Carport support posts hold up the roof of the carport. Normally, each post extends about one foot into the ground. While this insures firmness in most situations, it does not prevent the breakage of a carport support in every instance. A less than gentle push from a moving vehicle can often cause the breakage of posts that had been viewed as the most firm and dependable of carport supports.

Each support needs to be provided with a footing. All of the carport footings must lie below the recognized frost line of the soil in which they are to be placed. When a building inspector oversees construction of a carport, that inspector expects to examine the carport foundation following placement of the footings for all of the carport posts.

In addition to the footings, each carport post must have a carport anchor. There are two types of anchors. Builders use a concrete wedge when anchoring a post in a concrete surface. They rely on a rebar anchor when placing a post in a gravel surface.

The supports do not constitute the only metal elements required for the construction of a carport. Every functioning carport should also have a roof support. The roof support is usually a long metal cylinder.

As car makers strive to develop “greener” vehicles, it is reasonable to expect builders to look for “greener” materials. Hence, in the future, supports could be made from some sort of recycled metal.  Some of the vinyl materials being used to make carports today are being created from recycled plastic materials.

That change should not compromise the ability of the carport to protect a motored vehicle from the elements. As long as the supports are installed properly, they should insure the carport owner with a dependable and firm support for the shelter roof. That assumes, of course, that the owner drives carefully, when entering and leaving the area.

Related posts:

1. Post and Beam Carport
2. Carport Posts
3. Carport Fire
4. Carport Supports
5. Carport Post
6. Carport Blueprints