Five Uses for a Metal Lean-To

Despite the name, a lean-to doesn’t actually lean at all. Instead, this is a sturdy type of structure that can be strategically placed near an existing building to add functionality and convenience. If you have an area around your home or business where you wish there was more covered space, you don’t necessarily need to take on a full renovation. Instead, you could add a lean-to in that spot and get the same benefit at a much lower cost. Read on to learn five more great uses for a metal lean-to.

Carport Kingdom offers a variety of metal lean-tos that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Parking Near a Structure

To park near a home or another building without a garage, consider adding a lean-to. If there’s appropriate access for your vehicle on the side of the building, you can add a lean-to that will serve as sheltered parking. With the right design, you may be able to get from your vehicle into the building and back again without having to step out into the rain.

A lean-to is a great solution when a carport won’t quite fit properly in the area where you want to park. Rather than setting up a carport on another part of your property, and then having to walk through the rain or snow to get to the house, you can position your lean-to strategically and create a convenient covered parking space.

Additional Outdoor Storage

A lean-to isn’t going to offer you the same kind of enclosed storage as a garage or agricultural building. It will, however, provide you with a covered area that can temporarily house items that can be exposed to some of the elements. For instance, if you have some equipment that can sit outside but shouldn’t get wet regularly, using a lean-to near another storage building is a great option.

Farms and other agricultural properties could find this method to be particularly effective. There are countless supplies and pieces of equipment used on working land, and many of those items come and go throughout the year. Instead of creating a dedicated new enclosed building for temporary storage tasks, look to a lean-to that can serve various purposes as the seasons change.

Outdoor Seating

Have you always wanted a covered patio or porch next to your home? To make that dream come true without spending a fortune, consider a metal lean-to. You can place this new structure close to your home in an area that will allow for easy access to the inside. Then, simply add some patio furniture beneath the lean-to roof and you’ll have a comfortable outdoor space to enjoy time with family and friends.

A Covered Pool Deck

If you’re lucky enough to own a pool, you probably spend much of your summer in or near the water. While swimming in the sunshine is great, you’ll need to take a break from time to time. Depending on the layout of your pool area, a lean-to might be a great addition next to a nearby building. This structure could provide some welcome shade on the hottest of days, and it can serve as a gathering point for those who aren’t diving in.

There are a couple of important considerations to keep in mind before going with this plan. First of all, be sure that you have room to safely add a lean-to without the structure being too close to the pool (remember to check on any relevant building codes in your area). Also, you probably need to perform maintenance on your pool from time to time, so be sure the lean-to isn’t going to get in the way of any work that has to be done.

Cover a Loading Dock

A lean-to could serve a commercial property nicely by acting as a shelter over a loading dock area. The lean-to will need to be large enough to stay out of the way of any trucks or vans that need to come in to load up or drop off. Adding a roof over your loading dock will not only make the area more comfortable for workers, as they’ll get protection from precipitation and hot sun, but it will also protect the goods that are being transported.

Order from Carport Kingdom

We hope you enjoyed learning about these five uses for a metal lean-to. As you consider the options for your new metal structure, be sure to review the various possibilities here on our site. Is a lean-to the right choice, or would you be better off with a carport? If you need any help making this decision, or if you’re are ready to order, start designing your structure with our Build & Price Tool. We look forward to serving you!