Aluminum Carport Components

Cover

• The main component of a carport is the cover or awning. The carport cover is most often composed of many small pieces called "W" pans. These pans fit together to create an awning with groves. Carports can also have flat tops, roll tops, "V" pans or soft covers.

Posts

• Posts are required for all carports. Carports that are attached to a house or other building have two posts and detached carports have four posts that must be anchored with concrete footers. The posts can be simple, smooth aluminum or decorative beams.

Fascia

• Fascia is attached to the face and both sides of an attached carport and on all sides of a detached carport. Fascia is both a decorative trim and is necessary to attach the gutter system to the carport.

Gutter

• The rain gutter is attached to the fascia, usually on the front of the carport. Where the gutter is attached depends on the slope and orientation of the carport. At least one downspout must be attached to the gutter to drain the water the gutter collects.

Flashing

• Flashing is installed in a variety of places in a carport, but most noticeably between the awning and the attached building. Flashing is necessary to prevent water leaking between the carport and the building.

Brackets and Hangers

• Various brackets and hangers are necessary to hold a carport together. A large bracket is used to attach the carport to a home or building. Small brackets are used to secure the posts to the footers and to the awning. Hangers are used to hold the fascia and gutter to the awning.