If you are looking for something to protect your vehicle from the UV rays in the summer or snow in the winter, but you have a limited budget, then getting an open air carport is a good option.  Open carports, as the name implies, are carports that are a roof held up by several pillars.  There are different types of open carport design specs, but that is the gist of it.  You can get carports with different roofing materials; canopy is the cheapest as well as the easiest to set up and it lasts for several years before it needs to be replaced; steel is the most durable and will last the longest although it is more expensive than canopy.

One thing you should do before you get too far with your open carport plans is to double check the building regulations for the area you live in and make sure you do not need a building permit before setting up a carport or any kind of structure on the property.  Building laws vary a lot, and while generally speaking you do not need a permit, in a number of cases you do and you would likely want to know that before you start work on the carport.

Most carports fall into the do it yourself category.  They are not all that hard to set up yourself, in particular the canopy ones, although carports made from other materials can also be a do it yourself job.  However, if you do not feel comfortable with putting up your own carport then there are a number of companies who will do it for you for an extra fee.  When you are buying your open carport, check and see what the installation costs are, as sometimes these companies will have a ‘package deal’ where you pay a fee and you get not only the carport but also the installation.

Related posts:

1. Open Carport
2. Sheds, Carports, and Awnings
3. Prefab Carports
4. Simple Carport
5. About Metal Carport Building Permits and Zoning Requirements
6. Carport Drawings