Most summer cottages in the Moscow region are quite modest in size. A house, a gazebo, a bathhouse or a garage - this, it would seem, is the entire list of architectural elements of a country property.
But no. Every motorist also wants to have a country carport. It will, of course, take up some space, but it will protect the iron horse both from bad weather and from excessively hot sun. And if you approach the matter with imagination, then the parking lot will turn into the highlight of the estate. However, see for yourself.
Arched canopy under monolithic polycarbonate
Beauty lies in simplicity, and this cute carport at the dacha is proof of that.
A thick-walled aluminum profile was used as the construction material. And monolithic polycarbonate was used for the roof. You cannot make such a canopy with your own hands, and this is why it differs from most of its brothers. But it has a number of advantages: structural rigidity, lightness and ease of assembly.
Its small dimensions allow it to be placed almost anywhere, because it does not require any specific foundation and can be mounted almost directly on a path or a ready-made concrete platform.
Such products will harmoniously fit into most modern styles, but will especially please lovers of hi-tech and modernism. Smooth lines and the ability to merge with the surrounding landscape only emphasize their belonging to art nouveau. But where this design option will really be alien is in the world of country music.
Do-it-yourself canopy installation with a wooden frame
Such designs are found everywhere. They are used in the country, they can be attached to a private house, and even observed on the territory of factories. Many people prefer building materials such as wood. This is due to its characteristics. It's easy to work with him. Even with a huge selection of materials, wooden structures remain trendy.
It is possible to make a wooden canopy for your house with your own hands. To do this, you will need to draw up a plan, purchase building materials, have tools for work, decide on a location, and perform preparatory work.
Required tools and materials
Having finished all the calculations and having decided on the quantity, you can begin purchasing the missing building materials. When constructing hand-made structures, materials must be taken with a small margin, this will avoid unpleasant situations with incorrect calculations. To start work you will need the following building materials:
- Wooden floor beams, load-bearing supports, slats;
- Roofing coverings;
- Crushed stone, sand, wood, cement, geotextiles;
- Fasteners (angles, screws, bolts, etc.).
To carry out work you will need the following tools:
- Drill, shovel;
- Wheelbarrow, cart;
- Old bathtub, concrete mixer;
- Hammer, axe, hacksaw;
- Drill, screwdriver, grinder;
- Roulette, level.
Foundation
A canopy with a wooden frame does not require powerful support. A lightweight foundation is suitable for it. Use columnar, concrete. Usually a blind area is made around buildings. Therefore, load-bearing supports located near the wall are attached directly to it.
Professionals recommend preparing sites, but you can do without them. The creation of such foundations begins with the removal of the top layer of soil in the yard - up to thirty centimeters. The surface is treated with special solutions that prevent the remnants of the plant root system from growing, and is covered with geotextiles. A layer of sand and crushed stone is poured on top of it. They need to be filled with water and compacted well.
A columnar foundation is different from a concrete foundation. To fill it, you will need to dig a hole and drill a hole to the depth of soil freezing - up to one meter. A sewer plastic pipe is inserted into the resulting recess and leveled. A wooden beam can be concreted in a pipe, or attached to a screed after the foundation has dried. For the first case, the support is impregnated with varnishes, antiseptics, wrapped with roofing material from below, and wrapped with film.
The concrete foundation is poured into the trench. They deepen it half a meter, and dig it in width with a shovel bayonet - up to forty centimeters. The bottom should be covered with a layer of sand, crushed stone should be poured on top of it. If necessary, reinforcement is made. Concrete is poured onto the prepared base, while supporting beams are leveled. Next, the foundation stands, dries, and hardens. Only after this can you begin further installation of the wooden frame. The beams can be secured to the surface of the concrete screed using a thrust bearing.
Frame
It is mounted on a concrete foundation and a wooden base. To do this, use a thrust bearing, a corner. To create a strong structure, all elements must be attached to the base at a right angle, perpendicular. Support beams can serve as the basis for only one side of the frame, in the case where the second rests directly on the facade, or support both sides when installing load-bearing logs near the wall.
Its structure depends on the type of roof (single, gable, curved). A pitched roof is the most common, low-cost option. At the final stage, they begin to create the sheathing, which is laid on the rafters and trusses.
Roof installation
The covering is attached to the finished sheathing. The laying technology for each material is different. For example, corrugated sheets and metal tiles are fastened with self-tapping screws, slate with special nails, and for fabrics, a slats and an industrial stapler are enough. When attaching the material, its edges should be moved beyond the base area. These actions will create an additional barrier from precipitation.
The roof does not require the installation of a vapor barrier layer or additional insulation. However, you can lay a layer of waterproofing. When attaching different coatings, it is enough to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Floor installation
Doing the flooring yourself will not be difficult. It all starts with a base on which the flooring material can be laid. It is advisable to combine a wooden frame with the same floor covering. Consider the option of laying wooden flooring:
- For the foundation of the deck, you can use wooden beams, the size of which is comparable to the area of the canopy. They are laid out along the edge of the support posts. To level the foundation beams, concrete blocks can be placed under them;
- Recesses are made under the concrete substrates, crushed stone is poured under them to obtain a flat plane for the base being used;
- After leveling the surface, they proceed to the stage of installing the logs, creating the sheathing on which the floor covering will be attached;
- Flooring boards can be attached to the finished structure. They are laid with a small gap.
- Since the boards are not always the same height, they are sanded;
- At the final stage, it is recommended to treat the surface with varnishes, stains or paint.
Canopy for a car made of solid timber
It is possible to build an elite carport for a country house using wooden beams. True, in this case one cannot do without a foundation. The weight of the structure is considerable, and therefore it will be necessary, at a minimum, to cast concrete shoes balancing the frame, or even to concrete a solid strip.
Asphalt shingles are considered the ideal roofing material for stationary wooden sheds. Unlike its metal counterpart or budget corrugated sheeting, it does not rattle when it rains, which makes it more comfortable for people to be under the canopy.
You should also note that the space under the canopy does not necessarily have to be concreted or tiled. It is enough to fill the area. But there is one condition. The parking lot should be located at some elevation and on solid soil reinforced with plants. Otherwise, no pebbles will save you from dirt.
One final note. If you have chosen this particular canopy option, you should not mask the bolted connections when assembling it. Here they act as a kind of decor. Massiveness has always gone well with some negligence.
Materials for building a canopy
In principle, you can build a canopy from any building materials that are used in the construction of buildings and structures. That is, it can be brick, various blocks, lumber, metal profiles, etc. More often today, timber and a profile pipe are used for this.
As for the roof, there are no serious restrictions here either. This can be slate, corrugated sheets, tiles, metal tiles, polycarbonate, etc. Today, transparent polycarbonate is used for lightweight structures, which allows sunlight to pass through but does not allow ultraviolet rays to pass through.
So-called awnings have also appeared on the market. They can be classified as temporary structures. They are folding, easy to assemble and disassemble, so they are often used by summer residents in the summer season. Let us add that the awning is made of very durable material that will last at least 7 years.
Tent canopy for a car Source yandex.net
As for the most popular materials, which are profile pipes and wooden beams, their popularity is ensured by their availability, low price and ease of use. At the same time, the correctly selected cross-section of materials makes it possible to build a truly strong and reliable structure.
True, both materials require constant maintenance, because the canopy is located outdoors and is subject to natural stress. But this is not a problem today either. Painted metal or wood treated with antiseptics will last no less than brick or concrete.
So, let's look below at how to make a carport from wood or metal.
Original closed wooden canopy Source twoidvor.com
Solar canopy
BMW provided an original solution for its customers in Los Angeles by developing a canopy covered with solar panels. As conceived by the authors, the structure will recharge car batteries and actively participate in the energy supply of the entire house.
The brand name of such a canopy is iSolar, and it costs fabulous money. But this is on the one hand. On the other hand, no one forces you to buy a finished product from the Germans. Solar panels today are freely available to any buyer, and anyone can make a frame for them.
However, let us remind you that purchasing panels is only part of the possible costs. You will also have to get batteries, a DC-AC inverter converter and a bunch of different controllers. And these are quite significant expenses.
In a word, pick up a calculator and calculate how much a power shed will cost you. But remember, you will have to pay for energy independence in any case.
Also, seek advice from the weather service and find out from weather forecasters the percentage of fine sunny days throughout the year that are typical for your region. The project was developed for the sunny Pacific coast, and if you have only rain and fog, then most likely this idea is not for you.
Semi-arched canopy made of cellular polycarbonate
The cheapest carport at the dacha is built from a steel profile and cellular polycarbonate, and for greater savings they also make it wall-mounted. At the same time, everything turns out simply, but tastefully, without any pretensions to elitism.
If you take a closer look at our photo example and take it as a model, you will not be able to help but notice that the parking area is cast from ordinary concrete, there is no foundation under the supports, and the work was done as economically as possible and without the use of any expensive decor.
But the design copes with its task with a bang and fits into the overall design concept of the site. Summer residents most often make such budget visors with their own hands, especially since you do not need to have any special skills for this. It is enough to know how to handle a welding machine, have a pipe bender on the farm, or know someone from whom you can borrow one. By the way, we presented a detailed algorithm for making polycarbonate canopies in one of our previous master classes.
See here: “Do-it-yourself carport for a car at the dacha made of polycarbonate.”
Forged canopy made of steel and cellular polycarbonate
It’s paradoxical, but even the most expensive and beautiful carports are also covered with cellular polycarbonate. Yes, yes, thermoplastics, despite their cheapness, feel very confident in the vicinity not only of rural huts, but also of elite mansions.
But instead of simple arches, designers use trusses with elements of artistic forging. Instead of the usual round and square pipes, there are welded or forged racks. And the covering of the area under the canopy can be laid on top of concrete with paving stones or natural stone.
In a word, beauty is achieved not so much thanks to the design features as to its decorative components. Although, in some projects, developers make changes to the very shape of the canopy, creating it from 2, 3 or more arches.
In general, the beauty of forged tents lies in their versatility. They can be installed in private parking lots, near expensive mansions, and in the most ordinary summer cottages.
Carport options
The shed is a small structure, but it purports to be beautiful. It is located near the house and should fit into the overall picture, repeat existing elements. The supports, the roofing material, and the covering of the space for the car will all work to accomplish this task. You will see options for carports in the photo; all that remains is to choose the one that lies in the same stylistic plane with the design of a residential building.
Fabric carport
But all these awnings are good if you use them in your home. What if you often have to visit friends or live in rented housing? You’re not going to start construction on someone else’s land, are you? On the other hand, this doesn’t make the car any less pitiful.
For such cases, manufacturers have developed collapsible, easily erected shelters - fabric canopies that are similar to well-known trade tents. Their undoubted advantages:
- They assemble in 5-10 minutes.
- They protect well from the sun and hail.
- They do not require the allocation of any special area for installation.
- Do not affect existing landscape design.
- Easily fits in the luggage compartment of even the smallest car.
On sale there are inexpensive shelters made of awning fabric, solid canopies made of PVC film, transparent or tinted, which only affects the cost of the product, but not its quality.
The only disadvantage of the fabric version is its lightness. We would not recommend using it in open areas where strong gusts of wind are common. It might blow away.
Carport made of corrugated sheets
A carport for parking a car in a country house made of corrugated sheets is one of the most inexpensive, but at the same time reliable solutions. Most often, such structures are created from rolled steel, although no one will prohibit the use of boards or wooden beams in the work. If only the frame could withstand the weight of the snow accumulated on it.
The downside of the design is the complete lack of decorativeness. If you need beauty, take at least metal tiles instead of corrugated sheets. But this will be a completely different design and budget.
But let's move on. There are two types of profiled metal canopies:
- Single-pitch
- And gable
Occasionally there are arched structures where the metal bends along the stiffening ribs, but we cannot recommend them, since the relief of the slopes retains moisture and contributes to the accumulation of snow on the canopy. All this does not contribute to the durability of the product.
Also, the disadvantages of profiled pavilions include their noise. If you happen to be under their roof during rain, you will hear the impact of every drop falling on the roof. It sounds quite funny, but in reality it is very unpleasant when, due to the noise, you can’t even hear your own voice. But if you don’t have much choice, then this is better than large hail hitting a varnished body.
Shed with gable roof
Gable carports are like mini housing for a car. They are attractive in appearance, especially when there is a house nearby with a roof made of the same material and color. Gable roofs for canopies are installed where there is room for walking. For example, when the area under the canopy is far from buildings. Or, when an extension is made, the canopy is made in the same style as the house.
The two roof slopes are attached to a strong sheathing, which is tied around the perimeter. Due to reinforcement, the structure becomes durable. It is stiffer and stronger compared to a lean-to canopy. Snow melts off a gable canopy faster, reducing the load on the supporting structures.
Gable awnings are more difficult to install than single-pitch ones and take more time. In essence, a gable canopy is a connection between separate pitched roofs. Accordingly, they will require more material with identical dimensions.
Carport pergola
Beautiful polycarbonate, bitumen shingles, which go perfectly with stone, are excellent materials, but, unfortunately, they are artificial. And some modern car enthusiasts support the eco-trend and are confident that the best shelter for their iron horse will be the leaves of living plants. But what to do if the site is new, and suitable trees simply have not yet had time to grow on it?
In this case, a pergola canopy will save you. In the classical sense, it is a wooden structure with massive intersecting beams instead of a roof. According to the original idea, the lattice frame should serve as a trellis for climbing plants, and their leaves will create the necessary shade.
But the truth is that such buildings look good as terraces and gazebos, but for cars it is worth making a simpler and more efficient structure. For example, from welded mesh. This material is cheap and accessible, and is even better suited than others for climbing plants: grapes, hops, clematis or roses.
The whole structure looks stylish and airy, and will cost its owner mere pennies. You will only have to spend money on caring for the plantings. After all, you only need a light tent, not a thicket.
Reed carport
Another type of environmentally friendly options for car shelters are reed canopies. Some people replace it with reeds or even straw, but one thing remains in common - a beautiful waterproof hat made of well-placed plants, which perfectly protects from the sun's rays and will cost its owner more than one hundred euros.
Exactly. I’m ashamed to admit, but there are very few craftsmen left in the country who know how to work with reeds, and they know it, and that’s why they charge easy money for their services.
But even such prices do not stop those who want to build a shed using only what Mother Nature has to offer.
If you have the same views, then take note that reed shelters go well with fences and rustic attributes. Ceramic dishes and a wheel removed from a cart would be quite suitable decor here.
Types of structures
The extension to the house must be functional and match the exterior of the structure. A properly planned canopy will protect not only from rain and sun rays, it will become a beautiful addition to the overall design of the building. There are several types of roof construction, it can be:
- Straight. Used to protect vehicles from precipitation. Can be installed on terraces and serve as an additional decoration for the entrance to the house;
- Sloping. They are divided into single-slope and double-slope. The planes are made at an angle to allow water to drain and snow to fall off. The slope is located on the leeward side, this reduces the possibility of the roof falling off;
- Figured. Dome, arched, hipped, compositionally complex structures are used.
Depending on the construction method, sheds are divided into free-standing, attached, and support-cantilever. According to the installation option and fastening method, they can be divided into:
- Supporting. Install vertically or at an angle to the wall on supports. They have different sizes and are built from any materials: wood, metal, stone.
- Console. Using special pendants, the structure is fixed directly to the wall. To reduce pressure on the facade of the house, lightweight materials are used to make canopies, which serve as protection for windows and doors from precipitation.
