So, you have decided to add some value to your home and want to build your very own pergola carport on your property but you are not sure where to start? Carports are a great way to add a protective area to park your vehicle if you don’t have a garage although plenty of homeowners who have a garage often add a carport as well. If this is your first DIY project that is much larger than any other DIY project you’ve done in the past, then you can relax because building a carport is pretty simple. Before you can start construction to build your carport, there are a few things that you will have to take care of first.
Tools To Build A Carport
The first thing you should consider is whether or not you have the correct tools to complete the construction of your carport. The tools you will be needing to build your carport are pretty basic and you most likely already have most of them. You will need a measuring tape, carpenters square, hammer, string line, adjustable wrench, spirit level. hand saw and a ladder. To make constructing your carport a little easier and less time consuming you may want to consider using some power tools for some of the tools mentioned above such as a circular saw, nail gun, and a hammer drill.
Utility Lines Are Important
Next, you will need to take into consideration where the utility lines are located on your property. Learning where your electricity, gas and water lines are situated underground is very important before starting any type of construction. Building a structure above them could present problems in the future if the utility lines needed to be accessed and a carport was built on top of them and was in the way. You also don’t want to start digging and hit a utility line with your shovel and risk damaging the utility line as it could lead to serious injury or even death or at the very least, it would result in a pretty decent mess that no one would want to have to deal with. Contacting your local utility companies is a good idea since they would be the ones who could tell you where your utility lines are located.
Building Permits
The last thing you need to do before you can start building your carport is to acquire a building permit. To acquire a building permit for your carport, you will have to first apply for the building permit and have a plan of the site that shows the distance your carport will be from the property lines as well as the size of the carport. Your plan needs to be detailed enough to show that any local zoning and building codes will be met. Following this step, you will need to schedule an appointment for the approval of your plan. Once the city has reviewed your plans and approved, you will receive the permit. Throughout the construction process, you need to remember to schedule inspections by a city building inspector who will verify that your construction is progressing according to the approved plans.
How To Set Your Pergola CarPort Posts
- The first thing you will need to do is figure out where the outside perimeter of your carport will be located. If your carport is going to be attached to your home, measure out the desired width of the carport from the outside wall of your home that it will be attached to. Then measure the desired length of the carport which should be parallel to the wall of your home and drive stakes into the ground at each measurement to mark the four corners of your carport.
- Next, you will need to attach string lines from one stake to the other forming the rectangle shape that your carport should be. The corners are where the concrete post footers will be located. Check to make sure the space you have outlined is square by measuring diagonally from one corner to the next. It should measure the same length for both distances.
- Dig a hole in each corner for the posts to go in. The soil type determines how deep each hole should be and can usually be found in your building permit. Once you have prepared each hole, you’re ready to pour start mixing the concrete.
- Concrete for each hole should be mixed separately so be sure to only mix enough for one post at a time and pour it in the holes. Next, use post saddles to help prevent the posts from rotting by installing it in the center of the concrete. Be sure that the saddle the post will be sitting in is clear of the wet cement and use a level to be sure that it is level in the cement.
- Allow the cement to set for about a week and put up the posts. Use a spirit level to make sure that each post is vertical and not leaning to any one side.
If you have accomplished the preliminary requirements and followed the steps listed above, you are well on your way to enjoying your new carport and all the benefits they provide.
