The Versatility of Carports: More Than Just Car Protection

Because of their name, carports are often exclusively thought of as somewhere just to park your car under, but they’re hugely multi-purpose and have many other uses.

Running out of storage indoors? Got nowhere outside for delivery people to deposit your parcels in a covered space? Or living with a shed crammed full of clutter? That’s where a carport can come in very handy indeed.

What is a carport? It’s an open-sided roof structure either affixed to a property or standing independently on a driveway or patio. Unlike a garage, it doesn’t have solid walls and is easiest explained as an overhead cover supported by posts.

The salient advantage of carports is obviously the car protection offered, but in a country as wet as ours, having a dry, covered area outside the house for additional functions is priceless.

Things like bikes, garden implements, prams etc., can all be homed outdoors.

A carport’s open-sided design also makes it feasible to install outdoor seating underneath and eat and socialise out of the rain. During the summer holidays, it could become a play zone for the kids.

You can adapt it over time if priorities change. For instance, there might come a point when instead of relying on it for vehicle shelter, you decide to transform it into a workshop area for building, tinkering and repairing items. If it were fully enclosed, altering its purpose wouldn’t be quite so straightforward.

“Sorry we missed you” – dreaded words from your parcel courier when awaiting an important package, particularly if it’s been taken to a neighbour that you don’t really know or left out in an uncovered safe place on a rain-soaked day.

Situations of this kind are where a carport in front or to the side of a UK house can prove priceless.

The roofed covering can be your safe place for parcels when you’re out, protected from inclement weather so that the contents of any boxes are kept dry until your return.

Couriers will more easily spot a carport to drop off a package than they might when trying to locate some obscure location elsewhere around the house, and they won’t encounter obstacles getting to it.

A carport’s proximity to the property will see you don’t forget about parcels that have been brought in your absence.

Certain rooms in the house get flooded with items that shouldn’t necessarily be in them but require shelter e.g. bikes, prams, tools and outdoor furniture, otherwise it can induce rusting, fading etc. Garages and sheds are options for storing such objects; however, they’re both hotspots for damp.

As they’re covered, carports will ensure that items aren’t exposed to direct rainfall and powerful sunlight.

Moisture gets trapped inside garages and sheds, causing mustiness, condensation and such to form, which is another thing in a carport’s favour, as it has constant airflow to prevent moisture build-up.

If you’re a dog owner, you’ll know how much a pet pooch loves to relax outside. Opportunities for them to do that can be few and far between because of how wildly the weather fluctuates. That’s unless you have a carport!

In rainy conditions, it would provide a reliable pet shelter and act as a shaded space on those rare occasions when Britain is hit by bright, warm sunlight.

It could be a dog feeding spot or extra space for them to stretch their legs.  No matter the pet, the sheltered area will provide the perfect additional space.

Attracting abundant airflow makes carports a comfortable haven for pets to occupy as they don’t suffer from overheating or stuffiness. They also help to shield against direct rain and strong sun, enabling you to put out a small dog bed under the carport for your four-legged friend to nap on.

On the face of it, carports seem like uncomplex structures, but that grossly underestimates their ability to address a host of everyday issues.

We’ll round off the article by recapping four of the topmost advantages:

• Convenience is a major benefit, as it will create a space to unload your shopping bags, get yourself / the family (kids / pets) in and out of the car without getting caught in the rain, leave out muddy shoes and have parcels left when you’re not at home.
• Weather protection and not just for your car! Bikes, prams, tools and outdoor furniture can also be kept outside and less exposed to rain, frost etc. If short of garden space, use it as an al fresco food and drinks shelter.
• Flexible from the outset. Your carport can evolve to match your changing lifestyle and be adapted to include enhancements such as lighting, side panels and more.
• Price as it avoids the more rigorous approvals / associated costs of garages and often allows a quicker turnaround / cost effective solution.

There are a few things to think about if you’re seriously considering getting a carport – assess the amount of space that you have, decide how you intend to use it and how close it will sit to your house.

Read our piece on carport vs garage too for confirmation of whether it’s the right choice out of the two options.

The final step is to then contact Lakeland Verandahs and let us fashion a design together.