Metal Carport Buying Guide

Before purchasing a metal carport, you’ll need to properly plan and size your structure so it meets your needs and your budget. Here’s a guide to help you find the right one:

Planning Your Custom Garage

Now, let’s explore how to properly plan for your building:

Planning Your Custom Metal Carport

1. Measure Your Vehicles

   Measure the height, width, and length of all vehicles, equipment, or items you plan to store. Pay special attention to clearance for doors, mirrors, and any additional space needed for movement around your carport.

2. Calculate Your Carport’s Width

   The width of your carport should accommodate all your vehicles comfortably. For instance, a single-car carport usually ranges from 12-18 feet wide, while a two-car carport is typically around 20-24 feet wide.

3. Calculate Your Carport’s Length

   Your carport's length should match your vehicle's total length with extra space for maneuverability. Standard lengths start at 20 feet and can extend to 40 feet or more, depending on your needs.

Once you've sized your carport, it's time to customize its design and get an accurate price estimate. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Use Our 3D Metal Carport Builder

Use our intuitive 3D builder to visualize your carport design. Experiment with different styles, colors, and options to create a carport that matches your vision.

2. Choose Your Carport Size and Style

Select the carport size that best fits your needs, along with the style—whether it's a regular roof, boxed eave, or vertical roof design.

3. Choose Your Carport Height

The height of your carport is more important than you think. Most carports start at around 8’ in height, but you may need a taller structure for larger vehicles or RVs.

4. Choose Your Roofing Type

Pick from our selection of roofing options, such as regular, A-frame, or vertical and find the one that works best for your region and architectural style.

5. Choose Your Foundation Type

Choose between ground, gravel, asphalt, or concrete foundations.

6. Framing and Paneling Gauges

Choose between different gauges of steel for framing and paneling to give your carport the desired level of strength for your region and climate.

7. Doors and Windows

Customize your carport with doors and windows and give your building accessibility and ventilation.

8. Side Paneling

Pick between horizontal or vertical side paneling to give your building an aesthetically pleasing look and feel.

9. Ends and Gables

Add gables to your structure for additional strength and protection from the elements. You can also fully enclose your ends to transform your carport into a garage.

10. Colors

Select from a wide variety of color options for your roof, trim, and paneling. Or combine colors for stunning combinations.

11. J-Trim

J-Trim is a decorative trim that adds a polished edge to your carport’s paneling. It helps seal the edges and prevents water from seeping into your carport.

12. Finalize Design and Send It to Our Experts

Once your design is complete, submit it to our experts for review. We’ll finalize your design and get it ready for fabrication.

13. Receive a FREE Quote and Make Down Payment

Get a no-obligation quote and make your down payment to start the manufacturing process.

Purchasing a carport from American Metal Buildings is designed to be easy and highly rewarding. To guarantee your purchase goes smoothly, let’s break down the entire process from start to finish:

Building permits are a crucial part of any construction project. They guarantee that your structure complies with local zoning laws and is safe to inhabit. They also help prevent legal issues and protect your investment should you ever decide to sell. But if you’ve never obtained a building permit, do you know where to go or what questions to ask?

One of the first things you’ll want to do is contact your local building authority.
This office may be known locally as:

• Land Use and Development Office
• Zoning Department
• Building and Planning Division
• Building Inspector
• Planning Department

Contact this official via phone or in person, and have the following information handy:

• Your Address
• The length, width, and height of your proposed carport
• A clear understanding of building placement on your property
• Engineering Drawings for the proposed structure

Now, let’s cover some important things to ask your building official:

• How far does my carport need to be from the front, back, and sides of my property?
• How far away does my carport need to be from my house?
• How close should I build my carport to utilities?
• Are there any style or dimensional restrictions?
• What permits and inspections are required?
• What are the wind-gust and snow-load requirements for my region?
• How long does it take to get my permit?
• Are certified plans required for my permit?
• How much does a permit cost?

Proper site planning is crucial for a successful carport installation. Follow these steps to prepare:

1. Find a Level Spot

   You’ll need to grade and level your site to avoid structural issues during and after installation. Clear the building location of any debris or vegetation.

2. Look Overhead

   Check for overhead obstacles, such as tree branches or power lines, that could interfere with your carport or damage it in the future.

3. Mark Corners and Setbacks

   Mark the boundaries of your carport and keep setbacks from property lines in mind.

4. Contact Officials for Underground Wires Before You Dig

   Check with local utilities to make sure there are no underground wires or pipes in your installation area.

The foundation of your carport is crucial for its stability and long-term effectiveness. But its role involves so much more than just holding up your building. As such, you’ll want to choose the right one for your project needs. Let’s look at the options available to you:

Soil Foundations

A soil foundation is the simplest and most cost-effective option and is ideal for smaller, lighter structures. While easy to install, this option offers the least stability compared to other foundation types.

Asphalt Foundations

Asphalt foundations provide a more durable surface than soil and are suitable for driveways or parking areas. They offer moderate stability and can be installed relatively quickly, but asphalt may not support the heaviest carport loads over time.

Concrete Foundations

Concrete foundations are the most stable and durable option and can handle heavy loads and harsh weather conditions. This foundation type requires professional installation and precise measurements to match the carport’s dimensions but offers the best long-term performance.

Here are some frequently asked questions about concrete foundations:

American Metal Buildings works closely with trusted lenders like GreenSky Financing to offer flexible financing options on our metal carports. These plans make owning a structure easy and affordable, even when working on a budget.

We offer financing up to $65,000 and have no pre-payment penalties on your structure. How’s that for easy, transparent, and convenient?

And for those that don’t want to go the route of traditional financing, we offer Rent-to-Own packages as well on select structures. Our RTO plan features no hard credit checks, same-day approvals, and no penalty for early payoff.

Once you place your order with us, our building experts will send your design to our manufacturer for fabrication. Here, they'll custom-build the components of your structure, pre-package them, and send them along with our professional install teams to your site for construction. The best part? Installation and delivery is included.

All you have to do is prep your building site, schedule a convenient time for you, and kick back and let us bring your structure to life.