carport vs garage Archives

A Home for Your Car: Carport vs Garage Comparison Guide

Posted on March 29, 2019March 3, 2020 by Mike Bolynn

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.

How High Does a Garage Need to Be for a Large Truck?

Posted on April 11, 2018June 23, 2018 by Mike Bolynn

You have a large pickup truck that is basically your baby. You need somewhere to store it during inclement weather, so it doesn’t get damaged. We get it. We feel the same way about our trucks, so you’re not alone.

Garages for Large Pickup Trucks

Many of our customers reach out to us with questions concerning how to choose among the garages we have available. One of the most popular questions we receive is if our garages will accommodate their large pickup truck. We are proud to say that all of our garages can fit most large pickup trucks because they are 9 feet tall.

Three Garage Styles for Pickup Trucks

We offer three styles of garages to meet our customers’ needs.

The boxed eave style is our most popular garage. It features a standard garage measuring 24 x 26 x 9. This is ample room to park a large vehicle inside, and makes it easy to drive the vehicle in and out of it.

A door is an option that many customers choose, so they do not have to open the garage door each time they want to enter the garage. A window is also placed on the side for aesthetic reasons.

This particular boxed eave garage also has a carport attached to it. This means you can protect two vehicles with this structure. The carport measures 9 feet by 8 feet, which makes it perfect for small to mid-sized vehicles, or for storing a riding mower or other equipment.

Since the carport is not enclosed, some people have chosen our two car garage. The size is similar the boxed eave style shown above, but instead of the carport, there’s another enclosed garage. This makes parking two larger vehicles a breeze.

This vertical garage style does not include the carport or second garage door, but it has a lot of room to park a vehicle and store items, such as holiday decorations, landscaping tools, etc. It is also 24 x 26 x 9. It has two windows on one side and an optional door for access into the garage without opening the big door.

Measuring for Better Decision Making

If you’ve modified your truck, it may be wise to measure the height of your truck before making a purchase. You’ll want at least 5 inches of clearance when purchasing a garage for it. Once you have your measurements, you’ll have a better idea of which garages will work best. You’ll also be able to then decide on which garage style you prefer.

Contact Us for More Information on Our Garages for Large Pickup Trucks

We always want to help our customers find the garage, carport, or combo unit for their needs. If you’re having a difficult time deciding which one is best for you, contact us. We would be happy to walk you through the features of each and provide ideas on what may work best for you.

Carport vs. Garage – Which Is Better for You?

Posted on March 27, 2018June 23, 2018 by Mike Bolynn

We receive many questions from customers. One of the most common questions we receive is carport vs. garage – which is better?

This determination is a personal one. Garages are traditionally what people choose for their home, and we’re 100% behind putting up a quality garage if that’s what’s going to work best for you. But, our main concern is that our customers get a quality structure at the right price that’s going to best accomplish their goals. And, sometimes, a garage isn’t the best option.

For an in-depth discussion of both garages and carports, read our Structure Guides

Why Carports May Be a Better Option

While a garage can be a versatile and useful structure, carports have their own advantages, and many of their benefits aren’t realized by people. Here are just a few of the reasons some people choose a carport over a garage:

Price

Carports are less expensive. Actually, a carport costs about half as much as a garage. It’s a cheap way to protect your vehicles and other items.

Regulation Free

If you build a garage, you have to worry about city regulations and fire safety during construction. This isn’t the case with carports because it’s not enclosed and can’t be considered a living space.

Faster Installation

A garage will take some time to build, but a carport could be up in a day, especially with professional installation.

Protects Vehicles

The roof of the carport protects vehicles from the weather and flying debris. You won’t have to worry about rain, snow, and hail hitting your vehicles. If you have trees around your house, you don’t have to worry about branches falling on them. In many cases, that’s all the protection a vehicle really needs. It doesn’t have to be locked inside an enclosed building.

Natural Ventilation

Vehicles stored under carports have natural ventilation. You won’t ever have to worry about humidity or mold, which could potentially be a problem in a garage.

Freedom with Location

With a garage, you have to decide where to build it. Most of the time, it will end up attached to your home unless you can have a detached garage. Some homeowners associations will not allow that. With a carport, you don’t have to worry about that unless the association restricts their construction/use. In most cases, you can choose to have the carport placed wherever you want without issue.

Decrease Clutter

The United States Department of Energy reported that 25 percent of adults with a two-car garage have so much stored in it that they don’t have room for a car. It’s not nearly as easy to clutter up a carport, so the chances of it are slim.

Added Space

If you already have a garage and use it for storage, a carport provides added space to store a vehicle. In this case, it’s not about getting a carport OR garage, but getting a carport in addition to a garage.

Carport for the Win

Most of our customers who choose a carport over a garage come back to tell us that they are happy with their decision. They didn’t have to spend a lot of money; they don’t have a cluttered garage; their vehicles, equipment, and items are protected; and they now have a structure that can be used in many ways.

If you’re considering a carport purchase, contact us. We know all there is to know about carports and would love to help you find the one that best suits your needs.