How Much Wind Can a Carport Take?
For a carport to be worthy of use on your property, it needs to be able to stand up to the elements. After all, the whole point of a carport is to protect whatever is inside the carport from being harmed by the weather conditions, so the carport itself needs to be up to that challenge. Rain and snow present one kind of threat, but the biggest weather threat to the health of a carport is likely going to be wind. So, just how much wind can a carport take before it is at risk of failing? We’ll attempt to provide some answers to that question, below.
No matter what kind of weather conditions present the biggest threat in your area, always focus on quality when purchasing a carport for your property. At Carport Kingdom, we are proud to deliver just that. If you’re ready to discover the possibilities, customize your own carport using our Build & Price tool. If you have any questions along the way, contact us for help!
Countless Variables to Consider
It would be great if we could make a blanket statement like “all carports can withstand winds up to X miles-per-hour…”, but that’s just not the case. There are way too many variables involved in this equation to offer a specific wind level that will be too much for a carport to handle.
In some cases, with a low-quality carport that hasn’t been installed properly, a modest wind of only 30 – 40 MPH might be enough to cause problems. On the other end, an excellent carport that has been securely installed could ride out a storm with winds near 100 MPH. In addition to installation and product quality, other factors like the age of the carport can come into the picture, as well.
Making Smart Choices
Even if you live in a naturally windy area, you can help your carport remain in good condition by making some smart choices when it is installed. Keep the following list of points in mind –
- Pick a sheltered spot. Wind speeds are extremely localized in nature. The peak wind speeds on a single piece of property can vary wildly from one spot to another depending on the topography of the land and other features that are in place. So, as you try to decide where to put your new carport, do what you can to place it in a protected spot that is going to get as little wind as possible. One example is hiding the carport on the opposite side of an existing building from the direction that usually provides the prevailing wind.
- Give it good footing. You don’t necessarily need to pour a foundation for a carport, but doing so – and then anchoring the carport securely to that foundation, will go a long way toward keeping it in place in the wind. Anchoring is a simple step that will greatly improve your carport’s chances of serving you for many years.
- Choose metal. There are plenty of cheap plastic carports on the market today, but you can probably imagine how those can be expected to fare when the winds pick up. Go with a solid metal structure that is sold by a trustworthy supplier to make sure your carport is as durable as you’d like it to be.
The choices you make when picking out and installing your carport are going to have a lot to say about what happens years from now. Think it through and respect the power of the wind and you’ll be in much better shape moving forward.
The Right Carport Improves Your Chances
There is no substitute for quality when shopping for a carport. At the end of the day, the chances that your carport can ride out a nasty storm are directly tied to the quality of the materials and craftsmanship used to construct it. Carport Kingdom offers features like 20-year rust warranties on 12-gauge products, a 90-MPH wind warranty, roof bracing, engineer certification, and more. We can also work with you to determine how your carport should be designed to cut down on the risks that are posed by winds in your area.
A cheap carport isn’t going to stand a chance when powerful winds move into your area. Fortunately, we only sell quality structures here at Carport Kingdom, so the product you receive from us is going to be ready to do battle against Mother Nature from day one. By shopping with us, and by keeping in mind some of the other key points we discussed above, you just might be able to make it through those upcoming windstorms without any damage.
Stay safe, and if you’re ready, start designing your customized carport today. Thanks for stopping by our blog, and we hope to serve you soon!