If you aren’t familiar with carport materials, a steel carport and an aluminum carport might sound like pretty much the same thing. Without knowing the technical differences in the performance of those two materials, it would be easy to lump them in the same category. However, while they are similar, there are some important differences, and we are going to dive into those in this article.

Some Notable Differences

It’s easy to understand that a wooden carport will differ dramatically from one that is made from steel or aluminum. What might be a little more surprising, however, is that there are some significant differences even between aluminum and steel, despite the fact that structures built with these two materials would likely look a lot alike.

Steel Brings the Strength

There is more strength available in a steel structure than in a carport built with aluminum. Aluminum is a flexible and light weight material, so while it’s easy to work with, it won’t hold up as well against strong winds or every day use. The materials and products American Steel Carports, Inc. uses are engineer certified and are made to last. Steel is quite a bit heavier than metal, so it can be harder to work with in some situations. Of course, if you order a carport from American Steel Carports, Inc., we’ll handle the entire installation process so you won’t need to worry about managing the weight of the pieces on your own.

Durability and Resilience

Thanks to the strength and weight offered by steel, you’ll find that a carport made with steel is going to better deal with the inevitable beating that comes from regular use. Aluminum can be damaged rather easily from even a minor impact, so you might find that your aluminum carport will be quickly dinged up if it is placed in an active area of your property. Going with a sturdy metal means you won’t need to worry near as much about all of those little dings, scratches, and dents that an aluminum building might pick up.

Affordability

The raw material of steel is almost always going to be more affordable than aluminum. As a result, building a carport with steel is less expensive. If you are on a tight budget for this project and you want to get started as soon as possible, the lower price tag is going to be a big selling point.

Finding Common Ground

As you can see, there are some important differences between carports built with steel and aluminum. Those are all important to understand, but we should point out that there are a couple of areas where these two are quite similar. First, both aluminum and steel carports are going to require very little maintenance. You don’t want to create more work for yourself than necessary by building a carport that is going to need constant care, so it’s a good idea to look at steel or aluminum for something you can largely leave alone throughout the year. This is in contrast to a wood carport, which will likely need far more attention on a regular basis to remain strong and in good condition.

Also, the ability to customize the design of your carport is something that is shared between these two materials. With steel or aluminum, you’ll have much more flexibility, especially when you work with an experienced company like American Steel Carports, Inc. that puts the needs of the customer first on every project.

Let’s Get Started Today

As you can tell from our name, we are committed to the durability, affordability, and customization options that are available with steel carports. Our Build & Price tool allows you to customize your carport or metal building so you can design it exactly how you like, and get a free quote. If you want to start your project right away, or if you would simply like more information about what we offer, reach out to American Steel Carports, Inc. right away.