You’ve decided to purchase a metal building, carport, or garage, but now you’re wondering if the spot you have in mind for installation is actually the right fit for your structure. A quick rundown on getting the right fit for your metal building can help you scope out just the perfect spot for the perfect installation.
First and foremost, you want to make sure you purchase a metal structure that will fit in the allotted spot you have available. An important aspect to keep in mind is what, exactly, the structure will be used for. Are you buying a carport or garage for a single vehicle, or more than one vehicle? Will it be housing a larger vehicle such as an ATV, a large motorhome or ATV, or a large truck with extended cabs? Metal carports and garages come in a various sizes, so knowing ahead of time what the intended use is for will help you determine what size will work best with the space you have available.
It makes sense to familiarize yourself with the carport terms and measurements before purchasing one. Carports and car shelters are classified by width for single carports, double carports, and triple carports. A single or single-wide carport is typically 12 feet wide, while a double carport is 18 to 24 feet in width. A structure that is 26 feet to 30 feet wide is known as a triple carport. However, again, the type of vehicle intended to be sheltered should be kept in consideration. While a motorhome is technically a single vehicle, it will be a tight squeeze parking it in a single-wide unit, so you’ll probably want to go with a larger size. If you’re parking more than one vehicle within the carport, a good rule of thumb for determining which size you’ll need is to park both vehicles side by side with ample room to get out of both vehicles, measure the outside space surrounding the vehicles, and add 6 feet.
Choose The Right Height For Your Metal Building
It’s also important to keep the height of the structure in mind. You want something tall enough to properly house your vehicle, but you don’t want it to be too tall as it can cause problems. Having the wrong height for your metal building, carport, or garage can mean wasting money on a structure that doesn’t provide the proper shelter you were expecting for your vehicle. A structure that isn’t tall enough can render the unit unusable, thus wasting your time and money. A unit that is too tall won’t provide adequate shade or protection from the elements. The taller the structure is, the greater the risk is of it lifting up and blowing over when faced with heavy winds. This can leave your vehicle exposed and possibly damaged.
Length is an important element too
The industry standard lengths available are 21 feet, 26 feet, and 31 feet, in 5 foot increments. A structure with a length of 21 feet will typically shelter two standard-size cars. A longer unit will be needed for larger trucks or extended cab trucks. To determine how long a metal carport should be to house an RV or travel trailer, it’s recommended you measure the vehicle in question and add on 5 feet.
These types of metal structures can be used to provide shelter for things other than vehicles – they are great for providing coverage when grilling outside in the rain, or from protecting children’s bicycles, storing stacks of wood during the winter, and so on and so forth. As long as you’ve got space for it, the sky is really the limit when adding a metal structure to your property.
