Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a place that includes a Garage. But without a garage, how do you protect the investment you’ve made in a vehicle? A Carport could be the answer. Expert carport builders explain the benefits of installing a carport on your property.

Protection from the Elements

Your vehicles represent a significant amount of money and one key to keeping them worth as much as possible is to protect them from the elements. Wind, rain, snow, ice, hail, and sun all negatively impact a vehicle’s surface. Not only does the damage the elements do to your vehicles lower their value, but it also could cost you even more money in repairs.

Building a garage is often not an option for many people, but installing a carport can give you the same protection from the elements of a garage without the challenges of building a garage. A carport, whether fully enclosed or not will keep your car from incurring damage from the elements. Faded paint, cracked leather interiors, and hail damage are just some of the damage a carport can prevent.

Protection from Theft and Vandalism

While a carport is usually not something you can secure with a lock, it does provide a measure of security against theft and vandalism. Statistics show that vehicles that are parked on the street are more often targets for crime than those that are parked on private property. A carport allows you to get your vehicles off the street and onto your property.

Moreover, you can place your carport in a less conspicuous place than the street so that criminals will really have to go out of their way to target your vehicles. Most vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity, so by removing the opportunity, you deter the crime.

In some cases, carports offer even more protection against theft and vandalism than a garage because a garage provides cover for a criminal whereas a carport is more open. Criminals don’t want to be seen committing a crime, so they might just bypass a vehicle under a carport for one that allows them to work undercover.

Additional Space

We all need more space and a carport can provide it. Not only will you have more space to store your vehicles and other motorized toys, you’ll also have a covered area for other uses. For example, a carport can provide a nice, shaded place for a family gathering like a reunion. Place tables and chairs under the carport and your family will be well-protected from the elements.

If you need a protected place to store furniture while your carpets are getting cleaned, that’s no problem either. Just bring it out to the carport until your carpet is dry and you can move it back in again. Caught in a hailstorm before you can get inside your house? Just make a run for your carport and wait out the storm in a dry location.

Convenience and Comfort

A carport usually has open sides, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough space to open your car doors or get your groceries out of the trunk. You can also carry things from your car to your house without having to stop and open and close a garage door on your way in. This convenience is an often overlooked benefit of having a carport, at least until you have one yourself.

Plus, the roof of your carport will keep your car cooler in the summer and the snow off your car in the winter. You won’t burn your legs on scorching leather seats or have to get up 20 minutes earlier to brush the snow off because the roof will stop both from happening, resulting in a more comfortable and convenient driving experience.

And ice? A carport can minimize ice from accumulating on your windshield, particularly if there's freezing rain. So put your scraper away, or at least don’t worry about chipping ice off your windshield for what seems like hours when your car is left uncovered.

Added Property Value

Even though a carport is a temporary structure that you can take with you if you decide to move, you may actually want to leave it for the new owners. Why? It’s simple: a covered parking area adds value to your property. A house that does not have a garage automatically is worth less than one that does have a garage.

You probably aren’t going to build a garage just to increase your property’s value, but you can easily add a carport and get a similar bump in worth. Certainly, a carport doesn’t add as much value to a property as a garage, but when you’re trying to sell your house for as much as possible, every little bit helps. And if you already have a carport because you’ve been using one for your own vehicles, all the better.

Energy Savings

In many cases, a garage is a better option than a carport, but in one very important way, a carport is superior to a garage and that is in energy savings. A carport requires no energy at all to perform its function. There are no lights to power, no automatic garage door, and no need for heat or air conditioning. It’s simply a covered space that protects your belongings from the elements.

As such, if you’re trying to cut down on the amount of energy you use or to trim your electricity bills, a carport can help you achieve these goals. While owning a carport isn’t going to save the environment, it certainly won’t add to the things that are harming it. Saving money and helping the environment? A carport can help you do both at once!

Storage Savings

Not only can you save money on energy by installing a carport, but you can also save money on storage, especially if you’re currently renting a storage unit. If you’re only renting the unit because you’re trying to protect certain belongings, like a vehicle, from the elements, you can save a lot of money on storage fees by using a carport instead.

You don’t want to keep valuables under a carport because they can be susceptible to theft (although less than you’d think, as we previously discussed), but a carport is perfect for extra cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, ATVs, campers, trailers, and all sorts of other items that aren’t likely to be stolen if they’re locked. Even things like outdoor furniture, your barbecue grill, or other outdoor equipment can benefit from being stored under a carport during the winter months.

Conclusion

Carports are much more than just portable garages and in fact, offer benefits that garages don’t. If you’re in need of a way to protect your car from the elements or theft, or just want some extra space, a carport could very well be your perfect solution.