Create a Multifunctional Space with Carports and Shelters

When you think about carports and other similar types of shelters, you probably think first about using them for storage. You might store a vehicle under the roof of your carport, for example, or you might keep other types of equipment in the space. That’s certainly a useful plan, but it’s not the only way to take advantage of having a carport available. In some cases, it might be possible to create a multifunctional space that can serve a range of needs for you throughout the year.

If you like the idea of having a building that you can use in many different ways, get started by ordering that building from American Steel Carports, Inc. With the help of our Build & Price tool, you will be able to design a custom building from the ground up that is ideal for your property and your needs. Of course, if you need help, just contact us and we’ll get back to you right away. Don’t wait any longer to get started!

Consider Some Possibilities

In order to make your carport a multifunctional space that you can use as often as possible, you first need to think about what kinds of things you’ll want to do under the roof that it provides. You can use it for parking, which would be a traditional approach, and you could also opt to use it for storage. Other ideas include making your carport a covered outdoor living space where you can spend time relaxing with family and friends or using it as a workspace to make progress on projects or personal hobbies. Spend some time thinking about how you’ll be likely to leverage this space to advance your lifestyle, and those thoughts will be able to inform what comes next.

The Impact of Design

How you design your carport right from the beginning is going to have a major impact on how it is used over the years. Fortunately, when you work with American Steel Carports, Inc. on this type of project, you’ll be able to fully customize the building to make sure it properly suits your needs.

Let’s say that you want to use the carport as an outdoor living space. In that case, you’ll likely want it open on all sides so people can come and go easily while still getting some shade – or rain protection – from the roof above. On the other hand, if you want to use this as a workspace, adding a wall or two will keep more of the elements out and protect what you are working on (along with your tools). There is no right answer here for the perfect design other than to say the design you select should align nicely with the uses you have in mind.

What’s on the Ground?

Most of the time, people don’t think much about flooring for a carport. If you are simply going to park vehicles under the carport, a slab of concrete is usually the best bet. That can still work nicely when you want to use the carport for other endeavors, but be open to various possibilities here that could elevate your experience with the building even further. Going back to the outdoor living example, what if you constructed a deck under the carport so you had a comfortable and attractive surface to enjoy? That would certainly make your new outdoor space look and feel more like an area where you are meant to spend time.

Finishing Touches

Once the carport has been designed, ordered, and installed, you’ll be able to think about the finishing touches that really bring it to life. For outdoor living, that could be some patio furniture and other pieces that make it welcoming and inviting. For a workspace, that could mean adding some tool storage or a large table on which you can work. It’s important to note that you might decide to have these functions change throughout the year, so be sure to have places to store some of your components when they aren’t in use. For instance, you might make your carport an outdoor living space in the summer when the weather is good and then use it for parking in the winter to keep your vehicles protected.