Carport Plans

If you are considering purchasing a set of carport plans, the following article may provide some helpful information. In addition to the obvious factors such as visual appearance, size, cost and ease of construction, there are some equally important but less obvious considerations to keep in mind.

Free Carport Plans

If one searches the net for free plans, there are actually a number of options presented. In some cases these plans are perfectly adequate. Before committing to a project based on a free set of plans, here are a few questions to answer:

Does your local building jurisdiction require a review of plans and issuance of a building permit prior to commencing construction?

If so are the free carport plans adequate to satisfy the requirements of the local building department?

Have the plans been reviewed by a building professional to assure that the design is adequate for the wind, seismic and snow loads present in your area?

I do not want to suggest that free carport plans are of no value. If the carport is to be constructed by a knowledgeable builder or contractor, they satisfy the requirement of the local building jurisdiction, and they meet the design an size requirements of the ultimate user, free plans may be a cost effective solution.

Carport Plans from Plan Books and Online plan retailers.

Given the vast choices available in house and garage plans, I was surprised at the dearth of carport plans available. I believe the reason for this is that while a carport to most seems like the most basic of structures, in reality a properly designed carport does present a unique set of structural issues not found in most house and garages

Because the traditional carport has no walls, the carport is susceptible to racking if not properly addressed. I am sure most have seen precariously leaning carports, a result of improper design. There are a number of ways these structures can be designed to resist this tendency; the building is usually stiffened by either embedding the posts into the earth or creating stiffness in the connection between the top of the post and the beams.

Consider Purchasing a Metal Carport Kit (plans included)

The usual material choices for carports are wood construction or metal. Metal carport kits can be a very cost effective way to erect a carport. In many cases metal carport kits come with a thoroughly engineered set of metal carport plans that are accepted by most building departments. Because of their relatively lighter weight, material strength and ease of component connections, metal carport kits provide a quick and inexpensive way to erect a carport and avoid the expense and necessity of acquiring a set of plans.

So what source do I recommend for carport plans?

The safest and most satisfactory way to obtain carport plans is to hire a local building designer to complete a set of construction documents. While at first this may seem like to most costly source, there are a number of advantages:

You will end up with a custom designed carport that will fit your needs and may be adapted to blend with the preferred style of architecture.

You can be assured that the plans will be accepted by the local building department by requiring that as a condition of payment. Since you are working with a designer familiar with local requirements, you will not be risking an expense for a set of carport plans that may be rejected by the building official.