How to Build a Carport

Building a carport is a fun and rewarding project to undertake. 

Carport Builder or DIY?

Your first question is whether to do so as an owner-builder, or to engage a building company to do it for you.  My advice would be to check with your local building authority to see if they allow a DIY carport building approach.  If they don't then you have no choice but too find a builder. You should next think about the complexity of the finished carport.  If it's fancy with a complicated roof structure, then I suggest you also consider strongly getting it built rather than build it yourself. Finally you need to honestly assess you own skills, because building any kind of structure is exacting, hard work which can at times be quite dangerous.

In the rest of this article I'm assuming you chose the DIY route.

Design

Your first port of call is design.  My advice is to go for something simple, yet sympathetic to the existing design of your house. Take lots of photos of both your house and carport with designs that you like.  If you have any basic computer graphics skills you can quite quickly mock up a view of what the finished carport will look something like.  Take the pictures to a draftsman or architect to draw up your carport plans - the money is well worth it.

Safety

Safety on your carport construction site is crucial for yourself, your family (especially young children) and any other third party who comes on to your property.  Think careful about the safety gear you may need (gloves, goggles, scaffolding, etc.) as well as how you plan to isolate the construction zone during the build.  You may also need to take out additional insurance if your household policy doesn't cover it.

Building Approval

Once you have your plans you will need to get permission from your local building authority to build your carport.  They will probably need at least 3 to 4 sets of plans and a list of the planned building materials.  Sometimes these building authorities will give approval over the counter, but you may have to wait a few weeks for it to go through the process.

Footings 

All carport construction begins with the footings.  Your design and local authority will specify how deep they have to go; in my case that was 600mm deep and 300mm diameter for posts.  Once you have all your footing holes dug, your local building authority will probably want to inspect them prior to pouring in the cement.

Once approved it is simply a case of backfilling with reinforced concrete.  If you are putting your posts directly into the concrete footing make sure they are in-situ and braced before you backfill.  If you are seating the posts on metal stirrups then these can be plunged into the wet concrete, but again need to be positioned careful and braced until the concrete sets.  I find bricklayers string, scrap timber and levels are must have tools to compete this work. 

Posts

You carport posts will probably be made from timber, either square sections or turned; or maybe even metal.  If not already in the footings they need to be securely bolted to the stirrups.  A word of advice give the concrete footings a few days to cure before applying any load with posts and roofing.

Roof Frame

Your carport is now taking shape and the beams that connect the posts go in next.  On top of those beams cane be built the roof frame according to your plans.

Roof and Plumbing

I would suggest some kind of metal sheet roof.  You may need to engage a plumber to do this depending on local building regulations.  Make sure your gutters are in place before the roof goes on - it is much, much easier, and again you will probably need a plumber for this.

Finishing Your Carport

Once your roof is on the carport will need down pipes connected to the stormwater and the electrician to rough in the wiring for any lights and doors.  Finishing off your carport with panelling underneath is optional and an additional expense, but it is simple to do.

My final advice is to check first your local authority when contemplating any carport construction project.