Carport Attached To The Garage: Is It Better? (7 Reasons)

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Need Space to Park Your Car?

Are you in the same dilemma as a lot of Americans? You have a garage but you don’t have space to park your cars. Your garage has been taken over by workbenches, storage, maybe even a gym, while the cars are parked outside. Why not build a carport attached to the garage?

There are many pros to a carport attached to the garage:

1. Protection for Cars
2. Additional Parking Space
3. Unconventional Vehicle Parking
4. Additional Recreation Space
5. Cheaper than a Garage
6. Easier Permit Requirements
7. Quick Installation

In this post I will tell you what a carport is, where & how it can be built, as well as the pros & cons of having a carport attached to the garage. You should then be able to decide if it works for you.

Carport attached to the Garage

A carport is a covered structure to protect vehicles from sun, rain & snow. It must have  two or less walls. If a third wall is added, then it is considered a garage by the building code, even though it may not have a garage door.

Carports can be free standing, attached to the house or garage or an integral part of the house construction & design. Having a carport attached to the garage makes logical sense. 

In the case of an attached or detached garage, the carport could be on the driveway in front of the garage. Alternatively, the carport could be along the garage and share a wall with it. 

Undoubtedly the best carport design would be the one that sits between the house and a detached garage. It would function as a breezeway too.

Of course this would have to be an integral part of the house design and construction.

Free standing and even attached carports are available as kits or prefabs. But of course you can always have a custom designed carport constructed. 

Custom designed carports are not cheap. But it will blend in with your house and garage beautifully and seamlessly. It may even enhance the curb appeal of your home.

Pros of Carport attached to the Garage

A carport is not a garage and a garage is not a carport. Notwithstanding some functional similarities, it is un-not reasonable to compare them.

The pros of having a carport attached to the garage are:

1. Protection for Cars

It is a very familiar sight. You have so much stuff in your garage that there is no place for your cars. The car ends up being parked on the driveway in front of the garage. Exposed to the sun, rain and snow.

A carport attached to the garage, either in front or on the side, would give your cars a fair amount of protection from the elements.

2. Additional Parking Space

The carport can also be a very convenient place for your friends to park their car when they come over for lunch. They do not need to park on the front or side street. They will really be grateful on a hot or rainy day.

They will also not be bringing in dirt or slush into your house.

3. Unconventional Vehicle Parking

Are you an outdoor adventure kind of guy or gal? Do you own a camper or a boat?

Unconventional vehicles are not going to fit into a conventional garage. A carport of the appropriate dimensions may be your only option.

4. Additional Recreation Space

Sometimes your kids want to play outdoors, but it is hot. Or it is raining. Well, they could use the carport for playing, without sweat or getting wet.

Use the carport as a patio. Having a birthday party for your kid? Let the kids have fun under the carport. You don’t have to worry about cleaning any mess in the living room.

Pleasant spring or autumn weather. Set up a few tables under the carport and invite your friends over for evening drinks and socializing.

5. Cheaper than a Garage

A carport can not be considered as a replacement to a garage, but it does serve some basic functions of a garage. The carport is significantly cheaper than a comparable garage.

According to FIXR a permanent 20’X20’ carport will cost $7,200 compared to $33,200 for a garage of the same size. Of course this is just an indicative cost and the actual cost will depend on a host of factors.

Expect a decent carport to cost just 20 – 30% of a garage.

For a quick estimate of a carport cost, visit CARPORTS And More SHELTER SOLUTIONS.

6. Easier Permit Requirements

Carports are viewed as non-permanent additions to the house by the HOA and / or the local building authority. You will still need to get a permit and abide by the rules. The rules are a lot less stringent though.

Please do keep in mind that you may have to adjust your carport plans to comply with

• Distance requirements from boundary line (both front and side)
• Height requirements
• Aesthetic requirements

Actually an HOA may not give a permit for a carport on the front driveway, but may allow one on the side or back of the garage.

Obviously, you must get the permit before you proceed on your carport plans.

7. Quick Installation

If you are really in a hurry, carport is the way to go. Many companies offer structurally stable, prefab carports that can be set up within a day.

The only time consuming part is the concrete slab on which the carport will sit. This may not be necessary if you can install the carport on the driveway in front of the garage.

If you are located in California or one of the nearby states, you can contact California All-Steel Carports Inc. They have several high quality options available.

Do you live in Texas or one of the neighboring states, then take a look at American Metal Buildings. 

Cons of Carport attached to the Garage

If you look at the cons of a carport in comparison with a garage then you will find many. Lack of security, storage space, livability are pretty obvious. 

I think you have to consider the pros & cons of a carport in the context of a carport being an addition to the garage and not an alternative to the garage.

In which case a carport attached to the garage has just one thing going against it.

Ugly Industrial Look

More often than not, carports are ugly & industrial looking. They are likely an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful and visually appealing home and garage.

A carport assembled out of a carport kit often looks like a makeshift canopy or tent. A prefab carport looks like an unfinished warehouse.

It is possible to make a carport aesthetically pleasing and be in harmony with the house and the existing garage. Of course this requires some creative thinking, professional designing and expert execution. 

Integral Carport

The best way to do this is at the design stage of the house. The carport can then become an integral part of the house. It could use the same building material and architectural features for complete harmony.

Even if the carport is an afterthought, the use of unconventional building materials, water features, foliage, lighting etc can make the carport stand out as a beautiful piece of architecture. 

Such a carport will no longer be cheap or quick to install. But it will be beautiful.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that if your garage has been so overrun by stuff that your cars have to be parked in the open, a carport attached to the garage is the solution. 

Irrespective of whether you have an attached or a detached garage, you have two placement options. The carport could be on the driveway, in front of the garage or on the side of the garage, sharing a wall.

In case of a detached garage, not too far from the house, you have the additional option of a carport as part of the breezeway connecting the house and the garage.

Carport attached to the garage protects your cars and gives you additional parking & recreation space. Carport is cheaper than a garage, has easier permit requirements and is easy & quick to install. 

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.