To add a new metal carport to your property, the best way to measure your space is to accurately determine how large your carport can be before you start building it. It’s essential that the carport be large enough to accommodate your needs, but it is even more important to ensure that it fits onto your property and does not encroach on your neighbor’s property.
- California building codes vary from county to county and region to region. Higher elevation and snow areas will need additional bracing and trusses than a sea-level area.
- The type of roof you choose is also important. A vertical roof with extra hat-channels roof may be more expensive, but it can last longer and provides you with more steel than a classical-style carport.
- Advanced plans and calculations may be needed and are an additional cost. These plans are drawn up by a certified engineer who contacts your local building code office to check the requirements. The plans take an average of two weeks to be delivered to you. You will take the plans and calculations, the required permit form, and pay any fees to obtain your permit.
- You will want to research zoning and code laws to ensure your building meets the requirements. Each local government should have a website and/or phone number to call and request the required forms. Contact Norcal Carports to see if we can help you find the proper forms for your build.
- Two important points to watch out for are setback rules and height restrictions.
- A height restriction is a limit on how tall a building can be on your property.
- As for setbacks, this is how close you are allowed to build next to the property line.
- 3′-4′ feet is a fairly common setback in most counties, but be sure to contact your local zoning law office and fill out any necessary forms before building your structure as this is not a uniform measurement.
- *Before taking measurements, choose the best spot for this carport. You want to avoid choosing an area that has poor drainage. Sometimes, this part of the job will be easy to figure out since there will only be a single location where a carport would make sense.
- If there are several options available for a building site, consider all the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.
- Make sure to plan for adequate space outside of your carport so that you don’t run into any issues in the future.
- An exact concrete slab is the recommended foundation type for all metal and steel carports, garages, wide-span, and sheds.
- Our metal/steel manufacturer has supplied us with concrete instructions to offer our customers. A concrete installer can follow these instructions to ensure the foundation is ready for installation.
- Concrete anchors are included in most builds but we do offer. You can upgrade to Titan HD bolts for increased wind resistance. *Some counties may or may not require these.
- Asphalt foundation is an option for carport installations. To anchor the carport, asphalt anchors will be used. Larger buildings may need to be installed on concrete. Smaller carports and covers are the best option if you are using asphalt as your foundation.
- Dirt and/or gravel foundation is the least secure but affordable option. Mobile-home augmented anchors are used to secure the metal carports to the earth. Dirt naturally erodes over time, so you must maintain it throughout the years to ensure the carport remains secure. For best results, we recommend using a concrete foundation for your metal carports.
