Topic: Looking To Build a Free Standing Bldg From A Metal Carport, Suggestions? Photo

[bill440cars]

     What I'm thinking is that I can BUY a metal Free Standing Doublecar Carport, build a floor from 2 x 6 lumber and plywood, completely close in the carport, add a door and come out cheaper than a complete wood structure. AND a concrete slab would cost Way Too Much! It's not like I'm going to put the GTX and Shelby in there, just bike parts and SOME of the bikes. I could not believe how hard it was to find a photo, online, of what I wanted to show you all. This is close what I'm talking about. A buddy, has one that is just the carport and used for parking his car under. His suggestion was to take one and go to the next level, closing it in and making a building out of it. Sounds good to me, since the carport itself, is about $695. Anyone DONE this, or know someone who has?

                                 Let's hear it, Bill    


       Oops, I forgot the photo.

      

[bucky katt]

make sure, REALLY sure, that it's anchored good enough for at least a category 1 storm.........dont ask why i know that one 

[bill440cars]

make sure, REALLY sure, that it's anchored good enough for at least a category 1 storm.........dont ask why i know that one 

       Already considered Jeff. Thanks though. Also, back some years ago, we lived high upon a hill and I had one of those 10 x 10 storage buildings that you put together with a zillion little sheet metal screws. Well, this storm came up and I found my building across the fence AND in my neighbor's yard. I retrieved it, collected some insurance money and was allowed to keep it.I fixed it up sunk 4 large 4" x 4" timbers in the ground and attached the building to those and thought I was covered. Wrong! A while later on, we had another one of those storms and even though part of the building's lower frame was still attached to the timbers, the building STILL ended up in my neighbor's yard! I went over, kicked the building apart at the seams, threw the sides back across the fence and piled it up beside the house, to haul to the dump. But, a buddy came over one day, saw the building (or what was left of it), asked if he could have it and I helped him load it up.

           Yeah, my buddy (not the same one that got the building) has one of these carports, built some anchors to put in the ground, dug holes set them in the ground, poured in some cement and anchored his carport at each upright piece of it. That's what we're looking to do with mine, when I get one.

                                  Thanks for the post Jeff, Bill

[MötleyRöx]

Bill, I don't see a concrete floor costing much more, if more at all, than the amount of pressure treated lumber you're gonna need for the floor.
I'd say, just for kicks, get an estimate on a concrete floor.  Or, if you plan to do a lot of this yourself, concrete is really simple and is cheap and easy when the labor price is not included.

How about for the sides that you still need to cover, use that crappy transparent corrugated stuff to let in light?     Ha ha, just kidding, please don't! 

[bill440cars]

Bill, I don't see a concrete floor costing much more, if more at all, than the amount of pressure treated lumber you're gonna need for the floor.
I'd say, just for kicks, get an estimate on a concrete floor.  Or, if you plan to do a lot of this yourself, concrete is really simple and is cheap and easy when the labor price is not included.

How about for the sides that you still need to cover, use that crappy transparent corrugated stuff to let in light?     Ha ha, just kidding, please don't! 

           I believe that the concrete floor would be extra expensive, but I WILL check it out for sure. As far as doing it myself, I'm not experienced in that area. Maybe my buddy is.

            I'm going to get extra panels (same color as the rest of it, probably dark red) with it, to go on down the side. No, No transparent panels for me.  

[tramp]

how large of a carport are you looking at?

[bill440cars]

how large of a carport are you looking at?

   I don't remember the exact size right off, but it is a Double carport. 18 (or 20) x 20, I'm guessing. If things work out, I hope to have ONE in the back yard done up like I said and then one in the front, to use basically as a carport and put the GTX and the Shelby Charger in there. The trusty ol' Grand Caravan will just have to, as usual, stick it out.

[MötleyRöx]

Bill, check your local laws.  Many places will only allow one out-building per property.  Also, if the building is anchored in anyway, it may not be considered free-standing which could require you to get a building permit, etc.

[bill440cars]

Bill, check your local laws.  Many places will only allow one out-building per property.  Also, if the building is anchored in anyway, it may not be considered free-standing which could require you to get a building permit, etc.

        Yeah, that IS a possibility (the permit deal). In Fort Smith, they tried to pull that on my buddy, but he showed them that it wasn't attached to his house AND with the removal of about 8 bolts, the entire thing could be lifted off of the mounts. They bought it, with the explanation. I'll have to do some checking. I Do know that IF it is attached in any way, to the house, I'd need a permit. A neighbor built a free standing large carport across the street and because it wasn't attached to the house, in any way, he just put it up and didn't have to have a permit. Of course I know that things might have changed. Thanks for the input.