There are many different types of car ports available, and it is important to choose a high quality, long lasting model. Wood carport kits are currently very popular, but at the upper end of the price scale, whereas a metal car shelter can be a good option if you are looking for something that is easy to install, durable and above all an affordable solution.

Metal car shelters vary in shape, size, and style. You can purchase car ports from home supply stores, hardware retailers, or one of the many dealers that specialize in car shelters. There are literally thousands of options available when it comes to choosing a metal car shelter, so it is important that you explore the choices thoroughly before making a purchase. It may be helpful to speak with someone who has purchased a metal car port in the past, to get their opinion on the particular model they purchased, or to get a referral to a reputable retailer.

The internet contains a number of car shelter reviews that can be equally as helpful. Internet car shelter reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, however because you have no way of knowing if the comments were made by genuine customers. It is important that you also check out the details of a shelter carefully. If someone has written a review that speaks about a particular feature for example, it may be a good idea to look at this feature to see if the review is accurate or not. It is also a good idea to look at the shelter in person when possible because that is how you can better analyze the quality of the product.

Although a high quality shelter is likely to be more expensive, it will probably last longer, so you should definitely consider the extra investment. It is wise though to determine a budget amount before heading out to a store or dealer and keep within your predetermined limits. Also check out some of these tips about choosing between different types of carport.

When you are ready to shop, you should keep your needs in mind first and then consider durability and overall quality at a close second. Thoroughly understanding the necessary tools and equipment needed to set up the shelter is also important. In most cases, the shelter will come with all the necessary hardware, such as screws, for assembly. Reading the instructions before you buy is also a good idea so you can get a better feel for how much work is involved.

Although no longer the outright best seller of former years, wooden garage doors have long been among the most popular types of garage door available. Even these days, with modern materials technology, many if not most people think wood garage doors are better for a number of reasons; style, quality and durability to name a few. But it has to be said, there are some areas where wood garage doors don’t stack up so well against the competition any more.

So let’s introduce a little history to set the scene. Prior to the early 1980’s the de-facto standard material for just about all domestic garage doors was wood. The design and manufacture was essentially derived from earlier coach or carriage house (and even barn) doors and given the simplicity and aesthetic appeal of the product there seemed little reason to change.

Even though more modern materials such as steel, aluminum and vinyl were being used to make garage door panels even back then, mostly they were regarded as niche products aimed at commercial rather than residential applications. A significant reason for the lack of interest from the domestic market was simply aesthetics – the new doors just didn’t look anywhere near as stylish and people quite understandably were concerned about the obvious correlation between garage doors and property value.

When a single item can easily account for over one fifth of the immediate visual aspect of a house it’s important to make sure it looks smart and wooden garage door panels certainly achieve that, especially if they are stained or painted to match the wood trim on the rest of the house (doors, window frames, soffits, fascias etc). In fact, it was interesting to note that as metal and vinyl door panels started to gain a foothold they were often made with a fake wood grain effect – imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.

Aside from having a visually appealing natural texture and the flexibility to take an almost limitless number of colors and finishes, wood door panels possess certain other key characteristics worthy of consideration.

The first and (for many people these days) most immediate characteristic where wooden doors are concerned is their cost. Comparing basic entry level wood and steel doors of equivalent size and quality, the price differential for the wooden version averages out at some twenty percent higher. When you start to move up the scale and account for thicker gauge steel and integral insulation then things can move around, but even so you tend to find that on a like for like basis, the equivalent wooden garage door will invariably cost more than its metal counterpart.

Second is the issue of longevity – how long the door will last – which again is not as straightforward as you might expect. Wood, being a natural material, is subject to a process of degeneration over time. It can both rot and warp out of shape, either of which will render the door panel unviable. The extent to which it will do so of course depends on three main factors: how well constructed it was in the first place, the environment it has to cope with, and how well it is maintained,

Steel doors don’t warp or rot as such, but they are easily dented or buckled and they can rust; and none of these conditions is easily treated or masked with a coat of paint (as is typically the case with wood). Vinyl door panels can shatter if hit hard and will eventually degrade and become brittle due to exposure to sunlight (specifically ultra violet).

Which type of garage door “lasts longer” is therefore not an easy question to answer. It depends on a variety of factors that include the material used, the build quality and environmental and operational conditions. It also depends on what is meant by “lasts”. A badly rusted and dented steel door may in fact operate perfectly well but still get replaced long before a wooden door might, simply because most folk cannot stand to look at an ugly garage door (even if it is still functionally ok). The useful lifespan of a wooden garage door is also to a large extent determined by how well its owner looks after it, rather than any fixed duration.

The third feature regarding wooden door panels is weight. There is no question that wood panels are significantly thicker and heavier than either metal of vinyl (it’s also the main reason why these alternative materials first started to appear in commercial applications that required very large garage doors). This is not necessarily either a good or bad thing, it’s simply a fact, but there’s no doubt that the chunkier appearance of wooden door panels looks nicer and exudes an air of quality.

Also, the concept of “secure garage doors” is something of an oxymoron when looking at most standard metal doors, but wooden doors are intrinsically more robust. Wood is also a naturally effective insulator and outperforms all man-made materials used for garage door panels, though once again it’s not quite so simple, since it is quite simple to fit garage door insulation to any metal door (either pre-installed or using a DIY kit) and immediately turn the tables. And the reason you can’t so easily do the same with a wooden panel? It’s already too thick and heavy to take another layer of insulating foam.

So that’s a short and hopefully informative introduction to the subject of wooden garage doors and their enduring popularity. If you’re actively looking to make a purchase then why not check out this guide to buying a garage door for more tips and ideas.

Of course, there’s also always the option of consigning your garage to a more useful purpose in life (how about using your garage as a gun safe or a games room, or a gym or anything really other than a place to park a car)? Then simply sort the car out with a carport (and in keeping with my own prejudices I’m specifically suggesting that you consider one of the many excellent wood carport kits currently available because, well frankly wood carports look great and other types look for the most part outright plain and utilitarian and that’s not what I want stood next to my house).

You also have your choice of using wood or metal carports. The wood structures are not as easy to assemble and disassemble as the metal ones are, but the main advantage of wood carport kits to a homeowner is that they are generally far more attractive.

If on the other hand looks are not a priority and you want a structure that is easy to transport you would be better off choosing a metal one. This is more advantageous for a business use such as a construction company that might want a vehicle shelter for on the job use. The metal units are also widely used as more permanent fixtures in some business structures such as businesses that have a drive-thru area.

You will also want to consider the type of posts you want to use with your Carport. If you want the unit for business as a more permanent structure you might want to choose concrete posts as they are more durable and will hold up over time. You can also use the structures to add additional parking shelter for an apartment unit that might not have any type of shelter or garage units. When installing a structure in a residential are you will need to adhere to any regulations that are enforced by the city. It would be best to find out what building restrictions there might be before choosing the size of the unit you want to construct.

Wooden carports in particular are a great addition to any property where you want to park a car and give it some protection from the elements, just make sure you put a little thought into your purchase so that you get one that is suitable for your needs.

As a benefit, wood is a much better aesthetic fit for most contemporary houses. Wood selections come in enough varieties to find a finish that is a good match for the building material already existing on the home. Wooden carports are also far more eye-catching than steel (or at least, more eye-catching for the right reasons) which means it can actually add value to your property rather than have a detrimental affect.

But perhaps what gets so many people interested is the ability to purchase a beautiful wood carport in kit form.These provide the homeowner with an opportunity for a relatively simple do-it-yourself project. Consisting largely of wood materials, it is something average homeowners can construct by themselves. Anyone who has for example prevoously built a wooden deck or similar garden structure will have little difficulty getting to grips with a wooden carport kit.

If however there are no instructions for your kit and/or you are buying all raw materials, it is possible to download a variety of building plans from the Internet. If you have any carpentry experience, it is possible to surf the Internet for images of carport designs you like then draw up the plan yourself.

Wood carports themselves vary from the common open carport that consists of basically just the upright timbers with a frame and roof on top, through to fully enclosed carports that in many respects are very little different to a regular wooden garage. Don’t forget though that any substantial wooden structure such as a carport will require at the very least secure footings for the main uprights, and you may want to consider laying foundations and/or a concrete slab on which to actually park, depending on your own specific circumstances and needs.

Options to consider when looking to buy a wood carport kit include cost obviously, but that itself is typically just a function of other aspects. Clearly the overall size of the carport in terms of how many and what size of vehicles it can shelter is a major factor. But equally important is whether or not the carport is partially or fully enclosed. Some people opt to erect a wall on just one side to act as a visual screen or to offer protection against a prevailing wind. But it is possible to go completely to town, with walls on all sides, main doors and even make use of the roof space with dormer windows and so on.

Whether or not to enclose your carport depends on what levels of security you’re hoping to gain (though at the end of the day, it’s still a wooden building, so very high security is not really achievable) and also on what uses you have in mind. Some folk use an enclosed carport in much the same way as a regular garage and store tools and use it as a working space, others find an open carport can double as a useful shelter for an inflatable pool or hot tub in the summer. Then there is the issue of whether to construct a standalone carport or attach it to the house or garage, usually in a lean-to configuration.

If you choose to install a wooden shelter in preference to a steel one or a even a traditional garage, it can be quite difficult to find a wood carport kit online. There are not many, but there are a few online retailers. Some of them offer pre-cut wood that you will only need to fit together and nail or screw. Carport kits are very affordable and can considerably decrease in price if you have the building skills to construct the shelter yourself. One of the advantages of using a kit, rather than a bespoke custom design carport, is that very often you can buy a copy of the plans in a form suitable to submit for planning permission (if required in your location).

Another good reason to opt for a wooden structure is that it is the best material for later upgrades or changes that you make to your house. You can add walls to them or add new shelves or storage bins. With so much versatility as an affordable option to a wooden garage, it is no wonder that wood materials are making such an impression at national home shows.