Not all carports are the same! When you decide to add a carport to your home or business, make sure you understand what you need. Carports need to be sturdy enough to withstand the elements while protecting cars or other equipment. From color to size, it's critical to customize your carport to your needs—and that includes the carport roof!
Did you know there were different styles of carport roofs? Depending on the size of your carport, the type of roof can make a big difference in how long your carport lasts. You also want the roof style to fit into the design of other nearby buildings.
Carports offer three main roof styles. Keep reading to learn about each style and which one could work best for your carport.
1. A Regular Carport Roof
The term "regular" could indicate that we don't know what to call it, but the most common kind of carport roof is the "regular" roof. It's the standard style for most carports on the market.
A regular carport roof looks like a steel barn without doors or walls. The edges of the roof become rounded due to five bends in the frame. The edges of the roof come down a short distance over the sides of the carport "walls."
It's the simplest carport to install with no ride cap, side trim, or hat channel. Because installation is relatively easy, a regular roof carport is also the most economical choice compared to other roof styles for carports.
You won't sacrifice coverage with a regular roof. It's the original style of carport roofing, and for a good reason. It holds up well to mild wind, rain, and sun to keep your items safe underneath. Rainwater travels down across the roof panels to keep items dry underneath.
Regular roof carports can last many years with regular maintenance. These carports are an excellent choice for most carport needs. However, if aesthetics are a factor in your carport choice, this style might work best for industrial sites or rural areas. The regular roof design doesn't blend as easily with homes as the style we'll talk about next.
What to Know About Regular Roofs
If you live in a harsh weather climate with heavy rain, intense winds, or significant snowfall, a regular roof carport might not be the best option. You'll need a sturdier roof to withstand severe weather. The design of a regular roof isn't ideal for heavy rainfall or to hold the weight of snow piled on top.
With a standard roof, you'll also want to keep your carport to 31 feet long or less. A longer carport with a regular roof is susceptible to leaks between seams.
2. The A-Frame Roof
If you remember the old design of Whataburger restaurants, you know what we mean by an "A-frame" roof. You might also know this type of carport roof as the boxed-eave roof. The sides of this roofing style come together at a point at the pinnacle to create a roof that looks like the letter "A."
An A-frame roof functions much like a regular roof when it comes to directing rainfall across roofing panels and over the sides of the carport. You never have to worry about rain pooling on top of an A-frame roof.
However, roof panels stop at the edge of the roof instead of bending over the sides like a regular roof. This makes the boxed eave style look like a traditional roof on a house. If you want a carport design that can blend more easily with the style of your home or nearby conventional buildings, the A-frame might be your ideal solution.
What to Know About the A-Frame
Like the regular roof style, if your carport is longer than 31 feet, an A-frame roof might not be your best option. There's a risk of leaks at the seams for a boxed-eave roof longer than 31 feet.
Your A-frame carport will also hold up best if you live in a mild climate. The severe roof angles might not hold up to strong winds. But before you give up on a carport, if you deal with severe weather, there's one more roofing style to consider.
3. The Vertical Roof
With the ability to deal with more severe weather and last for many years, the vertical roof style is the strongest option of the three carport roofing styles.
Its strength comes from the vertical panels that start at the peak of your carport and end at the eaves. This design is the most durable carport roof when it comes to handling high winds, heavy rainfall, or piling snow. Your vertical roof carport is also less likely to rust compared to a regular or A-frame roof.
What to Know About Vertical Roofs
If your carport needs to be longer than 31 feet, choose a vertical roof. It's less likely to leak around the seams due to the vertical roofing panels, no matter the length of your carport design.
You'll find no shortage of color options for your vertical roof. Design the perfect look for your carport with a choice of fourteen roof colors.
Use Experts When Choosing Your Carport Roof Style
A new carport is a big decision for your home or business. You need carport professionals when choosing the options for your new metal building, include your carport roof.
Eagle Carports builds carports in in 21 states. Our carports include concrete or rebar anchors, a workmanship warranty, and Becker’s 20-year limited warranty on carport roofing materials. We'll also help you with annual maintenance to keep your carport in top condition for the long haul.
The locations of our facilities make it easy for us to get our prefabricated buildings to our customers right away. We take pride in providing excellent customer service throughout the life of your carport. When you're ready to custom-design your new carport, contact us to get started!
