How to Enclose the Car Port to Make an Additional Room

A little work can make your home more valuable.

Turning an unused carport into a room can add space and value to your home. Carports make a great beginning for a room since the area should already be level and a carport provides a ready-made roof. Carports can be renovated to become bonus rooms, bedrooms, storage rooms or even an enclosed garage. Consider including heating and cooling if the room is destined to serve as living quarters. When choosing the outer shell of the new building, choose a material that coordinates with the existing home.

Things You'll Need

• Power washer
• Measuring tape
• Lumber, 2 by 4
• Hammer
• Nails
• Anchor bolts
• Wood screw, 4 inches
• U-bolts (optional)
• Pre-hung door frame
• Plywood
• Insulation
• Dry wall

Instructions

1. Pressure-wash the concrete flooring of the carport.

2. Carefully measure the walls of the carport from the concrete to the base of the roofline. The walls may not be perfectly square, so be sure to measure the area carefully.

3. Lay out 2-by-4s for the top and bottom of the first wall you choose to build. Measure 2-by-4s for the side to fit the measurements just taken. Be sure to subtract the width of the 2-by-4s at the top and the bottom of the wall. Nail the top and bottom rails to the sides.

4. Measure and cut 2-by-4 studs every 16 inches along the wall. Nail the studs in place through the top and bottom rails.

5. Lift the wall into place. Bolt the bottom rail to the concrete. Use long wood screws to affix the top rails to the underside of the roof. If the support columns are wood, screw the side of the wall into the support. If the support columns are metal, use a U-bolt to hold the side of the wall in place.

6. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 for the other three walls.

7. Choose the placement for the door. Measure a pre-hung door. Place anchor studs on either side of the chosen spot. Cut any unnecessary wall studs to accommodate the door. Lift the door into place and use wood screws to attach the sides to the anchor studs.

8. Screw the plywood into place on the outside of the framed room.

9. Install insulation between the studs on the inside of the new building. Choose the outer covering, such as siding, shingles or even brick.

10. Drywall the inside of the room.

Tips & Warnings

• In colder climates, it may be helpful to run heating duct work into the room. A qualified HVAC technician should be consulted.

• Be sure to call a licensed electrician if wall sockets or installed lighting is desired.

• Check with local building codes before embarking on the project.

References

• Renovate: How to Convert a Carport
• Wayne of The Woods: How to Frame a Wall
• Fine Home Building Magazine: Framing a Rough Door Opening