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If you are thinking about having a carport built, you will no doubt need to figure out what style you will build. There are a number of different styles, some more suited than others for different sizes and carport purposes. Of the many options available, attached or detached, single or multi-bay, gable end, hip roof, flat roof, or single slope, the last one, also known as a lean to carport, has a lot of advantages that may not be as obvious as you might think.

One of the biggest constraints in many carport construction projects is the amount of space available for building. If you live in the city, this is probably going to restrict the location and style of your carport. Sometimes it just isn’t feasible to put a carport behind your house, so you are limited to the available space normally used for your driveway. Even though size isn’t as much of an issue for anyone with a larger lot, the lean to carport still has other benefits that you may want to take advantage of.

If size is your biggest concern, then a lean to carport is probably the first design that you should consider. Where space is tight, this design allows you to minimize the footprint of the carport. Since one of the walls of the carport is actually the wall of your house, there is no loss of space outside of the wall, or where the supporting posts for that wall would normally be. This is especially handy if you tend to drive small cars. If you don’t typically drive oversized SUVs or you are not planning on getting a Hummer, then you can use a lean-to design to fit a carport in a space that may not be suitable for an oversized enclosure.

Another space saving carport design is the attached flat roof carport. Much like the attached single slope carport, the attached flat roof carport uses the existing dwelling as a support wall. The key to constructing a flat roof carport is too make sure it has a safe loading bearing capacity and to include a small slant to the roof to assist in water runoff. Your local carport distributor should be able to answer most technical questions. If you have further questions about load bearing capacity of a carport or the angle of the roof, you should consult with an engineer.

Once you have determined the permissible width of your carport you need to consider the length. The allowable area for carport length tends to have more variation. If you are able to extend the length of your carport you can capture and utilize great extra storage space. Depending upon, how much extra room you can use you can add cabinets or a gardening bench to the back side of the carport.

The addition of additional sheltered storage space will undoubtedly increase the re-sale value of your home. However, carports do more than just increase the value of your home, carports add to the convenience of your home. Even if your available space is limited you might have enough room to construct a single slope carport.

Go to Metal Carports to find out more information, including sloped roof carports.