The addition of a wooden carport to your existing home or other structure can make a lot of sense. Not only does it provide extra protection from the elements, if done correctly it can give your house an upgraded look. A properly proportioned carport with the additional of some fancy wooden finials or trim work can really add value to your house.

Carports aren't necessarily just for cars. Use your imagination. A stand alone wooden carport can possibly used as a gazebo or dining area in the back or side yards. A lean to wooden carport could be fashioned into a side porch. The carport could even have multiple uses. It could be a living space in the summer months and a car storage area in the snowy winter months.

If you look on line for carport kits, you will probably end up finding that the majority of DIY kits are simple steel carports. These will be sturdier than temporary carport structures, but they leave a lot to be desired in the style department. If you are looking for a wooden carport to complement your house, then you may not be able to find a kit online that you can have delivered. An alternative is to search for wooden carport plans and shop for the materials and construct the building yourself.

If you have some building experience, then you may not even need to order plans online. If you do some research and find some good images that you think would suit your house style, simply save the picture, and design a plan from that. You will want to have your plan verified with an engineer to make sure that it meets local building codes. If you won't be building the carport yourself, then you might just be able to give the picture and dimensions to a good local contractor, and they will be able to engineer and build your car port.

There are some metal carports that actually resemble wood. This type of carport is built with 6 by 6 metal legs that resemble timber legs. The finishing work on this type of carport tends to be a little less ornate than that found on real wooden ones. There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of structure. The major disadvantage commonly mentioned is the lack of a construction project feel. Lots of guys relish the idea of getting out the table saw and hammering a few nails. This type of experience is lost if building with pre-formed metal.

Carports are making a big splash at home improvement shows all over the country. There are a lot of contractors discovering a big demand for the product. Wooden carports are the most popular as this type of carport has a classic feel and can add real value to your home.

Posted under Cars