DIY Metal Carport Kit vs. a Custom-Installed Carport

DIY Metal Carport Kit vs. a Custom-Installed Carport

A retail metal carport kit can be a good choice if its standard size fits your vehicle and you’re comfortable putting it together. If you need different dimensions, want more roof and enclosure choices, or would rather have a crew install the building, a Norcal Carports quote is worth comparing.

Norcal helps plan the configuration and coordinates the order with Best National Carports, which manufactures, delivers, and installs the structure. Delivery and installation are free on most projects. You handle permits and prepare the site.

A kit may have the lower price on the product listing. A Norcal project can be the better value when you want a carport sized for your use and installation included.

At a glance

| | Retail DIY kit | Custom-installed carport through Norcal | |---|---|---| | Size | The listed model sets the available dimensions; other models vary | Dimensions and clearance are selected for the project | | Roof and enclosure | Options depend on the specific kit | Regular, boxed-eave, or vertical roof; open or partially enclosed options | | Frame | Check the model’s gauge, tube dimensions, bracing, and anchors | 14-gauge standard framing; 12-gauge upgrade available | | Assembly | Many kits require customer assembly; check the listing and manual | Best National Carports installs the building at a ready site | | Planning | You confirm site conditions, anchoring, and local requirements | Norcal helps review dimensions, site access, surface, and engineering questions | | Price | The product price may not include assembly or site work | Delivery and installation are free on most projects; very large buildings may have a freight charge |

Frame gauge is one detail, not a complete measure of strength. Compare the full specifications, bracing, anchors, and engineering for the building and site you have in mind.

Five things to check before you buy

1. Measure the vehicle and the usable space

Check the clear width between posts, eave and peak heights, and room to open doors or walk around the vehicle. For an RV, include air conditioners, ladders, antennas, and other rooftop equipment in your height measurement.

Compare those measurements with the actual clear opening in the carport. The advertised width and height may describe the outside dimensions, not the space between posts or under the roof.

2. Ask what the load ratings cover

Wind and snow ratings depend on the building configuration, site, anchoring, and the assumptions behind the engineering. Ask for current documents that match the structure you plan to order, then confirm what your city or county requires.

A rating in a product brochure does not by itself show that a building is approved for every address. Local review may require specific plans, calculations, anchors, or inspections.

3. Compare the cost of the finished job

A kit’s listed price can look appealing, especially if you plan to assemble it yourself. Before comparing it with an installed quote, include delivery, anchors, tools, assembly help if you need it, permits, foundations, concrete, grading, and any engineering or site work.

Norcal’s website currently shows a planning example of $2,257 for a 12 ft × 20 ft × 6 ft standard-roof carport. It’s an example, not a project quote; site conditions and selected options can change the price. Delivery and installation are free on most projects.

4. Find out who handles each step

For a retail kit, check who unloads it, assembles and anchors it, and answers warranty questions. With Norcal, we help select and order the building; Best National Carports manufactures, delivers, and installs it.

The site needs to be level, clear, accessible to the crew, and suitable for the structure. Leave at least 3 feet of working space around it for installation. That’s room for the crew, not a legal setback.

5. Ask what “certified” means for your project

“Certified” can refer to a published load rating, a contractor’s license and insurance, engineered drawings, or approval by a local building department. Ask which documents are available, who issued them, what configuration they cover, and whether your city or county accepts them.

If your jurisdiction asks for project-specific engineering, Norcal can coordinate available information from A&A Engineering. Engineering is conditional; not every carport includes stamped, site-specific plans. Your city or county determines permits, required documents, and inspections.

Why buyers choose Norcal Carports

The main advantage is having more room to fit the building to your vehicle and property, with installation coordinated as part of the order. That’s a better match for buyers who have outgrown standard kit dimensions or don’t want to assemble the structure themselves.

1. Choose the dimensions and roof style. Compare regular, boxed-eave, and vertical roofs, then plan the height and width around what you’re storing. Open and partial enclosure options are available by configuration.
2. Choose the frame package. Norcal lists 14-gauge framing as standard and offers a 12-gauge upgrade. We’ll confirm the available package, bracing, and anchors for the selected building and site.
3. Get delivery and installation coordinated. Best National Carports does the installation at a ready site. Delivery and installation are free on most projects. Prefer to build it yourself? Ask about materials drop-off, which Norcal lists at 10% off standard installed pricing.
4. Get help before you order. Norcal reviews dimensions, surface, access, and possible engineering needs. If your city or county requires engineering, we can coordinate available information through A&A Engineering.
5. Work with a regional dealer. Norcal reports more than 100 structures coordinated and service in 25+ California counties. Service generally runs from Weed to Bakersfield, subject to delivery routes, road and site access, weather, and product availability.

You still handle permit applications and site preparation, including foundations, concrete, grading, leveling, and clearing. If you want a carport planned for your use and installed without taking on kit assembly, Norcal is the option we recommend pricing first.

What to expect when you order through Norcal

Original illustration for this guide. It shows a general process, not a specific customer project.

1. Tell us what you need. Share what you plan to store, approximate dimensions, your ZIP code, the surface, and any access concerns.
2. Choose a configuration. We’ll compare building options, pricing, site conditions, and whether engineering may be needed.
3. Prepare the site. You handle permits, foundations or concrete, grading, leveling, clearing, and other site work.
4. Schedule delivery and installation. When the site is ready and accessible, Best National Carports delivers and installs the structure under the terms of your quote. The company lists California contractor license CAL LIC#1103742 and says it is licensed and insured.
5. Review the paperwork. Check the project documents and the manufacturer’s written warranty. Your city or county will tell you whether an inspection is required.

Frequently asked questions

Does Norcal install the carport?

Norcal coordinates the order. Best National Carports manufactures, delivers, and installs the structure. Delivery and installation are free on most projects; very large buildings may have a freight charge.

Does Norcal handle permits or concrete?

No. You handle permit applications and fees, foundations, concrete, grading, leveling, clearing, and other site preparation. We can help with planning and coordinate available engineering information when needed.

Are Norcal carports automatically certified for my local building code?

No single certification covers every carport and property. Requirements depend on your city or county, the site, structure, foundation, anchors, and intended use. Ask the local building department what it needs, then request the drawings or calculations for the configuration you’re considering.

The installer’s license identifies the company doing the work. It does not, by itself, certify the building design or approve it for your address.

Which costs less?

A retail kit may have a lower product price, particularly if you assemble it yourself. Norcal’s price depends on the dimensions, options, and site, with delivery and installation free on most projects. Compare written prices for the same building and include any assembly labor you would need for the kit.

Get a quote for your site

Start with your vehicle measurements, the clearance you need, installation ZIP code, and site surface. If you have permit or engineering questions, include those too. Norcal can help review the options and coordinate a project quote.

Request a project quote or compare carport styles, building examples and prices, and delivery and installation requirements.

Sources

• Norcal Carports carport options — roof and frame choices, DIY drop-off, example pricing, and delivery and installation terms.
• Norcal Carports About page — company role, project history, service area, and installation process.
• Best National Carports — product range and contractor license shown on the partner’s public site.

Norcal product and price information checked October 16, 2026. Confirm current options, pricing, and documents before ordering.