Both carports and garages are becoming increasingly sought-after by homeowners. While you can keep vehicles in the open air or on the street, it’s usually best to have somewhere to put them so that they’re safe. Choosing between these two options, though, is rather tricky. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Below, we take a look at which is best for you: the humble carport or a full-on garage.
By Team Savant
Image: Aidan Feddersen
The Cost
As you might imagine, there’s a difference between the cost of a carport and the cost of a garage. In general, carports are more affordable and a great way to add additional covered parking bays to your property (ideal for when guests come over).
Most of the cost of the carport goes into pouring concrete. In general, you’ll want a nice solid slab that’s strong enough to support a heavy vehicle while protecting the ground underneath and the supporting structure.
Overall, you’re looking at around $7,000 for a 20 x 20-foot carport. That’s including the foundation. For a garage, the cost goes up to around $12,000.
Your Storage Needs
While carports are great for cars, though, they’re not particularly useful for storing other valuables. You can’t leave expensive tools in them, for instance, because of the risk of theft.
Garages, though, have the upper hand. Not only do they keep your vehicles away from the elements, but they also protect the rest of your property.
Eastern Garage Doors explains more of the security features of doors in detail. These days, garage doors offer similar performance to retail unit shutters, preventing people from getting inside.
How Long It Takes To Build
In general, carports are easy to build. In some cases, experienced vendors might erect them in just a matter of hours, helping to bring down the cost.
Of course, how long it actually takes depends on the materials you use. If you go for a traditional wood carport, then the carpentry will slow things down a little.
Garages take longer to build. Usually, they’re made of masonry, not wood, meaning that you’ll need workers on-site for longer. What’s more, they require finishing in a way that carports don’t. You can leave them as bare breezeblock, but that’s not recommended for most use cases.
Regulations
You’ll also need to consider regulations and permits. Generally speaking, zoning restrictions and requirements for carports are low. In some cities, you may not have to apply for planning permission at all, so long as the dimensions of the new structure don’t exceed certain maximums.
For garages, you’ll need to comply with various building codes. That’s because you can potentially double them up as spare rooms or even granny flats.
How Your Property Looks
Lastly, you’ll want to consider how each option makes your property look. The visual effect of a carport can be considerably different from that of a garage. Carports are great for country homes with lots of space, while garages tend to be more popular or smaller lots in cities.