So, you’ve decided you need to start taking better care of your vehicle, and you want to build it some protection. Well, you have two main choices, you can either go for a carport or a garage. Many might assume that a carport and a garage are the same thing as they fulfil a similar sort of need. However, they do in fact differ in a few key ways. So, below we will run through the pros and cons of both, in order to help you decide which is best for your home. But first…
What is the difference between a carport and a garage?
Carports and garages are similar in many aspects. They both offer protection from the wind, rain and sun and can both be either connected to the side of your home or act as free-standing structures. How they differ lies in how they look, how they are built and how much they cost. Garages are fully enclosed structures that include a door and large shutter that gives you and the vehicle access.
Because they are fully enclosed, they keep out anything and everything the environment can throw at your car. In comparison, a carport is a structure that has at least two open sides. It will still keep rain and sun away from your vehicle, but less so as the elements can still reach your car through the open sides.
Carports vs garages: assessing the pros and cons
Carports and garages are similar in many aspects. They both offer protection from the wind, rain and sun and can both be either connected to the side of your home or act as free-standing structures. How they differ lies in how they look, how they are built and how much they cost. Garages are fully enclosed structures that include a door and large shutter that gives you and the vehicle access.
Now that we know the difference, let’s take a deeper look into the pros and cons of garages vs carports.
The pros and cons of carports
Pro #1 - They tend to be quite low cost
Pro #2 - You can make them out of a wide variety of different building materials
Pro #3 - With a small amount of personal DIY experience, you could build one yourself
Pro #4 - Once you get started, they are very quick to erect
Pro #5 - To build one, you either won’t need council approval or can usually receive it very quickly
Con #1 - Compared to garages, carports tend to be less versatile
Con #2 - Carports are not theft-proof, and can still be accessed by anyone
Con #3 - They tend to offer little in the way of practical storage space (especially for anything that should not be left out in the open)
Con #4 - They can do little to add any real value to your property
Con #5- They can have a shorter lifespan than a well-constructed garage
The pros and cons of garages
Pro #1- They offer 100% protection against all the elements
Pro #2 - They can include plenty of storage space for a wide variety of valuable items
Pro #3 - They are much better at deterring car thieves than carports
Pro #4 - They can increase the value of your home
Pro #5 - They can be converted into living space if the need ever arises
Con #1 - They can be quite expensive to build and you should bring in skilled help
Con #2 - They take longer to construct than carports
Con #3 - Typically, garages require you to comply with much more stringent regulation
Deciding which one is best for you
As you can see, there are some very crucial differences between garages and carports. As such, it is important to consider each one carefully before getting to work. Let’s look at some possible scenarios in order to help you decide which one is best for you.
1. Your reason for building your carport or garage is to get equipment out of your home
A common reason for building a carport or garage is to help get tools and other equipment out of the house. Well, it’s true that carports can offer some protection to other belongings, though it will not suffice if these items are valuable. If you want to move out sporting equipment and tools, then a garage is a much safer bet as they are less of a magnet for thieves.
2. Your vehicles are very valuable
Both carports and garages can do a fantastic job of protecting your vehicles. Even carports that have only 2 sides worth of protection can protect your car against 90% of what nature might throw at it. However, having a garage is the best bet if you want the piece of mind that your car is away from prying eyes of potential car thieves.
3. You live in an area that is prone to heavy wind and rain at certain times of the year
Again, carports and garages can both be very helpful if you’re fed up with getting out of or into your car in heavy wind and rain. If you can connect a carport to your home, then there’s no reason to step out from undercover at all and it will do the job just fine. Either will work under this scenario, it just depends what your budget is and whether you have any other uses for it.
4. You will be living in your home for a number of years and have no plans to sell
It’s true that building a garage can be more expensive, but they do add to the value of your home. If you have no plans to sell any time soon, then you might want to disregard the extra value they bring as, over the years, garages do need replacing so can lose their value.
5. You are short on funds but know you need something to protect your car
Go for the carport. As mentioned above, carports are much easier to construct and can be made out of a variety of common building materials. Better yet, you can build one yourself with some friends to help you out. Just bear in mind that the carport will likely have a shorter lifespan than a well-constructed garage.
Ultimately, it is up to you as to which one you build, as the decision should be based largely on your exact needs and requirements. Just remember, even though carports are more affordable and easier to build, they are still awkward to dismantle and dispose of if you later decide a garage is a more fitting construction.
