for other options to see if they can save money.
When it comes to a home for your vehicles, what option is best for you?
Keep reading to learn more about the difference between a carport vs garage to help you choose.
A Home for Your Car: Carport vs Garage Comparison Guide
Both carports and garages have pros and cons and ultimately the same goal of protecting your vehicle from the outside elements. Although their goal is the same the structure on both are completely different. The question for most people is which should one to choose carport vs garage?
What Is a Garage?
A garage is a completely enclosed structure with walls, roof, and an entrance. There are detached and attached garage options for your home. Detached means it’s not part of the house and attached means it’s connected to the house and has a door attached to enter the home.
Detached garages are normally made from fabric or metal.
What Is a Carport?
A carport is a semi-covered structure that stands on its own or attaches to a home. Carports are either fabric or metal and their roofs consist of posts or beams.
Appearance
There are different looks and styles to choose from for both carports and garages. Garages will always have fours walls and a roof because they are a completely enclosed room no matter if it attaches to your home or not. The siding and roofing material will match the rest of the property whether it’s built as a freestanding structure or attached to the house.
A carport will either be a metal frame with a roof, a permanent structure attached to the home, or a metal frame draped in fabric. Some carports have walls made out of stone, brick or siding to match the house. Carports always have at least one side wide open allowing it to also serve as an outdoor patio area.
Durability and Protection
Both carports and garages can accommodate for unpredictable weather, hot or cold. A garage will offer more protection because the vehicle is covered on all four sides. It also protects against heavy rain, sleet, snow, and hail well because of its structure.
A garage offers more protection against theft, as well because it has locks and you can set up the garage to be part of the homes alarm system if you have one. As far as being durable, a garage is usually made from heavy-duty materials because it’s part of the house making them a better option for long term use.
A carport is able to provide vehicle protection from inclement weather as well. If you live in an area that there’s a lot of snow or it’s windy make sure you choose the appropriate material to withstand tough weather. There are carports out there that support snow accumulating on top of the roof and others that can withstand 100 mph winds.
There are durable carports available if you’re considering choosing a carport.
Storage
Garages can keep your vehicle safe and can also be used for storage. Some people also use their garages to hold their tools, garden accessories such as a lawnmower, and bicycles. You can even add a second floor to a garage and have additional living space or an office.
Carports, on the other hand, are to store a vehicle and not normally used for the storage of other items. Since there’s always at least one wall missing it doesn’t offer protection from theft and complete protection from the outdoors or animals coming into the carport.
Installation
Garages require more time and planning when installing them. They have four walls, a roof, and a door that sometimes involves an automatic opener, as well. The walls are normally made from cinder block with windows, in some cases. If these are added, it requires more time to install.
After a garage is installed the siding has to be added to match the siding on the rest of the house. The entire process can take weeks to complete from start to finish. The time it takes depends on how large the garage is and the specific materials used.
A carport is a faster installation process no matter the type that’s chosen. Carports have a simpler frame vs cinder blocks or heavy duty material which saves a lot of time when putting a carport together. A carport can take a couple of hours or a few days to install.
If you choose to have an elaborate carport and attach it to your home contacting a professional is a better option to make sure it’s installed correctly. Even if you choose a carport with three walls versus no walls the installation is faster than building a garage.
Both garages and carports are installed on a concrete slab. If the area doesn’t have a concrete slab yet, that’s an extra day for the install to level the ground, pour the concrete, and create the slab.
Permits
Garages are considered part of the living area which means permits and inspections are normally required. This can sometimes delay construction and raise budget costs. Garages normally are required to be flame-retardant and be insulated.
Carports, on the other hand, aren’t considered living space. Some cities might require a permit but there are few that do. This means minimal wait times to get started and less unexpected costs.
Carport or Garage: That Is the Question?
After reading over the main differences between carport vs garage you can have a clearer understanding of what you’d prefer. It’s important to consider everything that would be best for you including where you live.
Are you looking for a company that’s committed to installing the best option garage or carport for you? Contact us today to discuss your future project.