The Top Three Things You May Not Know About the Modern Carport
June 3, 2014
Garages are a very common sight in the United States. The odds are that every car owner has some knowledge about garages; there is more to this field than just those structures though. What do you know about carports? Here are three things you may not know about this cheap alternative to garages:
1. A Carport by Any Other Name is Not as Appealing
Carports weren’t always known by that name. Early on, a Minnesota architectural firm took to calling the structures “auto spaces.” As accurate as this name is for the metal garages, it was a name that was doomed not to stick. The term “carport” was later taken up by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright as he described the concept to a would be client. He claimed that traditional garage buildings were outdated. “A car is not a horse,” he said. “It does not need a barn.”
2. Steel Garages Certainly Aren’t Stealing from the Environment
In recent years, these substitutes for metal garages have also taken to being made with metal since it is so economical. One common metal used for the structures is steel. These steel carports aren’t sacrificing eco friendliness for economic gain though; steel is a very renewable resource. For example, more than eighty million tons of steel are recycled annually in North America, let alone the rest of the world. These carports have a vast wealth of recycled material to draw on in their construction!
3. They are Not a Substitute for Garages
One pitfall a homeowner may fall prey to when considering carports is thinking of them as a more bare bones form of garage. This isn’t accurate. Carports aren’t a sort of substitution for a garage; they are an economic replacement. At its core, a garage is meant to protect a vehicle from the elements, whether it be rain, snow, or sun. A carport accomplishes all of those things while being much cheaper to construct and easier to maintain. What do you think about carports? Read this for more: garagebuildings.com