By: David H.
Submitted: 2009-10-18 12:10:57 | Word Count: 593
Carports are portable garages. It offers several advantages. It also serves more functions than just being a storage for cars.
A garage is a fixed parking space usually in front or beside your house.
It is often made of very durable materials like cement, wood or metals. In contrast, a carport functions similarly to a garage, except that it is not permanent of fixed. It is portable and more mobile. There are several advantages of a carport versus garage, and it is summarized here.
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First, it is a convenient shelter not just for cars but for other valuables as well. Ever gone shopping where the skies opened to let loose a torrent of rain just when you turned the ignition off in front of your house? If for no other reason than avoiding that mad dash in the rain when you’re trying to unload a bag of groceries from your trunk because your wife has to start dinner, a carport would have proved itself invaluable.
It is a versatile part of your home. Carports make easy temporary shelters for any bulky items, not just cars. It could also be your little events venue some days. Having some friends over for tea on a weekend? Pull out your tea set, decorate your carport a little bit, pull in some chairs and tables and voila, you have an outdoor tea party venue right in your own home. It is also fun to hold a weekend barbecue at home and your carport can double as an extension to your front porch for some open air shade.
It is more economical. A carport is cheaper than a garage. Whether you want a freestanding carport or one attached to the side of your house, it costs less and it is easy to install. Putting it up could be your little home project. You can get a kit and call some friends in and you can work on it one Saturday.
It serves its purpose well enough. For most of the year, overhead roofing is all your vehicle needs to protect it from the elements. Hails, storms and heavy rains can deliver damage to the outside of your car and a carport deals with that problem effectively.
It is space efficient. You may want a garage but given the space you have, it may not be practical. Why? The walls of a garage have specified thickness which takes up space. The door too, requires a bit more space. When a garage is not practicable, a carport is your better option.
It is a summer sit out place. In the scorching heat of the summer sun, backyards or back gardens may be too hot to sit out in. If you have a carport, you have an open air shaded area to cool off and enjoy an afternoon out savoring the warm air, even if it is just right outside your door.
Reading through this list, you have probably already thought of several other useful reasons that make a carport sensible. But the best thing about a carport is that it is not a garage. A garage, for all intents and purposes, is to house your family’s cars but in real life, that’s rarely the case, is it? What happens to garages in real life, you ask? They become storage facilities for the family junk while everyone’s cars remain parked out front, on the street.
It serves the purpose through and through. This is perhaps the best reason why a carport is more sensible than a garage.
