Carport Plans

A Guide to Carport Plans

Consider implementing a carport in your new construction home plans if you want to include additional storage for your cars. You could also add one to your existing property to give yourself a safe place to park. Whether you want an attached or detached carport, COOL House Plans provides plenty of carport designs to accommodate your style and budget.

Our easy-to-use search engine allows you to find what you need for your property. You can use the search filters on our site to get your desired dimensions and capacity to narrow your options. This guide to carport design plans can help you discover if this addition is practical for your property.

What Is a Carport?

A carport is a structure that protects one or two cars from weather damage. You could also use one to keep large items that don’t fit in the garage or basement. This structure usually has one or more open sides, and you can construct it with various materials.

Carports are available in various design options that can enhance your curb appeal and protect your vehicle from your local weather conditions. These additions are similar to garages, but they have open sides. They’re also more flexible in design, so you can create one with a unique size and style to protect your vehicles and other belongings.

5 Benefits of Building a Carport

Having a carport can add value to your property. If you’re trying to decide between creating a garage or carport, consider the following benefits of having a carport.

1. Saving Money

A carport is easy and affordable to install because it uses fewer materials and involves less labor. You usually need a building permit to put it on your property, but the codes tend to be less restrictive than for a garage because a carport is typically not considered a permanent structure. Since it’s less expensive to build, you can have a sturdy, flexible place to store your vehicles, even if you have a limited budget or small plot of land.

Besides the initial cost of installing a carport, you can also save money if you want to sell your house in the future. Potential homebuyers often look for a place to keep their car, and they’d appreciate having a unique storage space. With the increased resale value of your home, you may end up making more money on your carport than you spend.

2. Versatile Design

A carport can store your car, but you can also use it for other purposes. You can create it to be a play area, outdoor patio or workstation, depending on your family’s lifestyle. If the carport is big enough for a car or two, it’s a sufficient size for hosting small barbecues or working on your latest hobbies.

Besides its versatile use, a carport also offers a flexible design according to your preferences. You can attach the structure to your house to enhance its durability. If you build a detached or freestanding one, you may be able to transport it to another part of your property if you ever need to renovate your house.

3. Safe Air and Weather Protection

A carport has open walls to provide enough airflow to keep the space fresh and avoid the mold and musty odors that are common in garages. Since running vehicles emit carbon monoxide, it may be safer to park your car or make repairs in a carport.

The roof to your carport can also protect your vehicle from rain, sunlight, hail and snow to prevent water and impact damage. A carport can also keep fallen debris from nearby trees off your car to reduce the grime on its surface.

4. Increased Safety

Criminals are less likely to damage your car if it’s close to the home than if you park in the street. A carport can keep your property safe from burglary and vandalism. Those who want to damage or steal your car like to work in the shadows, but they have nowhere to hide if you have an open carport. You may also feel safer parking your car closer to your house, so you don’t have to walk up to your driveway in the dark.

5. Additional Space and Vehicle Storage

If you have a small plot of land or a limited budget, you may have to compromise on space within the house. Carports offer plenty of space for cars and other valuables to give you more room for storage. Besides storing your vehicle, you can customize this structure’s size to fit a motorcycle, boat, snowmobile or ATV. You can also keep your lawn equipment, seasonal decorations or outdoor items in this open area. With this extra storage at home, you won’t need to rent a storage unit.

Types of Carport Plans

At COOL House Plans, we offer many carport plans that can enhance your existing home or add to your new construction blueprints. As you look for house plans on our site, consider these factors to help you make your selection:

• Design aesthetic: As you build your carport, you may want to complement its appearance with the rest of your home. If you have a traditional house style, explore our traditional carport plans. We offer plenty of contemporary, traditional and historic carport plans on our site with customizable options to make the structure what you want.
• Detached or attached: Having an attached or detached carport each has its benefits and drawbacks. An attached carport can connect to your garage or house for additional support. If you add a door near your carport, you can conveniently enter your home without being exposed to the weather. On the other hand, a detached carport could go anywhere on your property and can even move somewhere else if you want to relocate it in the future.
• The number of vehicles: Think about how many cars you want to keep near your house and off the street. You should find out if you have enough space on your lot for a carport that can fit more than a single car.
• Material:The building material you use will determine your carport’s appearance and durability. Most carports contain galvanized steel, wood, aluminum or polycarbonate posts, with the option to add aesthetically pleasing siding and roof shingles. Consider your budget and local weather conditions as you design your carport to find out which materials can withstand rain, snow and wind. You can paint or stain the building components to colors that match the rest of your house.
• Roof style: If you want to install an attached carport, the roof should be the same as the rest of your property. A freestanding carport gives you a little more design flexibility, but you may want to choose a roof that can withstand the elements of your local climate. Keep in mind that hip roofs tend to be wind-resistant, and gabled ones are more aesthetically pleasing.
• Flexible design: Consider how you want to use your carport over the next few decades that you’ll live in your home. If you ever want to change its appearance or purpose in the future, try to find a flexible carport design plan that can accommodate your growing or changing family.

3 Example Carport Plans

If you’re looking for a carport that would be suitable for your property, here are a few examples of the carport plans we offer on our site.

1. Traditional Style Three-Car Carport Plan

This traditional style carport plan can complement your Colonial or Cape Cod house. With a two-car garage and an additional carport, you have plenty of space for three cars or extra storage. The blueprint features a detached garage with an attached carport. Stairs provide extra storage space in the garage and lead up to a 388-square-foot attic with a dormer window for more storage or guest space.

This plan also includes a breezeway to connect the structure and the central part of the house, providing adequate ventilation and wind control. Your builder can construct the structure on top of a concrete slab foundation.

2. Two-Car Carport Plan

This two-car “garport” plan has a total of 440 square feet to allow you to store two vehicles. The structure features a simple design that can complement your home’s aesthetic. Besides using the garage for a single car, you could use it as a home office or workshop. The carport shares a roof and one wall with the one-car garage, so it has additional support against the elements. The entire structure goes on a concrete slab foundation.

3. Contemporary Style Three-Car Garage Plan

This contemporary carport plan can complement your transitional or modern home. This structure provides ample room for storing your vehicles and other equipment since it has a detached two-car garage as well as a one-car carport. The carport is attached to the garage but features its own roof and beams, creating additional visual interest. Over the garage portion is a 277-square-foot attic space with vaulted ceilings and dormer windows.

FAQ About Carports

If you’re still unsure about whether a carport is right for your property, here are some answers to the questions you may have.

1. Are Carports Expensive to Build?

No. Carports are more affordable to build than garages. The exact price you’d pay to buy and install a carport depends on the following factors:

• Square feet: You’d probably pay more money if you wanted a two-car or three-car carport because you’d need more materials and labor. Most contractors charge a certain amount of money per square foot. You can also customize the design of the structure to hold an RV or other special-sized car.
• Material: You can choose from several sturdy building materials to make your long-lasting carport. Steel tends to be the most expensive, and aluminum tends to be the most affordable.
• Configuration: The style of your carport will also affect how much you pay to build it. A freestanding carport tends to be less expensive than an attached one because an attached structure requires modifications to your home.

2. Do You Need a Permit to Build a Carport?

In general, you need a permit to build a carport, but it depends on where you live. Consult your local building department for information about what fees you’ll have to pay and what regulations you have to follow when constructing your carport.

You can also work with a professional builder who’s licensed and insured to ensure the structure is up to code. Keep in mind that since carport construction, especially a freestanding one, isn’t as involved as garage construction, you’ll most likely need to comply with fewer regulations.

3. How Do You Make a Simple Carport?

Even though it’s best to hire a professional builder to construct your carport, some plans are simple enough that you may be able to build them yourself. Once you have the right carport plan, you can get to work on installing your new storage space.

You can follow these steps for building a carport:

• Figure out where you want to install your carport.
• After clearing the area where you’re building the carport, set the perimeters according to your desired dimensions.
• Insert four pegs into the ground to mark the four corners.
• Ensure the pegs are square and adjust them as needed.
• Dig the holes for the posts at each of the four corners.
• Pour the cement into one hole at a time.
• Push each post footing into the cement and wait at least a week for them all to cure.
• Install the posts and make sure they’re level.
• Attach the framing beams and rafters.
• Lay down the gutter and roof.

Search Carport Plans on COOL House Plans

Whether you want to build a brand-new home or add a carport to your existing property, you should get your floor plans from a reliable home designer. COOL House Plans has thousands of house plans from 150 house plan designers and can help you find what you want to build. When you work with us, you can receive the following benefits:

• Easy-to-use search engine: Our site has various filters that allow you to narrow your options to accommodate your lot size and lifestyle. You can also explore our category pages and collections to find the ideal blueprint for your property easily.
• Custom modifications: Even if you can’t find your exact desired carport on our site, you can customize any of our floor plans. You can choose the blueprints that most accommodate your preferences and work with our designers to modify the design to find your ideal structure.
• Cost-effective floor plans: When you order one of our stock floor plans instead of working with a local home designer or architect, you can potentially save 80% on your blueprints. Buying directly from the COOL House Plans website allows you to save time and money on designing your new property.

If you’re unsure whether you want to build a garage or carport, you can browse our floor plans using our search engine. We offer high-quality carport plans at affordable prices so you can start your building process on the right foot. For more information about our products and services, you can reach out to our customer service representatives.