Aluminium carports

Types of carport

The first decision is where the carport will stand and how it will be fixed. That decides the number of posts, the base and how much room is left around the car.

• Freestanding carport – on its own posts, anywhere on the plot. Suitable when you park away from the house or by the fence.
• Carport fixed to the building – attached to the facade on one side, with posts only at the front. It leaves more free space, and you get from the car to the door without getting wet.
• Double carport or larger – a wider span and a stronger structure. It matters that the posts don't get in the way of doors and manoeuvring.
• Combined carport – covers the parking space and the front door, or the parking space and a spot for garden equipment.

Aluminium, steel or timber carport?

People looking for a carport usually compare three materials. A steel carport is strong but must be well protected against corrosion and needs repainting over time, especially at the welds and the foot of the posts. Timber looks warm but needs regular care against damp and insects.

An aluminium carport doesn't rust or need painting, and the profiles can match the colour of your windows. That makes it a sensible choice if you don't want to think about the carport every year. There's more on the comparison and price differences in how much does a carport cost.

What size carport do you need?

The most common mistake is a carport that is exactly as big as the car. In practice you need room to open the doors fully, lift out a child seat or shopping from the boot and walk past the car holding an umbrella. Detailed measuring tips are in what size carport do you need.

Before the visit, it helps to think about the following:

• Measure the car with the doors and boot open, not just the body.
• With two cars, consider whether you'll be opening doors towards each other.
• The height must clear the tallest vehicle, including a roof rack or roof box.
• Plan where the posts will stand in relation to the entrance, gate and path.
• If you might have a second car in a few years, it's better to say so now.

What the price of a carport depends on

The price of an aluminium carport is set after measuring, but the factors are the same for everyone:

• Size and span – a double carport without a middle post needs stronger beams than a single one.
• The roof – polycarbonate that lets light through, or sandwich panels for full shade.
• Freestanding or fixed to the building – freestanding means more posts and footings.
• The base – an existing slab or new concrete footings for the posts.
• Side enclosure – panels, sliding glass or ZIP screens against driving rain and wind.
• Drainage – where the water goes and whether it needs leading further from the path, the house or the neighbour.

Do you need a permit for a carport?

This is one of the most searched questions, and the answer isn't the same for everyone. It depends on the size of the carport, on whether it is fixed to the building, on the distance to the property line and on the rules of your municipality. If the carport will stand by the fence or right on the boundary with a neighbour, take extra care – there are often distance rules or a need for the neighbour's consent, and roof water must not drain into their yard.

Our advice is to ask the municipality before you order. There's more on this in do you need a permit for a carport. At the visit we'll tell you what we have seen in practice, but the final answer comes from the municipality.

Ordering, installation and care

We start with a free site visit: we look at the ground, measure and talk through the roof, posts and drainage. You get a quote with the chosen solutions and time frame, then the carport is made to measure and installed on site. If you'd like to see the carport in different sizes first, try the 3D configurator.

Care is minimal. Wash the roof and profiles with water and a mild cleaner, clear leaves and needles from the gutter at least once a year, and remove heavy snow. If there are trees above the carport, check the roof more often, because resin and leaves hold moisture.

Carports in Ruse and North-East Bulgaria

Our showroom is in Ruse, at bul. Lipnik 135 – you can see profiles and roofing materials in person there. Before starting out in Bulgaria, we spent more than 15 years working in Germany and the Netherlands.

We come for site visits all over Bulgaria. From Ruse we easily reach Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen, Razgrad, Silistra and Dobrich, as well as places further away. If you need a carport for one or two cars, ask for a free site visit and quote. If you're also thinking about a covered terrace, take a look at our aluminium verandas and pergolas.