For some people, winter in Calgary is a joyful affair. The snow makes everything look clean and beautiful, and the world feels like it’s in suspended animation, waiting for the heat of spring and summer to return. For others, the snow and ice represents a daily chore to deal with, and there’s nothing worse than having to set the alarm early because you know you’ll need an extra half hour to clean off your vehicle and make it ready for travel. If you’re lucky enough to have bought or installed a full garage, then you’ll understand the beauty of covered parking during Calgary’s winter. If you haven’t, then it’s time to think about installing a carport garage to save you time and money.
What is a Carport Garage?
Put simply, a carport garage is a free standing cover for your vehicles. It can stand alone on your driveway, or it can be attached to your home if you have space to park your car next to your house. In either case, it provides a cheap way to keep the snow and ice off your car all winter long. It differs from a regular garage in that there are no walls or windows (think a permanent gazebo style structure), but you can still run wiring out for lighting and powering electrical tools. Some homeowners even install outdoor storage options for their outdoor power tools and yard clean up operation.
How Does a Carport Garage Save You Money?
If you’re looking for a cheap way to add value to your home, a carport garage is a great way to get you started. It immediately adds some curb appeal, and Calgary house buyers will be able to picture the time they’ll save each morning with a covered vehicle. Carport garages can also help you save money compared to a traditional garage in the following ways:
- No foundations – a normal garage acts as an official extension of your home, and as such will require you to dig and build foundations. This can get expensive quickly. A carport on the other hand is usually a post and beam structure, meaning that you’ll only need a few holes to support the corner and side posts.
- Cheaper materials – a normal garage is made from bricks, and the window and door costs alone can run into the thousands of dollars. While you don’t get the same 360 degree protection with a carport garage, you’ll be able to construct one cheaply. Don’t skimp money on the roofing materials however, as you’ll want to make sure it’s ready to withstand the heavy ice and snow of the Calgary winters.
- Low maintenance – finally, if you have a regular garage, you’ll need to get the door mechanism serviced regularly, and you’ll need to worry about winter proofing the window seals each year. A carport garage requires very little maintenance from the get go, meaning you’ll be saving time and money every time that winter rolls around.
It’s easy to see that a carport garage is a great halfway house between spending a lot of money on a full garage set up, and spending a lot of time shoveling snow off your car and defrosting it all winter long.
Why You Should Winterize Your Carport
Even though it costs less than a full garage, a carport garage is still a financial investment in your property. If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, you’ll want to take steps to keep your carport garage looking pristine as it’s one of the first unique features that potential buyers will see. If you’re not planning on moving any time soon, you still need to look after your carport garage so that it continues to provide protection and shelter each time that winter rolls around. Here are some easy winterization tips to keep your carport garage in peak condition:
- Keep the roof clean – when you bought your carport garage in Calgary, it’s likely that you’ll have been given a snow load certificate for the roof. This is an estimate made by the builders of how much snow weight your roof can carry before it will collapse. Anyone who has spent the day after even one Calgary snow storm shoveling snow will know how heavy it becomes, especially when mixed in with ice and debris. In a moderate to severe winter season, it’ll be important to keep your carport garage roof clear of the worst of the snow (i.e. you don’t have to spend hours scraping every last snowflake off!) to protect the roof. You can buy dedicated long handled snow rakes to make your life easier, but you can just as easily use your yard broom while standing on a stepladder to get most of the snow and ice off after each storm.
- Reseal the timbers – most carport garages are made from solid timber posts and beams. While these give more structural integrity than their aluminum counterparts, it also makes them much more susceptible to water and wind damage throughout the winter season. You can protect against this damage by adding an extra layer of water proof sealant during fall; make sure to put it on while it’s warm enough to dry fully, and if you’ve got painted timber, you’ll likely want to find a transparent stain that doesn’t change the visual appeal of your carport garage.
- Check for damage – finally, your carport garage is only as good as the materials that you used to make it. Even the strongest design will still suffer from the harsh Calgary winters, and you’ll find spots of rust and rot on both aluminum and wooden carport garage designs. In the same vein as resealing the timbers, you should spend a few hours before each winter season checking over your carport garage and fixing any damage that you find, even if it isn’t immediately obviously detrimental to the structural integrity.
