Reimagining the Look of Your Carport: Design Tips to Help It Stand Out
Not every home comes with a garage, surprisingly we know. This doesn’t only apply to older homes but not every new build comes with either an attached or detached garage. You can always fork over the funds to have a garage installed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be cheap.
Garages are expensive, even ones sized to fit a single small vehicle. A more affordable option is a carport but you’re probably not in love with its appearance. We’re looking at some innovative ways to update a carport. This way you can have storage without it being an embarrassing eyesore on your property.
Paint Does Wonders for Curb Appeal
Carports have advanced over the years from rickety open tent-like structures to just about any design you can imagine. You can go with an open carport or one that’s fully enclosed. However, if you’re trying to cut costs your carport is probably lacking a bit of curb appeal.
Regardless of the carport’s design and materials, a fresh coat of paint can do amazing things for its appearance. You may think choosing a paint color is the most important step. You’re probably partially correct. After all, you don’t want to go with a paint color that has your neighbors asking why. Along with picking a color that matches or contrasts with your home, check out the type.
You want to go with an exterior paint. Interior paint simply can’t handle exposure to the weather. You also want to choose a paint designed for your carport’s material. You’re going to go with something different if it’s a wooden carport compared to a metal one. Guess what, you’re still not done selecting the right type of exterior paint. You also want to go with a paint designed specifically for the type of metal used in your carport.
Change Up the Roof
Yes, your carport comes with a roof. This is standard regardless of the building’s style. Even if you go with a prefab kit, the carport still has a roof. However, you’re not stuck with a flat roof or even a slated one. You have some fun options that can add instant curb appeal.
What about a butterfly roof? Even the name sounds fun and interesting. You can even have a custom roof designed to match the one in your home. This can give everything a more cohesive look if it’s your thing. You can even swap out roofing materials. However, before you start playing around with roofing materials consider your climate. Some materials are better suited for some areas than others.
For example, if you want to keep your carport cooler in the summer a metal roof is a great energy-efficient option. The metal surface reflects heat and sunlight helping the carport’s interior stay a little cooler.
Light It Up
No, we’re not suggesting you light your carport on fire. Although, this is a great way of getting your neighbors’ attention, along with the fire department. Instead of risking your property and a ticket, think about installing exterior lighting.
Don’t have electricity running to your carport? No worries, you can still add some lighting. Solar-powered lights are inexpensive, obviously reusable, and a breeze to install. You can find solar-powered walkway lights and even strings of bulbs to hang around the carport. If your carport has electricity, you may want to look at some LED options. LED lights are a tad pricier compared to traditional bulbs. However, LEDs are energy-efficient and tend to need less replacing.
Add Greenery
You don’t need a green thumb to add some plants around your carport. Adding greenery is an easy way to boost curb appeal and do something nice for the environment. Try to stick with native plants. They tend to require less care and benefit your local wildlife. If you’re not sure what to plant, head over to a nearby nursery. The staff should be able to make some recommendations and give you some plant care tips.
If you don’t want to replant your little garden every year, stick with perennials and consider adding some shrubs. You probably want to stay away from trees. Eventually, the tree roots can go underneath the carport and cause a whole set of problems.
Carports don’t always deserve the bad rep the structures have over their appearance. With a few little touches, you can turn your carport into something that adds curb appeal while still being functional. Best of all, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
