Thursday, June 4, 2009

Lean To Carports and Single Slope Carports For Small Spaces

By John Moore

Lean to carports or single slope carports allow for proper rain runoff and can let accumulated ice to melt and flow off the roof without causing puddles of water that can form on flat top carports. If the only possible location for your carport is next to your house or another structure such as a garage then you might find yourself limited in the type of carport you are able to build. Carports that need to fit in small spaces are generally restricted to lean to carports or single slope carports or a flat roof carports.

Sometimes multi slope carports don't work for many reasons. A major reason is appearances. The delineation between house and carport should not be clearly marked or it will look like the carport is not an integral part of your house. You want your home and carport to look as though they blend together as one. A carport that looks glued to the side of your house will not bring any long term satisfaction. Another reason related to functionality of the roof line. If you live in an area that has a great deal of annual snow fall you will want to make sure that the snow or ice will not gather between your house and the carport. In the spring thaw, the runoff melted snow and water will need a clear and direct path to escape to the ground. You do not want the water from the melted ice to puddle against your home. Exposing your masonry work to standing water is an expensive mistake.

Lean to carports or single slope car carports tend to look more natural and blended into your home than a flat roof carport. Matching the pitch of the roofs is very important. If the roof lines march then the two roofs look like they are meant to be together. If you are considering adding a carport that has a roof at a different angle than the angle on the roof on your home do yourself a big favor. Take a picture of your current home and print off two copies. Draw a carport addition with the same pitch roof as your house and then draw a carport addition with a different pitch than the pitch of your house. The difference in appearance is clear to see.

Flat roof carports have one distinct advantage over other types of carports. A flat roof carport can be used as a deck or a screened in porch. For some people a flat roof carport provides an irresistible advantage. Changing a second story window into a doorway is a reasonably inexpensive and simple task. A contractor could probably do the job in a few days. In order to support a deck or any type of second story structure the supporting posts in the carport would need to be able to be strong enough to handle an extra load. An experienced contractor would be able to help you figure out the new load.

You don't need to build a door to allow access to the deck right away. With advanced planning this decision can wait a few years or more. However, if you think you might consider utilizing the top of the flat roof then you need to calculate the increased load and plan accordingly.

In conclusion, think seriously about what type of carport roof is suitable for your family. Consider location and purpose. Once the carport is constructed you will have to look at it for a long time. A lean to carport or a single slope carport might suit your needs best.

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