Carports vs Garages: Which is Right for You?
At American Steel Carports,Inc., we actually sell more than just carports. If you take a moment to browse our site, you’ll see plenty of other structures available, including a selection of garages. While they can accomplish some of the same goals, carports and garages are different in a number of ways. We’d like to use this post to highlight those differences and help you pick out which is right for you.
Whether you’d like to add a carport or a garage to your property, use our Build & Price Tool to customize your structure, view a 3-D rendering, and receive an instant quote!
What’s the Difference?
First, let’s talk about what makes a carport different from a garage. With a carport, you’ll have a roof and maybe a partial sidewall, but the sides are mostly open on the structure. You park your vehicle, get out, and walk away in any direction that you like.
With a garage, of course, the structure is enclosed. There is typically a large, roll-up door at the front which can be opened and closed as you come and go. Although many garages are attached to homes, others are standalone structures that are placed somewhere else on the property. A garage, like a carport, can be designed to accommodate just a single vehicle, but larger designs are common as well.
Start with Parking Requirements
When trying to decide whether you want to purchase a carport or a garage for your property, one of the first questions to ask yourself is if you’re going to be using this new structure for parking.If so, you’ll want to think about how many vehicles you need to park, how large those vehicles are, and any special needs they may have. For instance, if you are going to park an RV, you will need a tall structure because of their significant height. (Shop Steel RV Carports)
As you continue to think about parking, you will run into another important consideration in the carport vs garage debate–protection from the weather. With an open-sided carport, you get protection from above, but not so much from the sides (although partial sidewalls can be added). With a garage, you will completely enclose the vehicle when the door is shut, keeping the elements on the outside.
The right solution for your vehicles will depend on the climate in your area and the vehicles themselves.If you regularly face pounding rains and heavy snows, an enclosed garage would be quite attractive. On the other hand, those in a mild climate might not be too worried about parking in an open-sided carport throughout the year.
The Cost Factor
Your budget is always going to play a role in any purchase, and that’s certainly the case when picking a carport or a garage. As you might expect, the garage is going to cost more,because there are more materials involved in its construction. A carport is a very affordable structure, which is what draws many people in that direction in the first place.
However, before you decide that a carport is the winner because of the lower cost, remember that all of the buildings offered at American Steel Carports, Inc. are quite affordable compared to wood construction. While a garage will cost more than a carport,you might find that it still fits comfortably within your budget. To make a choice on this point, you need to get estimates for both options, so you can see exactly how they stack up. Use our Build & Price Toolnow to get an accurate estimate.
Other Uses
Parking is just the start of what you can do with a carport or a garage. For instance, you may want to build a new workshop on your property, and you need a covered space for that endeavor. For a workshop, a garage is probably going to be the right choice, as you will want protection from the elements and safe storage for your tools and supplies.
On the other hand, if you are going to use this new structure for storage, a carport may be suitable in some cases. If you’ll be storing things that don’t need to be protected fully from the elements and don’t need to be kept out of sight, a carport could be an affordable solution. Again, it’s all about tailoring your selection to the specific needs of your situation.
What Are You Waiting For?
We hope you have a better idea of whether a carport or a garage is right for you and your property. However, there is no right or wrong answer when picking between a carport and a garage, as they are both very capable structures that prove to be very useful in the right setting. No matter the structure you decide on, American Steel Carports, Inc.is ready to serve you. Start designing your structure with our Build & Price Toolnow!
