Nobody likes their vehicles getting weather damaged and losing value day by day.
Carports are handy structures you can use as stand-alone manner or semi-attached to provide low cost shelter for your car, boat, motorbike or RV.
If you want to find out more about metal carport kits, with pros & cons, rough price estimates and handy building guide you’ll want to keep reading.
In this guide you will find:
Popular sizes
What is a Metal Prefab Carport?
A metal prefab carport is a simple building structure used to shelter and store any vehicles you might have. They can be semi-attached to a house or built as a stand alone structure. Building a carport out of metal prefabricated kit is a durable and long-lasting style of construction for this kind of project.
Prefab Design
Prefab metal carport structures are a building product that is made using a prefabricated process, which means that the components are constructed ahead of time by a manufacturer based on a detailed 3D model and design, packaged up as a kit and shipped to your location. Prefab structures are manufactured in large components that are easily assembled once they reach their destination.
Up next, we’ll look at the pros and cons of this building design so that you can decide whether it’s right for you.
Pros of Metal Prefab Carport Kit
Customizable
Metal prefab buildings have established the unfortunate reputation of being cookie-cutter in their design and appeal and while it was likely true, their reputation is slowly shifting to reflect their ability to be highly customized from standard metal building templates. You can work with a supplier who will use sophisticated 3D modeling software to build a structure to your exact specifications, even simple projects like carports.
You can build a carport in the exact dimensions you require; with the design meeting all needs for your building dimensions and wall assembly to offer as much additional coverage and shelter that you’d like. It can have two walls, three walls, or no walls at all. You can also choose to make it attached to an existing structure or freestanding.
Durable and Weather Resistant
The primary purpose of a carport is to protect a vehicle and to provide shelter. Therefore, you’ll want your carport with strong, durable materials. It’s hard to find a much more durable building material than metal.
Metal carports are built with strong support beams and provide an extremely strong structure when attached to a foundation. The walls and roof use 26-gauge steel sheets designed to withstand extreme weather including protecting vehicles from the harsh sun, heavy rains, wind and snow. The overall benefit is that you won’t need to worry about the structural integrity of these units. You can confidently depend on them to protect your vehicle year-round.
Affordable
One huge benefit of metal prefab structures is that they are very cost-efficient. Metal is an affordable building material and as it’s a relatively lightweight building material in nature which makes it quite economical to ship.
Additional places to save money with prefab building kits are the cost savings during the design and construction process. You can choose from pre-made templates, or a supplier can design the carport using 3D modeling. Either way, it’s significantly less expensive than using an architect to design your building. The nature of carports are relatively simple in design as well so this style of metal prefab building kits are very affordable.
Fast Construction
Once the design is approved, the components are manufactured and shipped right to you. When the kit arrives, it’s a full package allowing you to assemble immediately and with smaller projects, if you have any building knowledge, you might even be able to do it yourself.! Even if you do require the help of a professional, the overall project is much more streamlined and less time-consuming when building from a prefabricated kit.
Cons of Metal Prefab Carport Kit
Prior to making a purchasing decision to buy a prefab metal carport kit, it’s a good idea to review some potential limitations for this style of building metal carports.
HOA Approval
When you want to construct a carport on your property one of the first steps is to seek building approval and permits. If you live in a neighborhood with an influential Home Owners Association (HOA), then you might have trouble erecting any new structure on your property without their prior approval.
Your best bet is to check HOA guidelines before undertaking any construction project. If you have questions about what’s allowed, give them a call and keep them in the loop throughout the entire process.
Matching Your Exterior Design Scheme
Let’s face it, metal carports aren’t exactly “traditional” structures and as a result, some may prefer a carport made from wood, stone, or any other traditional material. If you think a metal carport won’t match your exterior design, then this is a great opportunity to evaluate this design and if it matches your needs.
However, it’s worth noting that prefab structures are highly customizable and you can easily apply an exterior wrap or cladding to the carport to satisfy your aesthetic preferences. There is also a wide range of color options to choose from.
Carport not a Garage
Perhaps one downside of a carport kit is that it doesn’t provide as much shelter as a garage. The semi-exposed structure might make them less-than-practical for certain users especially if you find you want more of a garage than just a shelter for your vehicle. In the section below, we compare them to garages to help you make your decision.
Of course, a prefab garage is a very popular choice as well.
Up-Front Costs
Although prefab structures tend to be more cost-efficient overall, they do tend to have higher up-front costs than if you were to build from scratch. This is because you are paying a premium to have all of the parts pre-constructed before they are shipped to your location. You’ll have to weigh these higher up-front costs against the money you save during the construction and design processes.
Next up we’ll cover the price of a prefab carport kit next.
Prices of Metal Prefab Carport Kit
In the tables below, we’ve included a general pricing guideline for metal prefab carport kits to give you a good estimate of the range of prices you can expect to pay.
It is important to consider that these are just an average price estimate of the most popular options and any further customizations or larger sizes will have different cost estimates. If you desire an option that is not on the list, then the best possible thing to do is contact a supplier who will work with you to build your ideal structure.
| Carport | Size (SQFT) | Price | $ / SQFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carport 2 sided with roof | 12×20 (240) | $1,427 | $5.95 |
| Carport 2 sided with roof | 20×20 (400) | $3,557 | $8.89 |
| Carport 3 sided with roof | 12×20 (240) | $3,633 | $15.14 |
| Carport 3 sided with roof | 20×20 (400) | $4,992 | $12.48 |
| Carport 3 sided with roof | 24×20 (480) | $5,578 | $11.62 |
Average Carport Prices
| Regular roof | $3.17 per sqft |
| A frame roof | $3.43 per sqft |
| Vertical roof | $3.96 per sqft |
These estimates will give you some ball park figures to work with, it’s also important to consider 10% delivery and $6 per square foot for foundations.
Carport vs. Garage
One of the main considerations in building a carport is whether you want a carport or require a more traditional garage. It’s a good idea to make a thorough assessment of your needs and then select your prefab metal building kit from there. Below is an outline of each structure to help decide.
Carport
Carports offer several advantages over the traditional garage. All of these advantages are due to their design.
The first and perhaps most obvious advantage is the extra ventilation they provide, which can help prevent frost during colder months. The open design also allows you easier access to your car. It’s a place to park your vehicle without having to lock it away each day and provides excellent shelter from both summer and winter weather with its simple yet effective design
Additionally, carports tend to be quite a bit cheaper than a traditional garage. They are relatively basic structures and contain a frame, a roof, and siding to provide additional coverage and can be customized to be as extensive as you wish. If you’re looking to offer protection to your vehicle without needing a larger project budget, then a carport might be your top choice.
Garage
A traditional garage is a top alternative to a carport which has several advantages to its design and provides a more enclosed area to store your vehicle as well as expand the use of the space with other home related storage functions.
People often choose a garage because it provides a more secure location for storing a vehicle. You can lock a garage and keep your vehicle safe from theft. Plus, it also provides better protection against the elements since it is sheltered on all sides from rain, snow, wind, and hail. Garages might be an ideal choice if you need to store away a vehicle during the harsh winter months or would feel more comfort if your vehicle was totally secured within a garage.
Garages can be heated or insulated allowing a temperature controlled environment for your valuables. A heated garage will help prolong the life of a vehicle and provide a comfortable place to work on your vehicle if you happen to have a hobby project car or enjoy doing small repairs to your vehicle. Additionally, a heated garage is multi-purpose and can be used for additional storage, as a workshop, a home office or a gym for example.
Garages are flexible structures, and you can choose from various shapes and sizes, including detached and semi-detached options. Prefab metal garages are an extremely popular area of prefab design, and you can learn more about them here.
Building Your Carport
Constructing your metal carport is an efficient and straightforward process. You can get started almost immediately. Here’s the best approach for a project like this:
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
First take a brief assessment of your needs to decide on the carport you’re looking for. How much space do you need? How big is your vehicle? How many walls does it require? Where are you planning to put it (semi-detached vs. detached)? It doesn’t have to be exact, but you should have a rough idea of your needs so that a supplier can give you an accurate quote.
Step 2: Get Quotes
To maximize your budget, it’s recommended to collect several quotes from different suppliers in your area. Click here to compare quotes from suppliers and find the best value on offer for your metal carport building kit. The more accurate information you provide, the more accurate the quote will be.
You want to consider not only the price but a supplier that can work with you to assess your needs and select one that’s relatively close to your geographic location to reduce any shipping costs. Many suppliers can design custom buildings from scratch using 3D modeling, which is helpful if you want a carport to the exact dimensions of your vehicle or if you want various aesthetic options.
Step 3: Manufacturing
A huge benefit of metal prefab design is the cost savings within the manufacturing process. Components are manufactured off-site and shipped right to your location in a full kit form. This part requires little to no effort on your end except to receive your building kit.
Step 4: Construction
Once you’ve received the parts, the building process can begin. Metal prefab design is more straightforward than other areas of construction because the parts are designed to fit together and come together as a kit. With a project as simple as a carport, you may be able to do it yourself.
That said, if you have no experience in this area, you still may require the help of a construction team including a team that can lay the foundation and assemble the carport for you.
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