There is nothing more frustrating to Calgary homeowners than having to defrost your car throughout winter, or having to dig it out of the snow after the latest big storm. Not only does this take up a lot of time, but unless you’re willing to invest in an automatic car starter or go outside half an hour before you need to leave to start the engine, you’re also putting your car at risk by driving on cold oil. It makes sense, therefore, to find a way to cover your car and keep it warm during the long Calgary winter, and there are a few options.
It’s Time For a Carport
You might be one of the lucky few with attached garages on your property, but for many this is an expensive option and one that can be hard to put through the local planning laws. A carport is a cheap way to to get your car the coverage it needs. They are free standing post and beam structures that go on top of your driveway and keep the worst of the winter weather away from your vehicles. They can be built to any size, and have a quick installation time as they only require the post, beams and roof to be complete.
Top Carport Designs
The typical carport design is a simple rectangle that covers all your vehicles. However, there’s plenty of options to make it match the needs of your home:
- Attach it to your house – a carport has to fit into the aesthetic of your house if it’s to add any value to your selling price. For most Calgary carport owners, this means attaching the carport to your home. Not only will this allow you to blend the structure into your home, but it also means that you can save construction costs as you’ll only need to dig two posts. Make sure that you match the shingles on your roof to the design of your carport roof.
- Add solar panels – speaking of roofing for your carport, you can make it a much more eco friendly design by covering it in solar panels. Incorporating solar panels into your carport design is the perfect time to generate your own power as all the wiring and connections to your home’s electrical system can be done during the install process. It might also be the right time to consider adding solar panels to the rest of the roof to boost your electricity earning potential.
- Install additional storage – finally, a carport can resemble more of a traditional garage with only a little bit of extra planning. You’ll need to work out which way the wind blows on your carport site, and then find some solid outdoor storage options that will face away from the wind. This will give you a place to keep your snow shovelling gear as well as any power tools that you need for your yard work.
