Usually, homeowners have two options when it comes to keeping their cars safe from the elements – the carport or the garage. Both of these installations in your home can protect your vehicle. However, it makes sense to have only one and picking the best one is a challenge for most homeowners.
For this reason, we have carefully laid out the essential facts about each car protector. According to ShedQuotes.com.au, these are the vital factors to consider when picking the car protection that is right for you:
A. CARPORT
Carports are an economical solution for making sure your car has a durable overhead cover. In most cases, they are smaller than a garage. This makes it easy to build since they require easy-to-get materials to construct them. You can even try to build a carport on your own if you consider yourself a handyman.
Carports can be erected on any side of your property due to their flexible layouts. The only challenge you may encounter is following the council rules and regulations guiding building one. Nevertheless, carports are not regarded by the council as ‘liveable space.’ Therefore, the guidelines are typically less rigid compared to the ones for building a garage. The swift authorization and less workforce for constructing a carport make it possible to complete it in hours or at most, days.
A typical carport has a single roof, either gable or flat, as well as supports. Also, carports provide double or four open sides which offer extra room for loading the car and opening doors. Because they are not enclosures, carports are not theft-proof. If you live in a crime-ridden area, they might not be your best option.
The flexibility of the carport extends to its flooring, as you can implement concrete, dirt, grass, or gravel flooring. To build a carport, the materials required include zincalume, timber, polycarbonate, tiles, color bond steel or metal. Lastly, you can include a roller door if you want.
To summarize, the merits of a carport are:
- Adjustability
- Easy to erect
- Cost-effective
- Voluntary DIY
- Fast council approval
The demerits of carports are:
- Lower valuation of the property relative to one with a garage (when you want to sell it)
- Susceptible to theft
- Zero storage space
- Less adaptable
- Reduced protection from some elements
B. GARAGE
Garages are immovable, enclosed structures that shelter your vehicle from environmental elements and provide more assurance against theft.
Sometimes, garages are stand-alone structures, but other times, they are connected to the house through a door. It all depends on your preference and the amount of space in your compound. In the case of the latter, the nearby entrance makes it easier to move your stuff from the car to the house.
One significant advantage of a garage is that it provides storage space alongside security for your vehicle. That is, it gives you an avenue to reduce the clutter in your house. Several homeowners keep tools such as cleaning supplies, the tumble dryer or washing machine, an unused freezer or fridge, Christmas decorations, the lawnmower, and gardening tools in the garage. Some people actually invest time and energy into creating effective storage solutions with their garage.
The downside of garages is that getting council approval to build one can take a long time. This is because a garage is viewed as ‘liveable space,’ meaning it can house people as well as properties. The belief is that later on in the future, a garage can be reconstructed or directly converted into a permanent room that could even be rented out.
Typically, garage has a more profound attachment to the original building. Builders usually use matching materials with the ones used for the main house to construct the garage. In cases where the garage is attached to the house, the garage door serves as another entryway. Therefore, most homeowners pick doors that beautify the exterior of their homes.
To summarize, the merits of a garage are:
- It can be designed to your taste
- Additional protection from the elements
- Storage options
- It can also be considered as an extra living area
- Smooth movement from the car to home and vice versa
- Protection from theft
- Adjustability
- Potential conversion to a living space
- Adds immeasurable value to the property
The demerits of a garage are:
- It takes a while to construct
- Primary cost
- The decision-making aspect of it
- Must adhere to more strict council regulations
In conclusion
Just like you, your vehicle requires adequate shelter. Having established that, the kind of shelter is what is left for you to decide. You should consider your architecture, security essentials, space, budget, curb appeal, adjustability, and roof options. Afterward, choosing between erecting a carport or building a garage for your vehicle should be easy.
Keep in mind, however, that either option can very well serve the purposes of beautifying your home and protecting your car simultaneously.
