We’ve gone over carport advantages already, but what about their disadvantages? Are there any? Like all things in life, carports have both their good sides and their bad sides. In this post, we will take a look at a few reasons why a carport may not be for you.
Not Enclosed
Perhaps the biggest and most obvious disadvantage carports have going for them is that they are generally open on all four sides. This means that if a strong enough wind comes along, then your car or truck (or anything else you may have stored) will not be entirely safe from the elements. Usually, this is not going to be a concern, but it really does only take one time for hail to ruin your car’s bodywork. Before you take the plunge and get a carport, think about what kind of climate you have and how the weather can be in the worst of conditions.
Unsecured
This falls inline with the disadvantage of having open sides. Not only will everybody be able to see your vehicles and whatever else you have underneath your carport, but they will be able to take them without having to break into a garage first. Granted, this is not a very likely scenario, but it is something to keep in mind, especially if you have rather expensive tastes in vehicles.
Now, if your house and carport happen to be behind a fence and gate, then you’ll have a lot less to worry about here. Even still, being unable to lock up a carport is a definite disadvantage.
Both of the aforementioned points lead us into the final point of this post.
Bird Nests
Ah yes, this last disadvantage is perhaps the most annoying one of all. Birds love to build their nests within the frame work of a carport’s roof as it gives them the same advantages you get: shelter and fresh air. Unfortunately, while birds are wonderful little creatures, they have a biological habit of defecating—a lot.
This does not bode well for your car or truck, as you can imagine.
Now, there are ways to deter birds from setting up a home right above your nice car, but implementing these can be a real hassle in and of themselves. Perhaps in a future post we’ll take a look at ways to keep birds out of your carport.
As you can see, having a carport is not all fun and games. You really do need to weigh your options before spending money on something that will only cause you problems down the road.