There are different ways to store a car, but experts recommend using open garages or sheds. If a vehicle is simply parked on the street, it will be damaged by weather conditions. Leaving the vehicle in the garage is also not an option, as it creates strong condensation. Today, there are many technologies for making carports. They all differ in shape, size, etc.
What are awnings made of?
Carports are small structures or MAFs, which essentially consist of support posts, a roof and a platform for a car. Due to the fact that such structures are usually located on a summer cottage, their aesthetic appearance must match the house and the entire exterior.
Such a structure can be built from various materials, which in most cases will depend on the financial capabilities of the dacha owner.
The following material is mainly used:
Fire retardant compounds used to treat wood must have sanitary and epidemiological approvals and belong to groups 1 and 2 according to GOST. If we talk about load-bearing structural elements made of wood, then you need to use only the highest quality antiseptics and fireproofing agents. They can be distinguished from others of lower quality by their transparent pink color.
Types of roofing and popular materials
Protective carports for cars with a pitched roof are the easiest way to arrange a parking lot for an “iron horse”. One of the most important elements of such a structure is the upper frame of all pillars (mauerlat) and the rafter system. How well the structure will withstand wind gusts and snow loads depends on the quality of the installation.
Additional supports for the main pillars of the structure need to be done only if the distance between them exceeds 4.5 meters. The roof of a wooden carport can have a slope of 25 degrees and this will be quite enough. But the final slope also depends on the roofing material.
With a similar degree of inclination, 300 millimeters of height are added for every meter of roof. Thus, if the length of the canopy is 5 meters, then the pillars on one side should be 1.5 meters higher than the others. Gable or hip roofs are installed much less frequently, since this is a more complex building and is intended not only for storing a vehicle. For example, the first floor is for a car, and the second floor is for a gazebo, etc.
For a pitched roof use:
For a curved roof, polycarbonate must be used as a roof. As a rule, its frame is arched. For welding the base, profile pipes or forged products are used. When welding, it is necessary to adhere to these drawings and calculate the strength of such elements. It’s easy to make a carport from polycarbonate yourself. It is universal, looks quite inconspicuous and has an aesthetic appearance.
Portable carports
Today you can purchase portable carports. They are very convenient and compact. They are made of a metal frame, and the roof is made of an awning. The assembly instructions are simple, and you can install such a canopy in 1-2 hours. The portable option will be convenient for summer residents and lovers of outdoor recreation. There are types where the walls are made of soft glass or awning.
If we talk about the site where the car will directly stand, then it can be made of crushed stone. But more responsible owners make them from concrete slabs, natural stone, paving stones or paving slabs. To prevent the site from cracking in the future, it must be prepared accordingly: cleaned of debris and leveled the surface. Then you need to fill it with crushed stone, sand and compact it well.
When planning the structure, do not forget about the slope and drainage so that water does not stagnate on the site. To better protect the machine from rain, it is necessary to equip the structure with side walls.
Nuances for placement of the structure
The canopy can be installed in different places on the site: a separate place, adjacent to the house, fence, garage, or outbuilding. The area for installation must be selected depending on the individual conditions in a particular area. The best option would be to mount the entire structure on an independent foundation and supports, but if necessary, one of the sides can be made of a cantilever type.
Which material is better to choose
Any possible material for such structures may have its disadvantages and advantages. For example, the disadvantage of wood is its rotting and “fear of fire,” while metal is susceptible to corrosion. Also, to produce metal products, you must have a welding machine. Both wood and metal require constant care for long life.
If we talk about brick and stone, then this also has its own nuances. Such work will be very troublesome and labor-intensive; it will require masonry skills, great effort for mixing concrete, and it will take longer than the installation of wooden or metal structures.
It all depends on the financial capabilities and experience of the home owner. The cheapest option made of wood can be chosen by a person without special skills, but if you have a welding machine and an expanded budget for construction, then you can make a metal structure.
Once you have decided on the frame format, you need to start choosing the roof. Of course, the simplest option is to use rigid sheets of various origins, for example, metal tiles, polycarbonate, slate, etc. If you use roofing felt, then such a construction will be economical, but, on the other hand, it is necessary to take into account what is required install a rafter system, which is also needed for soft metal tiles.
An ideal option in all respects - This is the use of polycarbonate or corrugated sheet. But if you compare them with each other, the corrugated sheet corrodes over time, but polycarbonate does not have such disadvantages. Another advantage of polycarbonate is its translucency, which is especially important if the building is located near the wall of the house. Light will constantly flow under such a structure.
You can make a carport from wood with your own hands from timber. Often, 150x150 or 100x100 timber is used for these purposes. Rounded logs with a diameter of 150−200 mm are also used. For metal buildings, a pipe with a cross section of 100 mm or a profile 80x80 is suitable. The distance between the supports of the building should be 1.5-2 meters. In some cases, structures with a distance between supports of 3 meters are used, but it is necessary to carefully calculate the reliability of the canopy in order to avoid unforeseen situations.
As support pipes, you can use a round or profiled 40x80 pipe or for larger structures 80x80. For the rafter system, 40x40 pipes should be used. If you make a mauerlat from wood in a metal frame, then you need to take a 100x40 edged board, solid or laminated timber 100x100.
Optimal dimensions for the design
The parameters of a carport can be different, depending on various factors: the size of the car, their number, and the availability of sufficient space for construction. For passenger cars, you can build a carport measuring 5 x 2.3 m. If we talk about a universal structure that is suitable for SUVs, crossovers and minibuses, then parameters of 6.6-3.6 m are suitable. In order for a carport for two cars to be convenient and not take up much space, Optimal dimensions of 5.3−6.9 m are taken on the site.
The height of the canopy is designed depending on the height of the car, and the size of the upper trunk, if any, is also taken into account. A very low structure will not be convenient to use, especially when getting out of the car. The optimal height can range from at least 1.9−2.2 m. But at the same time, if the building is higher than necessary, then rain and snow may fall on the car.
Taking into account accepted standards, the carport should be 1 meter higher than the vehicle and 2 meters wider. If the design is for two vehicles, the free distance will be the same.
When making a structure yourself, it is recommended to download ready-made drawings and installation instructions on the Internet. When not a single drawing fits, you can take an existing one and change it to suit your requirements.
Using polycarbonate for construction
The best option is to use metal pipes or profiles for the frame, and polycarbonate for the roof. It is advisable to make a pitched roof to avoid additional costs, labor and time.
Before starting construction, it is necessary to prepare the following materials and tools:
- metal profile and pipes;
- Bulgarian;
- polycarbonate;
- a set of nuts and additional fasteners;
- sand, water, crushed stone, cement, paint.
First you need to choose a place for construction, install posts around the perimeter and tighten the rope. All work should be carried out strictly according to the previously prepared drawing. Then you need to make a pit 20-30 centimeters deep. Dig holes on the sides for support pillars from 70 centimeters to one meter, depending on the groundwater level.
Cover everything with a 10-centimeter layer of sand and crushed stone and compact it. After this, it is necessary to make a grid of reinforcement to reinforce the concrete. You also need to build formwork around the entire perimeter of the site and the pillar pits. Separately install reinforcement for the support pillars. When all the reinforcement is tied and in place, pour a 10-centimeter layer of concrete.
A week after pouring the foundation, you can begin work on installing the frame and roof. Using brackets, attach the support pipes or profile to the pre-cast foundation pillars. Then you need to check the height of the pillars and if the required slope angle is not obtained, then we trim them using a grinder.
Once the support posts are attached, you can make the top trim. For this, a metal profile of 40x40 millimeters is used. The strapping needs to be welded to the base, then the stiffening ribs of the rafter system, as well as the rafters themselves, must be welded. The distance between them should be approximately 1 meter. After installing and fastening all frame parts, protect the welding points and completely paint the structure.
A few hours after the paint has dried, you need to start attaching the polycarbonate. To do this, you can use special press nuts.
At this point, the construction work to create a carport can be considered completed. With competent calculations and the purchase of the necessary material, the entire process will not take much time, and the car will be reliably protected from weather conditions.
How to quickly and inexpensively build a carport with your own hands? Tips for choosing a structure, choosing a site for construction, a step-by-step description of the process of building a canopy.
The problem of car storage is faced by every car owner. If your iron horse spends its days and nights in the open air, then it is threatened by snow, hail, or sun. All this accelerates the corrosion process, and one fine day you find “saffron milk caps” on the wheel arches, which foreshadow the prospect of expensive body repairs. This can be avoided in several ways. The simplest and most reliable is to build a carport with your own hands. Moreover, you can do this yourself, spending only on building materials.
Carport: an alternative or addition to the garage
Many car enthusiasts advocate for a warm garage, but a dry, clean car must enter a warm garage, otherwise the temperature will only help moisture, dirt and salts to quickly destroy the body of your car.
From the point of view of body safety, a canopy is the optimal solution, since it protects from all external factors (sun, precipitation) and does not create its own microclimate. When driving under a canopy, the car is not exposed to changes in air temperature and humidity.
In addition, if you compare the costs of building a shed and a garage, it turns out that the shed will cost several times less.
DIY temporary carport in one day
If the problem of storing a car is very acute, and you need to do something as quickly as possible and at minimal cost, then you can make a canopy of the simplest design from polypropylene pipes. The only tools you will need are a pipe cutter, a tape measure and a pipe soldering iron (the cheapest one will do).
The top can be covered with PVC fabric (the kind used for tented trucks and MAFs) - it is strong and durable. The legs can be simply dug in, or they can be concreted in some containers. For example, in paint buckets. Concrete will provide stability and prevent the wind from toppling your awning. At the same time, the structure can be moved from place to place.
Of course, a canopy and pipes are more of a temporary solution to the problem, but it is quite possible to build it in one day, even alone, without anyone’s help. And your car will be able to wait for the construction of a garage or a major shed without being exposed to the destructive effects of the environment.
We build a major carport with our own hands
In order for your canopy to do its job well and be convenient to use, you need to think about two things.
1. You should decide in advance on the size of the canopy. Consider the dimensions of your car, as well as the fact that the sun's rays and precipitation do not fall strictly perpendicular to the surface of the earth. Make allowances on all sides, otherwise the bottom of the car will be exposed to both rain and sun. The greater the height of the canopy, the greater the overlap.
2. Choose your location carefully. It is possible that the configuration of the yard and buildings will allow the canopy to be partially or completely secured to the already finished walls. Thanks to this, you can save on supports and not clutter up your yard with unnecessary poles.
Fundamentally, any canopy consists of a frame and a roof.
As you can already see, a variety of materials can be used to build a frame.
If you know how to weld, it is better to use metal.
There are many options for roof solutions. Here again you need to think something through in advance. First, will the roof of your shed be straight or sloped? A sloping roof is more practical in terms of collecting rainfall, but keep in mind that you will have to solve the problem of draining water from the roof, otherwise you are guaranteed a ditch in the middle of the yard.
In addition, the sloping roof can be pitched or gable. A pitched roof is simpler in design, but if its area is too large, it will not be able to effectively drain rainwater. However, this can only become a problem if you are building a really large carport (for 2, 3 or more cars).
The choice of roofing material depends only on your preferences and capabilities. Perhaps you know how to work with metal tiles or you have extra slate left after building a house. Anything will do.
Beautiful carports
And finally, we have prepared for you some photos of original and interesting car canopies. For example, this canopy is very elegant and does not clutter up the space.
And finally: why not turn the roof of your carport into a solar power station?
A DIY carport is one of the easiest things to build and undoubtedly one of the most necessary! After all, you invest effort and money into your car and expect it to serve you for many years. We hope that these photos will give you inspiration and confidence in your abilities.
Every country house must have a parking space.
It is not always profitable to build a garage. Firstly, it is faster, easier, and cheaper to equip a roof on poles (canopy). Secondly, a garage is a permanent structure that occupies a large area.
The article will help the reader not only learn the features of various carports, but also choose the best option for themselves.
Types of canopies
All canopies have the same purpose - to protect the car from precipitation, sunlight, and other “surprises” of the environment. However, they also have their own characteristics.
- Accommodation.
- Mobility.
- Material for supports and frame.
- Roof structure.
- Roofing material.
Various coatings are used for roofing work. However, not all are suitable for awnings. The following materials are most often chosen.
- simple installation;
- lightweight, non-flammable material;
- the top coating creates protection against rust, temperature changes, and mechanical stress;
- if the protective coating is damaged, rust forms;
- loud noise during rain or hail.
- high durability;
- low weight facilitates installation work;
- high tightness of joints;
- fire safety;
- resistance to temperature and humidity fluctuations.
- loud noise during rain or hail;
- the protective layer is easily damaged, so installation is carried out in soft shoes;
- with a slight roof slope, snow melts poorly.
- easy installation due to the wavy shape;
- environmental safety;
- high durability;
- wide color variety.
- in hot weather it heats up, and then the smell of bitumen appears;
- with prolonged use, color loses;
- flammable material.
- sheets have different sizes and color shades;
- high strength;
- simple installation;
- fire safety;
- When destroyed, no fragments are formed.
- Great care is required when clearing the roof of snow, as the material is easily damaged by sharp objects;
- contact with solvents, ammonia, mineral salts is not allowed;
- there are restrictions on fasteners.
Project preparation
The construction of a canopy begins with the preparation of the project. It includes a drawing with basic dimensions and a description of the parameters of the future design. The project takes into account optimal operating conditions, coating composition, characteristics of the base and coating.
- Choosing the best winter option.
All the benefits of a carport are fully realized in winter.
When developing a project, the climatic features of the area must be taken into account.
It has been proven that it is better to store a car under a canopy in winter.
The structure of support pillars and roof reliably protects from precipitation, and also does not create its own microclimate. Having driven under a canopy in winter, the car gradually cools down, which means it does not become covered with dew. In the garage, due to temperature changes, dew falls, which gradually destroys the metal of the body.
In areas with cold and long winters, a more durable design is chosen that can withstand a thick layer of snow. The frame made of wood or metal is additionally reinforced to withstand a load of up to 150 kg per square meter. m of roof.
Among roofing materials, only polycarbonate does not change its qualities in harsh winter conditions.
- Choice of site coverage.
An inexpensive and simple covering method is backfilling with crushed stone. To avoid descent, the covering must be at ground level. The rigidity of crushed stone is achieved by high-quality compaction.
More expensive methods are laying concrete or paving slabs. In any case, the site is prepared before laying: the soil layer is removed, backfilled with crushed stone and sand, and compacted.
- Selection of design dimensions.
Depending on the number of cars, sizes are chosen.
The standards establish that for one car, the canopy must be one meter longer than the car, and up to two meters wider.
For two cars, the width of the canopy is calculated by the formula: W = W1 + W2 + 2 m + 0.8 m, where:
- Ш1 and Ш2 – machine width;
- 2 m – 1 m margin on the outer sides of the vehicles;
- 0.8 m – distance between cars.
The height is selected taking into account the dimensions of the car with cargo on the trunk. With a very high canopy, slanting precipitation enters the structure. The optimal height is 2.3 meters.
The following sizes are considered universal:
- An average car with a small platform – 6.0 x 3.0 m;
- Minibus, SUV – 6.5 x 3.5 m;
- Two cars – 6.5 x 6.0 m.
- Selection of support materials.
Suitable building materials for racks are: metal, wood, concrete, brick, stone.
Typically, supports are made of metal or wood. They are easy to install, and most importantly, they are cheaper than other building materials.
- Metal stands.
The main requirement for prefabricated metal supports is strength. To withstand the load of a roof with snow cover, you will need 100 - millimeter metal pipes. The diameter depends on the installation pitch. The minimum size of pipes is allowed if there are many racks. But for a pitched roof with four posts, pipes of maximum diameter will be required.
- Wooden stands.
There are special requirements for wooden supports. First of all, this is due to possible rotting due to moisture. Supports made from high-quality wood, treated before installation, will last up to 15 years.
Sufficient reliability is ensured 200 mm rounded logs and beams size 150 mm.
It is estimated that the average car with a small area will require 6 racks. A distance of up to 3 m is selected between the supports. Racks must be placed at the corners of the building.
- Selection of materials for coating.
Corrugated sheeting or ondulin are best suited as a covering for a detached building. They have high reliability and durability, so they last more than 20 years. Only metal tiles last longer, but they are more expensive, and most importantly, they delay snow melting. These coverings do not allow light to pass through, so there is always shadow under them.
Polycarbonate is best suited for canopies. The main attention is paid to the choice of material quality. In hot weather, three-layer polycarbonate with a high rate of absorption of sunlight creates good shade.
For a shed attached to a house, it is logical to have the same type of roofing as the house.
The main parameters of roofs are established by the “Building Codes and Rules”. They are used when designing roofs with any covering. The slope in degrees or percentage is determined by the horizon level. The type of roofing material is of great importance when choosing a slope.
For all roofs on pillars, the optimal slope is considered to be from 15 to 25 degrees.
The amount of materials is determined by the roof area. They are purchased with a reserve: 5% more than the calculated area.
Construction of a polycarbonate canopy
To build a metal structure with a pitched roof covered with polycarbonate, the following sequence of work is followed.
Construction of a wooden canopy
Completely wooden carports are rare. A structure that has wooden supports, frame elements and sheathing is considered to be wooden. The roof has different coverings.
The construction of a wooden canopy begins with marking, laying out the foundation and attaching the posts using one of the options:
The site is laid with tiles or concrete.
A columnar foundation protects wooden supports from contact with the ground, which means it extends their service life.
The racks installed on the embedded parts of the columnar foundation are connected to each other, and transverse beams are laid on top.
The equipment of the frame is completed by assembling the rafters and filling the sheathing.
The roof will be of high quality if the following rules are followed when installing corrugated sheeting:
Correct fastening of corrugated sheets
- the sheets are laid overlapping;
- fastening is performed using stainless steel fasteners;
- Rubber washers are inserted under the fasteners.
Attached canopy
This design occupies the local area with maximum benefit. Support-beam structures have proven themselves well. They have high strength and original style. The construction of the attached canopy is carried out in stages.
First stage. Attaching brackets for the load-bearing beam.
Work begins with marking the wall. Where the ends of the load-bearing beams join the wall, iron brackets are secured with anchors.
Second stage. Installation of racks.
Select locations for installing supports. In the simple version, you will need two of them.
The racks are installed in dug meter-long holes. In height they should be 30 cm lower than the reinforced iron brackets. Before installation, formwork is made from roofing felt in the pits, into which wooden poles are inserted and then filled with concrete.
The result is supports with a foundation that hardens in up to three days.
Third stage. Frame installation.
The cross rafters of the future roof are inserted into brackets on the wall and nailed to the supports.
Sheathing boards are installed on the edge. The choice of pitch depends on the coverage. It is easy to install ondulin sheets, which is why it is often used for roofs of houses and extensions.
The pitch of the sheathing is related to the slope of the roof. If the slope is more than 15 degrees, choose a sheathing pitch of 600 mm.
Fourth stage. Laying roofing.
Ondulin is laid with a shift so that the joints of the sheets do not converge. Special nails are used for fastening. They are nailed at the bottom of each wave.
To give the attached structure a finished look, designers advise covering the inside of the roof with wooden or plastic panels.
In general, a carport is not a permanent structure. You can build it yourself. It doesn't take up much space. There are many varieties of such structures.
Immediately after building a house, and sometimes even before, the problem of parking arises. It is not always possible to build a permanent garage, but installing a roof on poles - a canopy - is easier and cheaper. The carport can be a free-standing structure. Then it is placed in the yard, usually not far from the entrance gate or garage. The second option is attached to the house, when one or more sides of the roof rest on the wall of the building. From a functional point of view, both options are equivalent; everyone just chooses based on personal requirements and preferences.
Dimensions
Since the dimensions of cars can vary significantly, in each case the optimal dimensions are determined depending on the car available.
The height is usually around 2.5 meters. This is more than enough even for an SUV with a loaded trunk. And to determine the length and width of the canopy, at least a meter is added to the external dimensions of the machine. Agree, it is quite enough if there is a distance of half a meter to the pillars.
But to protect against precipitation, it is better to make the roof overhangs longer: they will also protect from slanting rain and snow.
When determining the size of a canopy for two cars, take the distance between the rear-view mirrors to be 50 cm. The same amount is calculated for the pillars. And the length of the canopy is determined by the longest car.
Frame materials
Mostly, wood is used for supports - timber or logs, metal pipes of round or rectangular cross-section. Sometimes the supporting columns are made of brick or stone. They are more massive, attract more attention, and therefore must fit into the style of the building that is located nearby.
There are also options when the bottom of the support column is made of brick, and the top is made of wood or metal. And in this case, everything is determined by the style of the house and the site. You should not make brick supports if there are restrictions on the size of the site: they are quite massive and take up a decent amount of space.
All materials (except brick) are processed before use. Wood is necessarily coated with fire retardants (reducing the flammability of the material). Then it is impregnated with compounds that will protect it from damage by wood-boring insects, as well as from all weather conditions.
Its implementation
Particular attention should be paid to the processing of wood that will be buried in the ground. It can be impregnated with special compounds for wood in contact with the ground (for example, Senezh Ultra and its analogues). The impregnation performed well during testing. The ends of the pillars that will be buried are immersed in a container with mining for a couple of days. After drying, they can be used without additional measures. 10 years is enough.
The second option is to pour a concrete pillar into the ground, and install a mounting plate, shoe or pin into it, to which a wooden beam is then attached.
Metal poles are cleaned of rust and coated with primer. After welding, the seams are additionally processed and everything is coated with paint in two layers. The second is applied after the first layer of paint has dried to a “touch” state.
Types of roofing (with drawings and dimensions)
The most economical and simplest is a pitched roof. It is usually used if the carport is attached to the house: this is the easiest way to organize a normal connection to the wall.
They also make a pitched roof for free-standing sheds. In regions with little snow in winters, you can make a roof without a slope; in those where there is a lot of snow, a slope of at least 8-10° is required. In this case, the lower side is made from the south or east: so that there is more shadow. Also in this case, on the south side you can sew up the canopy on the side (or plant tall plants there).
If a canopy is made from polycarbonate, then the roof is vaulted. It is also optimal from the point of view of precipitation and is easily implemented due to the flexibility of this material.
A more complex gable roof. If made of metal, it has a relatively simple structure.
In the case of a wooden canopy under a gable roof, the system is multi-component.
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Roofing material
If the carport is attached to the house, it makes sense to make its roof from the same material. For soft types of roofing (flexible tiles, ondulin, etc.) a continuous sheathing is required, for hard types - sparse, and the pitch is chosen depending on the wind and snow loads in the region, also focusing on the recommendations of roofing material manufacturers.
If complete shading is not required, polycarbonate can be used. By the way, it is the most popular material recently. You just need to choose it correctly: take a multi-chamber one that has at least three layers of plastic and two rows of cells. It’s not hot under such a polycarbonate canopy even on a sunny day.
Also, the degree of heating depends on the color. See the technical specifications and choose the one that absorbs sunlight more. Transparent ones are needed for greenhouses to warm the plants. For canopies, on the contrary, you need polycarbonate with low light transmittance.
How to lay out the site
The easiest and most inexpensive way to make a platform under a carport is to fill it with gravel. To do this, you will need to remove the turf, dig the curb, pour crushed stone and compact it well using tamping platforms. Then the platform will be rigid and ruts will not form.
Compacted crushed stone is a good surface for car parking
Recently, areas paved with paving slabs or paving stones have become more popular. They have a more attractive appearance, but their construction is more expensive. Preparation begins the same way: first, the soil is removed. But the pit is made about 20-25 cm deep. Crushed stone is poured onto the bottom, which is also compacted well. Then it is advisable to spread a layer on the crushed stone. This is a non-woven material that will prevent the sand that will be poured on top from spilling out and mixing with gravel. Geotextiles also redistribute the load more evenly, preventing the base from sagging under the wheels of a car (it is used in road construction). A layer of sand is already poured onto it, which is also compacted. Paving slabs, clinker bricks, cobblestones and other similar materials are laid in the sand.
In the middle in terms of costs is a concrete site. The base is also prepared from compacted crushed stone. Wooden planks are laid on it at a distance of 1 m, which are set level or with a slight slope to drain water. These strips serve as beacons during pouring, and then play the role of damping joints, compensating for the thermal expansion of concrete. With this structure, cracks appear less frequently.
A metal mesh made of galvanized wire is laid between the slats. You can, of course, use stainless steel, but it is expensive. Wire thickness 3-4 mm, cell 10*10 cm. Pour on top. The thickness of the concrete layer is 7-10 cm.
DIY canopy attached to the house (photo report)
It was decided to attach a canopy to the house, under which to hide favorite equipment - a car and a boat. First, using a motorized drill, we dug holes 1.5 m deep - below the freezing depth.
We inserted waterproofing sleeves, a frame made of 10 mm rods with welded mortgages, and filled them with concrete.
The installation pitch of the pillars is 2 meters.
When the concrete set, the pillars and top trim were installed. They are sanded and treated with protective impregnation. To prevent the frame from moving, we secured it with what we had - aluminum corners. The joint between the posts and the frame was reinforced with metal plates.
The pillars are screwed to the “heels”
A support board was nailed to the wall of the house. Roof beams (50-200 cm board) were attached to it. The slope turned out to be small, about 9°, but it was enough. Small cuts were made in the beams to fit the size of the timber - for support, the edges were cut off to create an even overhang.
The beams were fastened to the frame with nails diagonally, 2 pieces on each side.
The beams on the wall are fixed to U-shaped metal plates.
The rafter system was assembled - the beams were installed with a small pitch - 40 cm, they were made from 50 * 200 mm boards.
OSB was attached to the rafters on top. Roofing material - soft tiles. It needs a continuous sheathing underneath.
A board was nailed to the side between the posts: for greater rigidity and so that the rain would wet the site less.
The sidewall was sewn up with a board - so that the rain would get in less
Soft tiles were laid. It worked - at least dance.
Now there's competition in the parking lot.
How to make a canopy for polycarbonate (photo report)
Materials used:
- professional pipe
- for racks 80*80 14.6 m;
- for arches 50*25 - 4 pcs. 6 m each + 50*25 - 10 pcs. 6 m each for spacers;
- sand concrete - 3 bags of 40 kg.
- crushed stone - 4 bags of 25 kg.
- red lead - 3 cans of 1 liter each.
The canopy was built over the already finished path. The posts were buried in the gap between the curb and the fence. It turned out that the canopy supports were placed near the fence posts. It was decided to use them when setting the level: they attached them with anchors so as not to suffer when pouring.
The metal pillars of the racks were buried 1.2 m into the ground, covered with crushed stone, and filled with concrete. When the concrete set, the top trim was welded.
Afterwards the production of trusses began. First, profiles with the required radius were bent on a pipe bender (rise at the highest point 1.2 m). Afterwards, the assembly of the “constructor” began.
Clamps were useful; they were used to hold parts together so that they would not move during work. They fixed it to the first truss so that everything was done accurately. There were a lot of clamps)))
Once all the trusses were complete, they were cleaned, sanded down to white metal, then primed and painted twice. Then the acrobatics began. It is necessary to install heavy trusses on poles, align them vertically, without knocking down the diagonals.
As soon as we managed to set it correctly, we quickly tacked it by welding, leaving the thorough welding of the seams “for later,” after the final inspection: everything should be on the same level.
A miracle happened, everything turned out to be almost on the same level. We do not take into account a small difference of a few millimeters.
Now we weld the sheathing from a 50*25 mm profile pipe under polycarbonate. We place them along the long side of the canopy. The installation step was chosen to be 0.8 m.
All that remains is to attach the polycarbonate. It is attached to self-tapping screws through special thermal washers (sold in the same place as polycarbonate). The two sheets are connected using special profiles. They are detachable and non-detachable. One-piece ones are cheaper, but then you won’t be able to make anything else out of this polycarbonate. So we used detachable ones.
It is also necessary to cover the edges of all sheets, otherwise dust and midges will get inside, then moisture will appear due to evaporation, and then mold. And the coating will look deplorable. Therefore, we install special plugs on the edges.
Video on the topic
Parking a car is a big problem for a person living in a large city, however, even in a private house you may encounter some problems, for example, if you don’t want to leave your car in the scorching sun or hail, but you don’t have money for a garage. In this case, you can resort to a cheap way to protect your car from external influences - a canopy. Making such a canopy is quite simple, and anyone can handle the cost of it. In this article we will look in detail at how to make a carport with your own hands in order to get reliable and attractive protection for your car.
Carport size
For successful construction, it is first necessary to draw up a plan for the future construction. To do this, you can use drawings of ready-made carports, or prepare them yourself.
In both cases, the most difficult step is determining the size of the canopy. The fact is that the dimensions of different cars can differ significantly, and making a universal canopy is simply not rational, so the dimensions of the canopy are determined depending on the car.
We determine the dimensions:
- The optimal height for any vehicle except trucks is 2.5 meters;
- The width of the canopy should be at least 1 m greater than the width of the car: a margin of half a meter will allow easy parking;
- The length of the canopy can also be made with a margin of a meter, however, to protect against slanting rain and snow, it is better to make a larger margin.
When making a carport for several cars, follow the same instructions, but do not forget about the distance between the cars, which can also be made equal to 1 m. In this case, it is necessary to determine the length based on the longest car.
Frame materials
Most often, private owners build a carport from timber, because... This is a relatively inexpensive and reliable material, but for the vault it is better to use round or rectangular pipes. The supports themselves can be made from pipes.
The material for building columns can also be brick or stone. Typically, columns made from such material are very massive, so you should not use them in small areas. It is also worth understanding that this is not a universal material, so make sure that stone columns fit into the design of your home.
If brick or stone fits perfectly with the style of your home, but you don’t want to make the columns too large, then you can use the two above options at once, making the base of stone and the top of wood.
Metal and wood require additional processing before use. The wood must be impregnated with a fire retardant and antiseptic, which will significantly extend the life of the canopy and also protect it from fire.
The beam can be secured in two ways. The most effective, but labor-intensive, is fastening with studs to concrete posts poured into the ground. This way you will avoid rapid rotting of the wood in the ground, as well as the formation of various distortions.
The second method is much simpler, but less reliable. Wooden posts can simply be buried in the ground, but in this case it is necessary to use special impregnations designed to protect the wood in the ground. Here you can save money and use the waste by soaking the ends of the timber in it for a couple of days.
Using a metal profile, clean it from rust and coat it with primer. After welding, treat the seams with a special compound and paint in two layers.
Types of roofing
Most often, a shed roof is used for a canopy, because... it does not require large financial and time expenditures. When making a lean-to carport with your own hands, it is better to attach it to the house: this way you will additionally save on several columns, which you will replace with the wall of the house.
Free-standing sheds are also made with a pitched roof, but this is much more complicated than the previous option. When making a pitched roof, do not forget about its slope. In regions with frequent precipitation, 8-10° is recommended. The lower level of the slope should be located on the south side to provide more shade, but this rule can be neglected. It is recommended to sew up the southern opening of the canopy or plant it with tall plants.
A vaulted roof is also often used for a canopy. To organize such a roof, we recommend using polycarbonate. A polycarbonate carport looks aesthetically pleasing and fully performs its functions. Thanks to its smooth surface, precipitation will easily flow off the roof, and its light weight and flexibility make it easy to install.
A shed with a gable roof is one of the rarest options. The design is complex, and the end result is no better than a pitched or vaulted roof. If you decide to make a gable roof, use metal, because... it will make the design much simpler. In the same way, you can make a shed for firewood with your own hands, which will be convenient and attractive.
Selection of roofing material
Choosing a roofing material is quite easy: if you are attaching a canopy to your house, then its roof should be made of the same material. Sheathing for a canopy is done in the same way as for a house. For soft materials, for example, ondulin, make a continuous sheathing, and for hard ones - sparse. You can make a canopy for your house from a metal profile with your own hands, which will reduce costs. The pitch size between the boards is usually specified by the manufacturer of the roofing material.
You can also build a carport using polycarbonate, which we discussed above. When choosing such a material, make sure that it is multi-chambered: at least two rows of cells and three rows of plastic, so that on hot days it protects the car from heating.
The degree of light absorption also plays a huge role. To keep your canopy cool, choose dark materials with strong light absorption.
How to lay out a platform for a carport
When making a carport, you also need to make a platform under it. The cheapest and easiest option is to fill it with crushed stone. To do this, simply remove the turf, dig in the curb, then pour in crushed stone and compact it. This way you will achieve a rigid platform in which ruts do not form.
The second option is to lay paving stones and paving slabs under the canopy. As a result, you will get a durable and beautiful coating, but you will have to spend a lot of money on it, as well as a lot of time and effort.
Work order:
- Dig a pit 20-25 cm deep;
- Pour crushed stone onto the bottom and compact it thoroughly (you can use a tamping plate for this);
- It is recommended to lay a layer of geotextile on the crushed stone, which will prevent sand from penetrating into the crushed stone, thereby reducing the chance of the foundation subsiding under the wheels of the car;
- Place a layer of sand on the crushed stone or geotextile and compact it thoroughly;
- Lay paving slabs or their equivalents in the sand.
The last option is pouring concrete. This site is less attractive than the second option and more reliable than the first. In terms of price and time, pouring concrete will cost much less than paving slabs.
It is done as follows:
- Prepare a base of crushed stone as in the previous version;
- Make formwork and lay wooden boards on the crushed stone at a distance of 1 m;
- Make a mesh with a 10 by 10 cm cage from wire 3-4 mm thick;
- Lay the mesh between the boards and fill with concrete of at least M 250 grade.
Don't forget about the slope if you need water drainage. The thickness of the concrete layer should be at least 7 cm, but there is no point in making it more than 10 cm.
How to assemble a carport attached to a house - drawings
Making carport drawings with your own hands is quite simple: take the dimensions of your case and adjust it to a ready-made template. At this point, the drawing will be ready, however, not everyone will be able to correctly assemble the structure so that it will last for many years, so we offer you detailed instructions for assembling a canopy attached to the house:
- Dig holes below the freezing level of the soil (usually 1.5 m will be enough), take a step between the pillars of the canopy of about 2 m;
- Place a waterproofing sleeve in the holes, as well as a frame made of 10 mm rod with welded inserts;
- Fill the sleeves with concrete;
- Sand and saturate the timber;
- When the concrete has hardened, begin assembling the frame of the carport: level the posts and the top trim;
- Attach the support board to the wall of the house so as to obtain a slope of 8-10°;
- Prepare the beams (board 50 by 200 mm): cut the corners at an angle, and also make grooves to fit the size of the beam;
- Attach the beams in 40 cm increments to the support board using U-shaped fasteners, and nail them to the beam diagonally or use corners;
- Next, assemble the sheathing. If you use soft roofing material, make it from OSB; if you use hard materials, use a board with a pitch suitable for the purchased material;
- Lay roofing material.
At this point, the assembly of the carport made of timber is completed, as you can see, it is quite simple to do.
DIY polycarbonate canopy assembly
As mentioned above, frame carports are often made using polycarbonate, so we will analyze this option in detail. Also in this case we will not use timber, but metal pipes.
Instructions:
- As in the previous option, dig holes to the level of soil freezing, install a waterproofing capsule and a metal profile at the level;
- Fill the capsule with concrete and let it dry, be careful and do not allow the vertical profile to change; we recommend securing it to the reinforcements driven in nearby;
- Weld the top trim;
- Bend the profile on a pipe bender to obtain the required radius - rise at the highest point;
- Assemble the truss by welding a straight pipe to the ends of a curved one and reinforcing the structure with transverse pipes;
- Weld the finished trusses, maintaining the diagonal and vertical;
- Make the sheathing: weld profile pipes with dimensions of 50 by 25 mm to the trusses in increments of 1 m;
- Secure the polycarbonate with screws with special thermal washers, connect the two sheets with a special profile;
- Install plugs on the edges of the polycarbonate to prevent dust, midges, and moisture from accumulating inside, which will subsequently lead to the formation of mold.
Conclusion
Now you know how to make your own carport from timber and metal profiles. Do not forget that the reliability of any building depends not only on the quality of the work done, but also on the quality of the raw materials, so do not use low-quality cement, rotting timber, or cheap impregnations for it.
