Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ'S

Your Questions Answered.

We service several states and territories so your install time frames will differ depending on location. Most areas are 2-4 week turnaround time from order date.

How does the order process work?

The steps would start with a talk with one of our building specialists to get an understanding of the structure you need followed by a quote and image of how it would look with your color options. Once things are decided on then we can proceed with an order form and get everything confirmed and signed and collect your upfront down payment. Once the order is processed it will go to our scheduling department where you will be grouped in for an install run. Once installed you will inspect the work, sign the form from the installer and pay your remaining balance.

What do I need to do for prep work?

We just ask that you have the area clear from all objects and leveled for installers to work freely in a clear level workspace. If there are objects that can’t be moved we can build around them with a build over fee. Also if your ground is slightly out of level we can work with about 3-4 inches but any more we would have to adjust and do cut leg on site for a small fee to keep the cover level.

What are the structures wind and snow ratings?

Our structures are fully engineered and rated for a 35 PSF snow load and 140 MPH wind gusts. Other options can be available if a higher snowload or wind rating is needed for your area.

Do I need a permit?

Most structures require a permit but will all be based on your local planning and zoning requirements. You as the customer are responsible for the permit but we have a department that can assist in any info and drawings needed. We do not require permits for install but avoiding the permit can possibly have issues down the road with county inspectors for not pulling one from the start.

What size do I need?

We offer so many sizes of structures it is hard to select just one. When it comes down to selecting a size the main things to consider is what will best fit your needs. Look at what items you plan to cover with the carport or garage. How many cars? How much storage or space do you need. What future plans do you possibly have in mind so you can prepare for what you might store down the road. Our sales specialist can easily work with you to determine what best fits your needs and budget.

Ways to customize your metal building?

When it comes to customizing we have you covered. We offer many sizes and types of doors and windows. We offer over 20 colors to select from. Different color matching options. Door and frame out placements. Different trim packages. We have endless options and a builder tool to help you see and visualize the structure to make sure you’re completely satisfied and lock in only what you need.

Wood vs Steel?

The old time question of wood vs steel. The answer is going to be steel for most customers. There are many factors that play into this and the main being durability. Our structures are built with high end galvanized steel that is built to battle harsh weather conditions from snow and wind. Wood can burn in an event of a fire, can warp and rot due to age, can be damaged by bugs and termites. With the price of lumber these days the cost for a stick built structure is through the roof. The list goes on with the issues that can arise with building wood.

How to prevent sweating or condensation?

The simple and best way to do this is by having us install our 1 inch bubble type insulation. As the weather changes the metal on the structure heats and cools and causes the building to sweat and condensate. Our insulation is a great vapor and moisture barrier to help prevent your buildings from having those issues.

How heavy is a carport or garage?

These carports and garages are made with galvanized tubing and metal paneling that carries some weight. Once fully installed these structures will weigh several hundred pounds to several tons depending on size and materials.

Do you need footings for a carport?

When it comes to the concrete pads and footers for the structures we highly recommend it from a builders standpoint. However at the end of the day we only require a 4 inch pad to anchor to. We do encourage you to reach out to your local permitting office to see what your local city or county requires for permitting.

What is J Trim on a carport?

When it comes to trim on a carport the J Trim is one of the best options to add to your carport when adding a drop panel to the side wall. What J Trim does is cover the sharp bottom edge of the panel to help prevent anyone from cutting their hands or head if they were to bump into it. Not only is J Trim a great safety option but also the trim makes the side panel look more finished and gives it a cleaner look and feel.

Do metal garages add value to a home?

When it comes to our structures they can add a good amount to the value of a property and home. Our garages are top quality products that offer you extra storage and more structure to your property which in turn gives more value to your home.

What insulations are offered? Differences?

For our garages we offer two types of insulation. We offer a 1 inch bubble type insulation that is going to work more as a vapor and moisture barrier to prevent your garage from sweating as temperature changes. Our second option is going to be our 2 inch fiberglass insulation which can be used for more climate control with heating and cooling.

What style and size garage doors are offered?

We currently are offering our standard coil style roll up door. These style doors are the primary door offered in this industry due to cost and usability. We offer them in sizes ranging from 6×7 up to 14×14 with plenty of sizes in between. Our doors can also be equipped with electric door openers for sizes 10 x 10 and smaller.

Can I add my own windows and doors after install?

Adding your own doors and windows is no issue at all. When ordering your garages simply tell your salesperson what you plan to add and we can make the proper openings to allow you to install you own windows and doors once we get the structure installed.

Can you come back and enclose and install doors and windows to my existing carport?

When you are finalizing your paperwork for your carport or garage from the start it is always best to consider what options you may want or need down the road. We like you to consider the options and things that may be in place for changes or extras added down the road. So to answer the question we can add panels, doors and windows to carports but it has to be within the first 2 years of owning the carport. Anything after that we can not add any additional options to.

How are the buildings measured?

For building measurements we go by the framing dimensions which will be outside to outside. Our widths typically go from 12’ to 18’ and then in 2’ increments there on. On our length options we start at 20’ long and then go up in 5’ increments.

What size concrete pad do I need for my garage?

When it comes to the concrete pad size we highly recommend doing the same dimensions as your structure. We also recommend going with our Flush Mount Concrete Kit to bring in the anchors 2 inches to meet code and help reduce the risk of cracks and blowouts in the concrete.

What is a flush mount concrete kit?

The flush mount concrete kit is a new option offered for customers that install a carport or garage on a concrete pad. What the kit is is a l bracket that is connected to your base rail that allows you to bring the anchors an additional 2 inches. There are several benefits from this and would be the extra inches allows you to meet most permitting codes for install, helps prevent concrete cracks and blowouts by moving the anchor in and lastly it allows you to save on concrete cost by making the pad the same size as the structure.

Can I see an image of my building prior to purchase and install?

Carport National wants to make sure you see and are getting the structure you need and want. With our 3d builder tool we can design and show you exactly how your carport or garage will look. If you can provide an image of the install site our sales experts can even place the structure in the photo so you can get a true feel and image of how it would look on your property.

How do I use the online builder?

The online builder is one of our best tools on our site here at Carport National. The builder allows you to fully customize your carport or garage with endless options. How it works is by clicking the customize tab and then putting in your zip code. Once you’re in you start with the size then adding any additional siding panels and doors or windows you may need. After that you will get to select color options to make sure it matches what you need. Once you get it correct then you can either save it and get an emailed link sent directly to you of that build or you have the option to buy straight from the builder.

Do you offer carport kits?

We can offer carport kits that you as the customer can install. These kits can be picked up at a local shop or can be delivered and dropped off at your house. Prices will vary depending on pickup or drop off. One thing to note is that if you purchase a kit and do a self install you will have no warranty applied as it becomes a simple material purchase.

What anchoring options are available for my carport/garage?

We want to make sure you’re covered with the anchoring the best anchor that fits for your install surface. We offer concrete anchor bolts for concrete, we offer rebar and mobile home anchors for the ground and gravel and then lastly we offer rebar and asphalt anchors when installing on asphalt. Using the proper anchoring allows you to meet code for permits and gets you a 140 mph wind speed rating.

What style roofs do you offer?

Carport National offer three styles of roofs to offer different looks and price points to meet all your needs.

Our best option and most popular would be the Vertical Roof. The vertical roof gives you the best water and snow run off with having our panels running vertically on the roof. Helps with heavy snow loads and prevents any water from staying on the ridges in the panels. This style comes with hat channel and ridge cap and also gives you a 6 inch overhang around the whole roof framing.

Our second best option would be our Boxed Eave Roof style. The Boxed Eave framing is the same as the vertical but does run the panels horizontally. This option does allow you save some money on the cost side but does open up the opportunity for snow, water and other items to get stuck on the ridges in the paneling. This roof also includes the extra 6 inch overhang.

Our last and final style would be the Regular Roof style. It comes in as the cheapest of all price wise but is very similar to the boxed eave in the horizontal roof but instead of having the 6 inch overhang on the sides it takes the last roof panel and curves it down onto the sides. This style is the original roof style from when the structures of carports began.

What is the roof pitch of a metal structure?

Our roofs here at Carport National are built to an engineered standard of a 3-12 roof pitch on all our structures roofs. To better break down the 3-12 pitch would be to say that for every 1 foot of roofing the pitch would increase 3 inches. So every 12 feet of roofing would give you a 3 foot difference in roof height.

However on our lean to’s and single slope roofs we do offer the roof pitch at a 2-12 pitch. In this case there would be a 2 inch change every foot of roofing.

Do I need a permit?

Here at Carport National we want to give you as much information as possible. With the current state of permitting we highly recommend talking directly to your local permitting and planning and zoning offices to determine what is fully needed for your structure. We can help provide basic information and generic engineering drawings to help you obtain the permit.

Do you provide guttering?

When it comes to guttering, we do not offer guttering as a product. Guttering is more of an aftermarket item that can be installed directly to our trim on the overhang. However the guttering can help with water drainage please make sure to have it properly installed to maintain your material warranties.

How many legs per side are installed on carports, garages and barns?

When it comes to our structures the amount of legs will vary based on size. In most cases we are building our structures to meet code using a 5 foot on center spacing. So based on the length you will have a leg every 5 feet. We do also offer the options to have the legs closer and doing a 4 foot on center and even 3 foot on center spacing for a small fee for the extra supports.

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FAQ'S