The Definition of Carport vs Garage

Since a carport and a garage can protect you and your vehicle from the wind, rain, sleet, snow, and sun’s heat, most people automatically assume that they’re the same. The definition of a carport vs garage; although they share the same purpose, their significant differences lie in how they’re constructed, how much they cost, and how they look. To know the definition of carport vs garage is extremely important for you to differentiate both so that you can figure out what’s best for your home or office.

What is a Garage

A garage is a fully enclosed space that comes with walls, a door, and a large shutter. Furthermore, it’s specifically designed to protect and store one or more vehicles. Various materials can be used to build it – timber, concrete, steel, brick, or a combination of any of these.

A garage can either be integrated into your house or detached from it.  Integral garages can share a wall or two with your home, while detached garages act as stand-alone structures. Although garages are usually built on the front side of the property, they can also be built at the back portion of the home.

In terms of size, a garage can be classified as a single, double, triple (and even more!), or a tandem type. A single garage provides enough space for one average-sized or smaller car plus a bit of room for a workbench or storage. A double garage can fit two medium-sized cars that are parked side by side. 

Although triple garages are rarely built, they can easily fit 2 or more single or double doors while providing added storage space. Meanwhile, a tandem garage is only wide enough for one car by deep enough to accommodate two medium or small-sized cars.

 

What is a Carport

A carport is also referred to as a car porch. Although carports are typically open on all sides and are built with four posts and a roof on top, they can still do a fantastic job at protecting your car against whatever nature might throw at it. However, to get better shelter, you can also choose to have your carport enclosed for up to three sides. 

You can also have the option to attach your carport to your home or build it as a freestanding structure. It’s important to note that unlike garages, the carport’s building materials are what defines them. 

For instance, a powder-coated, anti-corrosive metal carport can be made of steel, aluminum, or iron with plastic, glass, or acrylic-paneled roof. On the other hand, wooden carports usually resemble garden sheds that stand on four or more wooden columns without the walls. Another type of carport is called the uPVC carport, which has an internally-reinforced uPVC frame with a clear or opaque paneled roof.

Best Reasons to Choose a Carport

Deciding to build a carport or a garage takes a lot of careful thinking. However, the basis of your decision should be your own needs and requirements. If you’re looking to find the best reasons why building a carport is much better than construction a garage, check this out:

 

It’s DIY-friendly

If you’re the type who likes to DIY everything around the house, you might want to consider building yourself a carport. The process of setting it up is quick and painless because fewer materials are needed to construct it, and it doesn’t require skilled labor or any piece of specialized equipment.

 

It costs less than a garage.

Building a carport is easier on the budget because it requires less labor, time, and materials than when you’re building a garage. What’s more, you can have a carport design that’s completely bespoke to your home!

 

You won’t have to apply for planning permission.

Unlike garages, carports fall under the “permitted development” classification. This means that you won’t have to apply for Planning Permission when you’re building it. 

 

It ensures excellent ventilation.

Since garages are enclosed, they tend to become musty over time. You won’t have this problem with carports because it’s well-ventilated.

 

It’s very versatile

You can also use your carport as a workshop, a play area for the kids, or even a barbecue station.

 

How to Anchor a Carport

You’ll need to make sure that your portable shelter gets properly anchored into the ground. Otherwise, it won’t stand a chance against bad weather conditions, and your car won’t get the protection that it needs. Needless to say, how your carport is anchored can significantly affect its strength and performance. 

What’s so great about carports is that installing them or taking them down is extremely quick and painless. If you don’t intend to use your car shelter permanently, you can get yourself some anchor kits to keep your freestanding structure in place. In case you’re wondering, you can have your carport securely anchored onto a concrete slab, asphalt, soil, sand, grass, or gravel. 

 

Ground or Dirt

In most cases, manufacturers create four pre-drilled holes for anchoring purposes in the base rail on each of the carport’s sides. Grab 32-inch long anchors and insert them through these holes. Finally, you can use a sledgehammer to drive these anchors into the ground until a secure hold is achieved.

However, if your carport didn’t come with ground anchors, you can always find some earth-drive anchors at the nearest home improvement center. These usually have 2-inch ribs around the anchor shaft’s diameter to prevent the carport from overturning during high winds. Before you get started, you’ll need to check the base rail for the holes that are meant for the anchors. 

The carport should have base rails with four holes every side. Once you’ve found these holes, you’ll need to drill each one out with the use of a hole saw. This will allow the earth-drive anchor’s spines to fit through the holes. 

The next step is to insert the anchors through the holes before driving them into the ground with a sledgehammer until the bottom portions of the anchor’s heads are resting on top of the base rail.

 

Concrete Slab

If you’re planning to anchor your carport into a concrete slab, all you have to do is drill some holes into the concrete surface. Next, you’ll need to insert some wedge anchors through the holes that were pre-drilled in your carport’s base rail and into the concrete’s holes. Lastly, ensure a secure hold as you fasten it.

 

Asphalt

A combination of sand, oil, and small aggregate make up an asphalt surface. Anchoring a carport into it would require you to insert 32-inch long anchors through the small holes that were pre-drilled in the carport’s base rail. Next, you’ll need to use a sledgehammer as you drive the anchors through these small holes and into the ground that’s found under the asphalt surface.

 

Wood

To anchor your carport onto a wooden surface, simply insert the lag bolts through the pre-drilled holes in your base rails before you screw them down into the wooden material.

Where to Find Top-Quality Carports

If you’re looking to find top-quality tents for your fleet vehicles or your equipment, get in touch with Krosagro today. We’re the experts in steel pipe manufacturing and profile constructions. 

Carports are definitely a good investment. They protect your second most valuable assets in your household, which is a vehicle. As you learned in this article, it protects your car from precipitations, frost, hail, and UV-rays emitted by the sun. 

Conclusion

Once you know the exact definition of carport vs garage, then a properly selected carport from Krostrade is an investment that would last for many years; it will stay in place the variety of vehicles you might have within your household.