When you’re planning on putting in a new carport or moving one that you’ve had for a while, little details matter.
One factor that doesn’t get talked about as much as it should is the weight.
Still, with how many different types and sizes that are available, how much can you expect your carport to weigh?
A carport can weigh up to over 2,000 lbs, however most land between 700 and 1000 lbs. Metal carports will land on the lighter end because of their efficiency in distributing weight. Wood carports, on the other hand, tend to be heavier because of the solid nature of the material.
If you’d like to get an idea of how much your carport should weigh, we’ve got you covered. In the following sections, we’ll present a representative sample of real carports and their weight, based on their material and size.
Then we’ll turn our attention to other factors you might want to consider before deciding on which carport is right for you.
Examples of Carports and How Much They Weigh
A carport’s weight depends on several factors such as the material they are made out of, their size and structure. For this reason, there isn’t one standard number we can give to represent the weight of all carports.
Instead, we can simply survey some common examples to get an idea of what to expect.
Below we’ll breakdown the weight of a few real life examples based on the material they are made out of and in some cases, their size as well.
How Much Does a Metal Carport Weigh?
Metal carports are generally made of galvanized steel and are lauded for being easier to set up, lasting longer, and requiring less maintenance than their wooden counterparts.
At the same time, they tend to weigh significantly less, while maintaining a higher level of overall strength. The following examples will give you a rough estimate of just how much they tend to weigh.
- 18 ft. W x 20 ft. L x 7 ft. H Steel Carport: In this example, we’re looking at a classic style metal carport made primarily of steel. The whole package weighs in at around 861 lbs–a very common weight, give or take 100 lbs, for a carport this size. It can withstand 22lbs of snow and wind velocities of up to 90 mph.
- 20 ft. W x 20 ft. L x 7 ft. H Steel Carport: This steel carport weighs in at 918 lbs and can withstand 22lbs of snow on its roof. It makes use of VersaTube technology in its frame, which allows it to have a lighter weight with more strength. It can withstand winds up to 90 mph.
How Much Does a Wooden Carport Weigh?
Wooden carports tend to be more expensive, harder to assemble, and more tedious to maintain than their metal counterparts.
What’s worse is that they tend to be a lot heavier as well. Where a metal carport can be put together and taken apart in a few hours, a wooden carport will need a few days to a week.
These next few examples will give you an idea of just how much weight you can expect from one.
- Arlington 12 ft. x 12 ft. Wooden Carport: This should give you an idea of how much more wooden carports weigh than metal ones. Though this gazio is smaller than the 18 ft. W x 20 ft. L x 7 ft. H Steel Carport we looked at, it weighs almost the same amount–811 lbs.
Why the Weight of Your Carport Matters
So now that we’ve seen several examples of real life carports, you may be left wondering why their weight matters in the first place.
We’ve broken down two of the most important reasons why the weight of your carport matters below:
Weight Protects Your Carport in Extreme Weather
The weight-to-strength ratio of your carport is an important factor in its durability during more extreme weather. You want a carport with weight distributed in such a way that it’s not so heavy you can’t move it but is not so light that it collapses in the event of heavy snow.
In order to decide if a carport has the right weight-to-strength ratio for extreme weather where you live, you can follow this simple rule of thumb.
Look up the heaviest snow storm you’ve had in your area for the last 50 years. Then look for a carport with a weight capacity that is 10% higher than that number.
If you do this, it is unlikely that your carport will ever collapse in a snowstorm.
Weight Effects the Mobility of Your Carport
Someday you might need to move your carport. This can be a difficult task already, because it involves breaking it down and then reassembling it later.
If the parts themselves are extremely heavy, you may need more equipment, such as a bigger vehicle for transportation, even after it is taken apart.
In this area, metal carports have the advantage. The individual parts are relatively lightweight when you consider their size.
The pieces of a wooden carport, on the other hand, are going to be much heavier.
What Other Aspects of Carports are Important?
There are a few other aspects of carports you might want to check out so that you know you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Look for the following specs, and you’ll be ready to pick the right one for yourself.
- Grade and Gauge: If you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather, you’ll want a carport with a higher steel grade and gauge. If you live in an area with a moderate environment on the other hand, you could sacrifice some of this quality for a better price and still be fine,
- Durability: If you’re looking for a metal carport, you’ll want to check out what kind of coating it has and how resistant it is to extreme weather. If you’re looking at a wood carport, then you should ask how termite resistant the wood is.
- Size and Safety vs. Building Codes: This is another that depends heavily on where you live. Making sure that your carport complies with building codes in your area is vitally important if you want to avoid additional fines. Remember, you don’t want to have a carport that is too big or unsafe for your local area.
- Ease of Assembly: As we’ve stated before, metal carports tend to be much easier to assemble than wooden carports. However, even within each category, there is some variation. Generally, if a carport is easy to assemble, it will be advertised in the product description as one of the big selling points.
- Type of Frame and Roof: The frame and the roof it supports are vitally important components of how much your carport can take.
So, How Much Does a Carport Really Weigh?
Carports generally weigh anywhere from the mid hundreds up to almost 2,000 lbs. In the examples we looked at they ranged from 811 lbs to 918 lbs, which is relatively standard.
Metal carports tend to weigh less but can support more weight, whereas wooden carports are the opposite but can add some style to your property nonetheless.
When trying to decide on which carport is for you, you should not only take into account the weight but other factors as well.
These include the materials it is made out of, the strength of the frame and roof, and practical considerations like how easy it is to assemble and disassemble.
Alright guys, that’s it for this article, if you are interesting in reading more about carports, we have lots of cool articles related such as:
Pros and Cons of Sealing Garage Floors (9 Things To Know)
PAINTING A CARPORT FLOOR (COMPLETE GUIDE)
Can I Paint My Garage Door ?! – The Complete Answer
