Best 3 Roof Sheets for a Carport

The best roof sheets by far for a carport roof are Polycarbonate sheets. Polycarbonate sheets provide many advantages and are ideal for carports because they are long lasting, light weight, very strong and fast and easy to install. Polycarbonate roof sheets provide excellent light transmission and come in a range of types, colours and thickness.

Let’s walk through the options to explain what are the best roof sheets for a carport, and we’ll answer those common questions to help you make the best choices for your Polycarbonate Carport Roof. Here’s a summary of Carport Roof Topics we will cover:

Carport Roofs:

• What is a Carport?
• Polycarbonate Carport Roof Sheet Comparison Charts
• Is it Easy to Build Your Own Carport?
• Plastic Carport Roof Sheets – A Wider Look at Roof Sheet Options
• Timber Carports Versus Metal Frame Carports – What is Best?
• What is The Minimum Slope for a Carport Roof? (pitch / fall)
• How Do I Work Out the Length of My Slope?
• Carport Ideas Which You May Not Have Heard of

What is a Carport?

Carport is a Roof Canopy designed to park a Car underneath to allow drivers and passengers to get in and out of the car in the dry, and protect the car from snow, ice and frost. Usually, Carports are adjacent to a house so drivers and passengers can park under the Carport and get out and walk straight in to the house in any weather without getting wet. Naturally this means that Carports are usually made as Lean-to’s which are low cost and fast to install.

Originally a Carport was solely designed for a Car to park underneath, however as they are becoming more widely used, they are increasing being built larger, with space for many other additional applications and activities such, outdoor eating areas, log stores, bicycle storage, games areas, outdoor-undercover workshops, fitness apparatus and more!

Polycarbonate Carport Roof Sheet Comparison Charts

OK, so getting straight to the point, here’s a comparison chart showing the three main types of Polycarbonate Sheets and their benefits:

Is it Easy to Build Your Own Carport?

Yes, it is super easy to build your own Carport. In fact, even if you are not literally building it yourself in person, you should definitely consider buying the materials yourself and get a local joiner, builder or roofer to quickly install it for you. – Why? - Because building your own Carport will typically save you 45% of the cost! – and it's very easy!

Steps to Build your Own Carport:

• Install upright posts
• Fit a frame and rafters spanning from the Posts to the Wall of the Building
• Fit the Roof Sheets with Fixings (or Glazing Bars if using multiwall polycarbonate sheets)
• Fit the Side Flashings and Top Wall Flashings
• (Where you are building a free-standing Apex version you should ensure you adequate bracing according to structural engineers’ recommendations for your site-specific requirement)

Carport Roof Examples - Exploded Diagrams

Corrugated Carport Lean To Roof Example - Corrapol Stormproof 

Polycarbonate Carport Apex Roof Example - Axiome & Snapa

 

Important Note: Be aware of the location of the roof and ensure you make it strong enough to take the possible wind/snow load. You should always ask a structural engineer / professional to confirm the structure is adequate and safe for the loadings.

Plastic Carport Roof Sheets – A Wider Look at Roof Sheet Options

You may be wondering if there are other options to Polycarbonate Sheets that are suitable for Plastic Carport Roof Sheets? The answer is that there are several other options for Plastic Carport Roof Sheets, and below we provide a brief overview of each type for you to compare.

PVC Corrugated Roof Sheets

These Corrugated PVC Roof Sheets are readily available and make a great low-cost solution for short term projects where there is a very low budget, however after all the cost of the posts and framework it seems a shame to go for a shorter-term roof sheet solution, whereas by spending just a little extra on any of the Polycarbonate Roof Sheet options you can increase the longevity of your Carport Roof by 100-200%.

Metal Corrugated Roof Sheets

If they have a good plastisol type coating on them metal roof sheets can be a good solution, providing a long-term solution, however there are several disadvantages to using Corrugated Metal Roof Sheets. Corrugated Metal Roof Sheets are very noisy when the rain falls, and also being metal they don’t let any light through so that the carport becomes very dark inside. By contrast, any of the Polycarbonate Roof Sheet options will last just as long and provide a light and airy feeling of space and brightness in your Carport.

Corrugated Bitumen Roof Sheets

This a great low-cost roofing sheet option and especially popular for applications like shed roofs, BBQ Shelters and log stores. However, the Corrugated Bitumen Roof Sheets do not let light in, so for a carport you are much better to use Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Sheets

Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Sheets

One of the best plastic sheet options for Carports is Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Sheets which offer an excellent bright and airy feeling of space. The Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Sheets are relatively low cost, and are incredibly strong. Make sure the Polycarbonate Roof Sheets you choose have a UV protective layer which helps them remain transparent over time so they provide an excellent lifespan.

Multiwall Polycarbonate Roof Sheets

Another superb option for Carport Roof Sheets, Multiwall Polycarbonate Roof Sheets provide a flat waterproof roofing sheet which is very long lasting and incredibly strong. In areas where there’s higher humidity, these sheets have layers making them naturally insulated and reducing the chance of condensation formation on the underside of the roof sheets. Multiwall Polycarbonate Roof Sheets allow excellent light transmission which makes your carport feel bright, airy and much more spacious than it would with a solid or non-transparent roof. Multiwall Polycarbonate Roof Sheets are the fastest to fit, using either snap down rafter top glazing bars or alternatively the screw down aluminium glazing bars with concealed fixing.

Solid Polycarbonate Roof Sheets

If you are looking for a transparent roofing sheet which looks glass clear, but without any lines in it from corrugations or twinwall flutes, then Solid Polycarbonate Roof Sheets are the best solution. They require slightly narrower rafter centres than Multiwall Polycarbonate Roof Sheets, as they are not quite as rigid, however Solid Polycarbonate Roof Sheets are approximately 200 times the strength of glass of the same thickness and therefore classed as virtually unbreakable. Usually, you will need Solid Polycarbonate Roof Sheets at least 5mm or 6mm thick for them to have the correct rigidity, depending on your rafter centres. If you are installing Solid Polycarbonate Roof Sheets, you should us screw down aluminium glazing bars that will take any thickness of glazing sheet.

Timber Carports Versus Metal Frame Carports – What is Best?

You can make a Carport from timber posts and timber rafters. Alternatively, you can make the Carport with metal post and metal rafters – so which is best?

Timber tends to be the lowest cost for Carport Posts and Carport Rafters, and as long as you use good a good quality rafter-top glazing bar system, then it will keep the timber sheltered from the rain and therefore extend the length of the Timber. Some people prefer the natural look of timber and with decent pressure-treated timber this should last many years.

If you use Steel to make Carport posts and rafters this works great too, however it will either need to be painted to prevent them rusting, or if it is galvanised it will save any painting and will last much longer than timber. Steel Carports posts and rafter however will be a lot more expensive than timber posts and rafters.

The best option for Carport posts and rafters is to use aluminium. This is because Aluminium Carport Posts and Aluminium Rafters do not need to be treated or maintained in the same way. Aluminium Carport Posts and Aluminium Rafters are very strong, incredibly lightweight and the cost is not too high considering the excellent maintenance free properties that they provide.

What is The Minimum Slope for a Carport Roof? (Pitch / Fall)

If you can create a 10-degree fall (approx. 1 in 6 gradient) then it is always best as it helps rainwater and general dirt to quickly wash off. However, where you are restricted on height due to the height of the existing house wall then you can have much lower…. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with a flat roof as far as Polycarbonate sheets are concerned; but be aware that you will have to seal the roof carefully and also the roof will tend to need to be washed off more regularly to keep it clean. It is a common practise to have a 2–3-degree pitch without any problems.

How Do I Work Out the Length of My Slope?

Calculating the slope length of a roof is actually really easy; here’s how:

• Measure the length of (A) and multiply it by itself: EG 3000mm (3000 x 3000) = 9,000,000
• Measure the length of (B) and multiply it by itself: EG 400mm (400 x 400) = 160,000
• Add the results from above of (A) + (B) together: EG 9,000,000 + 160,000 = 9,160,000
• Now put the answer from the point above in to your calculator and click square root sign [Square Root of 9,160,000] = 3027mm
• This gives you the length of your slope: = 3027mm
• The full calculation looks like this :
  • (A x A) + (B x B) = C²
  •  Square Root of C² = C
• Remember to add a bit extra (approx. 70mm) for your chosen overhang distance.

Carport Ideas Which You May Not Have Heard of:

Carports are designed to park cars under, right? – not necessarily! Here are two lists that might help explain how a simple carport can turn from a practical

Additional Uses for Carports:

• Safe and Dry Children’s Play Area
• Covered Eating Area
• Seating Area
• Log Stores
• Undercover BBQ Area
• Outdoor Kitchen
• Bicycle storage,
• Games areas
• Outdoor-Undercover Workshops
• Fitness Apparatus/ Workout Area
• Outdoor Bar and Party Area
• An extra Office Space for Warmer Weather

Great Carport Design Ideas:

Here’s just a few ideas we have picked up from all the amazing dual-purpose Carports we have seen:

• Use the House Wall side to Create Seating or Built-In Outdoor Kitchen
• Carpark Area Lighting to Indicate Parking Position
• Fold Down Fitness Apparatus
• Apex Design Provides Rafter Level Open Storage Space
• Create a Bar on the end wall.
• Add Polycarbonate sheets to the sides and end wall to create a windproof screen
• Add Bluetooth Speakers on the top of the Corner Posts
• Get Infra-Red Patio Heaters installed for all year-round use.

Coming Soon: We will soon be releasing a range of Roof Calculators which quickly calculate and list a set of components for your chosen roof glazing sheet and specific roof size. – Watch this space and we’ll upload a link here when it is released. 

Need further Advice on your Carport project?

Our Teams are very happy to assist on our Live Chat or email shop@clearamber.com where our super friendly Teams will provide you with all the advice and support you require for your projects.

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