Frequently Asked Questions About Carport Kits

The benefits of getting a timber carport kit are clear – you can save costs by putting it up yourself or save on paying your builder to organise getting it for you, and instead just pay for its construction.

What’s it all about? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about carport kits:

What’s included in a carport kit?

Made from clear pine with a sleek Colorbond roof, our carport kit includes:

• Drawings to supply to Council should their approval be required prior to building
• All carport framing components
• Colorbond roofing in your choice of colour
• All hardware, gutter and downpipe
• Full building instructions

– everything you need to build one of our distinctive carports in a day or so.

Can you get them in other than the standard sizes?

Yes you can! If you have a particular space you’d like filled, we can custom make to your specifications.

This goes for triple-car carports as well. Though we don’t have a standard size triple carport, we have been asked for this in the past, and are able to accommodate this as well.

Will I need to get Council approval?

It depends. You’ll need to check with your local Council if you need approval prior to building. This will vary from Council to Council.

How do we affix the posts?

There are a number of options, including:

1. The post can go 600mm into a concrete pad in the ground
2. Timber posts can be placed on a stirrup and then fixed into a concrete slab or pad
3. Timber posts can be placed on a stirrup and then fixed onto the top of the concrete slab or pad
4. The timber post can be fixed in a post base onto a concrete slab

What will the freight be to our door?

This depends largely on where you live of course, but freight ranges for the two standard sizes as below:

• Single carport – from around $100 Melbourne Metro to around $400 Queensland Country / Perth
• Double carport – from around $100 Melbourne Metro to around $520 Queensland Country / Perth

I have a 4 wheel drive – will my car fit under it? Can I make the carport roof higher?

The internal height dimension in the centre of the single or double carport is at least 2.4 meters, so standard 4 wheel drives can fit under well. But if you have roof racks or a raised 4 wheel drive and you need to go higher, then you can make the carport roof higher, simply by ordering longer posts. The height will also depend on how you are affixing the posts to the ground (see the post answer above).

Can I – as a handyman – build it myself?

Lyrebird carport kits are not built – they are assembled. Most components are pre-cut and pre-drilled, for easy assembly. This is what makes our carport kits unique! So provided you know your way around tools, you and a mate can have them up in a day or two – though larger carports may take a little longer.

I have more questions!

No problem. Lyrebird are known throughout the industry for providing detailed advice and assistance. Contact us and we’ll work you through it. The link above will take you to a page where you can register for our e-Newsletter as well – and get access to all of our product brochures.

Choosing The Right Carport For Your Home

Adding a carport to your home is a great way to protect your car from the weather, increase your outdoor living areas, and add value to your home. They can also make your home more attractive. So what are the available carport options and how do you work out which carport is right for you?

First, let’s look at the sorts of carports available:

• Incorporated into your roofline – These carports are generally built when the house is built and the roofline of the house covers the carport area. Obviously, this is more suited to home owners who are having a new house built, rather than adding one on at a later date due to the cost of adjusting your roofline. The roof covering is generally tile to match the rest of the house roof.
• Stand-alone carports – These carports can be added onto existing homes, and are free-standing from the main home structure. Because of this, they can offer greater flexibility as to their position, style and whether they can double up as an extra outdoor living area. The roof covering is generally colorbond, which can come in a variety of colors, and you can also choose to incorporate laserlight if the carport will also be used as an entertainment area, to allow the natural light to shine in.

What about the materials that the carports are made from? There are generally two options:

1. Timber – Timber frame carports are attractive and you should be able to find a variety of carport roofing styles available, as the timber allows greater flexibility in the design. What about rotting I hear you say? These days, outdoor timber components can be “treated” to resist rotting and borers, so the timber will last as long as the steel components.
2. Steel – Steel carport come in a variety of sizes, but can look much plainer, as they work with straight lines only. Steel carports can cost you less however, but you won’t add as much value to your home, and the outdoor living experience can be diminished.

Who will build your carport?

Are you good with a hammer and know your way around tools? Or will you need some assistance? There are now carport kits available that can help you keep costs down by building it yourself. If you’re not good with tools, purchasing a carport kit can still work for you, as you will then only need to pay the builder for putting it up. Builders can sometimes ‘pad’ their quotes for organising the materials, so if this is something you’ve organised yourself, you can realise the savings.

Choosing the right carport design for your home:

• Look at the design of your house – Is it Edwardian? Modern? Or somewhere in between? When choosing the design, try and match the carport to your existing house style, as it will look more attractive and look like it’s meant to be there.
• Also look at your garden area – Do you have any garden furnishings, such as garden arbours, outdoor seating arrangements or park benches? What are these made from? If you primarily have timber garden furnishings, then a timber carport will suit your home better. If steel, then consider a steel design.
• Look at your garden edging – If you have timber retaining walls, edging or other timber decorations on your house, than a timber carport will match the rest of your outdoor design, whereas a steel design may appear out of place.
• What is the right price for you? – Everyone is cost conscious these days, and you need to weigh up your reason for building a carport. Is it just to protect your car, or are you looking at using the carport area for outdoor entertainment as well? Preferably consider the latter, as this will add significant value to your house, whilst also improving your living enjoyment. Adding a carport can be a reasonably considerable investment, so you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. Also keep in mind that other cost savings may be available, such as a reduction in your insurance, as the car will now be kept under cover, and will ensure the finish on your car lasts longer.

Whichever option you choose, make sure that you purchase from a reputable company that can provide you with comprehensive information before the purchase and offer support after the purchase.

Adding value to your home: Build a carport!

Many home owners wish to add value to the investment of their home, and one way in which this can be done reasonably easily and inexpensively is through the addition of a covered outdoor area – such as a carport. Not only will a carport add value to your home, it will also enhance the liveability of your home whilst you’re there, giving you additional living space all year round.

Carports

Carports are a functional and beautiful addition to your home and offer great flexibility as to the size, shape and material that it is constructed with. Carports are extremely popular as they provide protection for your car as well as adding value to your home.

Carports come in all shapes and sizes and are only limited by the room available. The most attractive carports are built using timber, as they have natural beauty. Timber carport roof trusses are visually stunning. They give that unique “webbed” look to your carport roof that will have all your friends talking. Much more attractive, compared to cold steel.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to build a carport is to use prefabricated carport trusses. Prefabricated carport trusses are consistent in shape and quality, ensuring your carport roof is structurally sound and looks good.

Another attractive alternative, is to have an arched carport roof. This option is popular with modern homes and suits a wide variety of homes. You can choose to use curved iron or laserlight as the carport cover, in a wide range of colors to suit your home. Your new carport can give an older home an instant face-lift.

You can also choose to paint your carport roof or retain the natural timber look. For the natural timber look, your carport roof can be kept safe from rotting and borers if treated with a preservative, so that your carport will last as long as the house does. Just ask your carport supplier to have the carport roof trusses “treated” when you order them.

Tips for choosing a carport:

• DIY carport or have it built for you? – If you’re handy with a hammer, some carport suppliers can provide you with a carport kit and you can build your carport yourself. This can help keep costs down.
• Choose a carport roof that suits the existing style of your home – Keeping your carport in the same style as the rest of the house ensures that your new carport will look attractive. A mis-matched style will look messy.
• Ensure your carport posts can be fixed securely to – or into – the ground – If your posts are not securely fixed, your carport frame could shift in strong winds or extreme weather.