Need idea for inexpensive carport, or something to cover our cars in the driveway

philsfog

We have a one car garage attached to our house, which my husband keeps his precious motorcycle and our storage stuff... Our new cars are parked on the double car driveway with nothing over them to protect from the weather. I wanted to get a metal double carport and put in front of garage on the driveway, but my husband thinks it will look hideous because it will stick out farther than the house on one side, since it is only a single garage and a double carport... I can't put the carport on the side of the garage because we have landscaping and we would have to dig it up and pour concrete which is too expensive.

I need suggestions or opinions on how I can get our cars covered! People have been telling me to get a shade sail. I found a lot of reviews online but still don't know which one to go for. Does anyone have similar experiences? I've been looking at this shade sail review, which is about £50,any advice would be great.

bestshadesails(dot)com/the-definitive-guide-to-best-shade-sail/

glasgowdan

I don't think you'll get a cheap solution that looks alright. Why did you buy two new cars if you don't want the rain on them? When you say double driveway, is it double width or double length?

SplanK

Cars will be fine outside in the rain unless it's old and/or infrequently used. If it's at the front of the house rather thsn the side then I agree with your husband, it would look odd!

In addition, a car port won't stop rain being driven sideways by wind. We have a car port with 2 sides enclosed leaving the rear and front open, cars till get wet!

jk0

SplanK wrote: »

We have a carpet with 2 sides enclosed leaving the rear and front open, cars till get wet!

I bet the carpet does too, doesn't it?

theroller

Just get your car washed and waxed more often and don't worry about a bit of rain.

27col

Cars are so well protected nowadays during manufacture that they are unlikely to benefit from a carport or a garage.
In any case most garages are too small for a modern car, and most houses are so small that they need the garage space for storage.
Garages have not really increased in size since the 1950's, but cars have increased in size considerably.
I imagine that the folding mirrors are only there in order to allow some cars to be garaged.

Hoploz

My cars are parked under oak tress, which drop all year round, sap in early summer, then acorns, then leaves, then twigs ... It makes a right mess of the cars, need to wash them weekly!

Just bought a soft top and to tide us over until we can build a proper timber car port we have bought one of these
http://www.garden-camping.com/categories/4.5mtr%20x%203.0mtr%20Waterproof%20Airwave%20Pop%20Up%20Gazebos/403
It's 3m by 4.5m so just right for car, a nice cheap solution for only £110. I've got the green which blends in to the background well.
We are not using the sides at the moment, just the canopy. Can be held down with pegs or could be attached to concrete base. I have some sand bag weights on their way to make it a bit more sturdy but on its own it is fine in standard weather.

Doozergirl

theroller wrote: »

Just get your car washed and waxed more often and don't worry about a bit of rain.

Exactly what I was going to say. Weathercomes from all directions anyway.

Keep them clean.

lstar337

27col wrote: »

Garages have not really increased in size since the 1950's, but cars have increased in size considerably.
I imagine that the folding mirrors are only there in order to allow some cars to be garaged.

So true. My parents old house had a garage that they didn't use for the car because when you pulled in you couldn't get out because you couldn't open the doors!

Talk about stupid design!

Ozzuk

Benefit of the doubt and all that but the user has posted this on a number of forums, most have been removed...

philsfog

thanks for the input guys. i kept the money for the other things.