Alternative building and construction Resources
Lean To Carports and Single Slope Carports For Small Spaces
Carports that need to fit properly in a limited space can usually only be a lean to carports which is also called single slope carports or a flat roof carports. When choosing a carport that is attached to your house you might want to consider a single slope carport (lean to carports). If the only practical location for your carport is adjacent to your house or another existing structure such as a storage building then you might find yourself limited in the type of carport you are able to build.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 blended into the home than a flat roof carport. If the roof line pitches march then the two roofs look like they are meant to be together. The same roofing material can be used and the pitch of the roof can be matched exactly. Even a slightly different pitch can look awkward and take away from the appearance of your home. If you are considering adding a carport that has a roof at a different pitch or angle than the roof on your home do yourself a favor. Take a picture of your current home and print off two copies of it. Make sure you know what you are getting and what it will look like before starting the carport construction.
Flat roof carports have one screaming advantage over the other types of carport roofs. The roof of a flat roof carport can be used as a screened in porch or a deck. An experienced contractor could probably do the job in one day. In order to support a deck or any type of second story the supporting posts of the carport would need to carry extra load. There are specific formulas for determining load and how much support those loads would need. An experienced contractor would be able to help you. Using the roof as a deck or even the base for a second story addition is made easier if there is a pre-existing window looking over the carport. Changing this window into a doorway is a fairly inexpensive and easy proposition.
You don't need to make the roof into a second story bedroom immediately or even build a door to allow access. You can always add this later. However, if you think you might use the top of the flat roof as the base of another story then you need to calculate the potential load and build the supporting posts 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. -- About the Author Read more about leanto carports check out carports.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com