Do it Yourself Metal Carport
If your home does not have a garage, then your vehicles and a lot of your yard implements and tools are at the mercy of the elements. You'll pay more for car insurance if you don't have a place to park at night, and your paint job will wear more quickly. In a hailstorm, you could wake up to a totaled vehicle. A carport can be a more economical alternative to protect your investment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Posthole digger
- Four 14-gauge steel poles
- Concrete mix
- Container to mix concrete in
- Water
- Shovel
- Level
- 4 ladders
- 3 assistants
- Metal carport roof cover
- 1/2-inch bolts, nuts and lock washers
- Drill
- 1/2-inch drill bit
- Metal siding
- Sheet metal screws
Instructions
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1
Decide on the size of the carport roof you want to buy. A standard one-vehicle size is 12-by-20 feet. Check the kit to see where you'll need to put your corner posts, as they will rest slightly inside the roof corners.
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2
Measure the distance between your corners and mark them. Dig 2-foot holes in the ground at each mark. Place one pole in each corner hole. Pour the concrete mix in your container and use your shovel to mix the concrete with water following the manufacturer's instructions. Pour the mixed concrete into the hole, filling it a little more than halfway. Make sure your poles are level using a measuring tape and a level, and then fill the holes the rest of the way with concrete. Let the concrete cure for three days.
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3
Lift the roof into place. You will need three helpers to do this. All of you will take a corner, climb one of the four ladders, and place a corner onto the post -- there will be a hole on the bottom of the roof to accommodate it.
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4
Use your drill to make 1/2" holes at the top of the post on each corner, and use the bolts, nuts and washer locks to secure your roof. Tighten as needed.
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5
Connect the frame to the driveway with U-bolts. As you tighten the U-bolts into the holes, the expansion anchors will get larger, becoming more secure in the ground.
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6
Add siding to your framework. If you are using metal siding, sheet metal screws will work for this. Your frame will accommodate most types of siding.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Many carport roofs will accommodate more than four posts. The more posts you have, the more stable your carport will be over time.
This is a basic carport without any side walls. Some more advanced kits will help you put up a frame that will accommodate metal siding.
Take care climbing the ladder with your roof. You will warp it if you try to put it up one corner at a time.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Michael Blann/Lifesize/Getty Images
