What Are Stand-Alone Carports?

Definition

• Carports are building structures that have a roof, supporting beams and may or may not have side walls. Standalone carports are not attached to another building or house as attached carports are. Standalone carports are also known as freestanding carports.

Purpose

• Carports are used to protect vehicles and other items from the elements. They also offer outdoor covered areas for things like barbecues or family get-togethers. These structures are used for storage, and carports with sides offer a certain amount of privacy.

Roof Construction

• Standalone carports have A-frame, shed or gable roofs. The carports that are attached to buildings usually have a flat or single sloping roof.

Materials

• You can find carports in a few different materials. Metal is one of the favorite materials used because of its strength and durability. The frame, roof and sides can all be made of metal, usually steel or aluminum. You can find carports that are metal or PVC frames that have canvas stretched over them. Some carports are made of wood or vinyl. Temporary carports are plastic sheets over a frame.

Supports

• The main difference between a standalone carport and an attached carport is the load-bearing posts. If you have a standalone carport, you will need four supporting posts. Attached carports only need two as they are attached to another structure for support.

Size

• You can find carports in different sizes. Usually you will find one- or two-vehicle carports. The one-vehicle carport accounts for enough room for one vehicle plus some walking clearance on all sides. The two-vehicle size accounts for two vehicles and clearance space.