Building a Flat Roof Carport: Part One
For just under a year now I've been planning on building a carport next to my house. My plan is to build a flat roof carport immediately beside my house, so the roof will actually attach to my house. While I was looking for options, I came across quite a few pre-made car port kits, mostly steel, some more attractive than others. For the most part though, these kits are pretty basic and generic, and I am looking for something that continues the character of my house, so I'll be doing this project without a kit.
While I was researching the steps necessary for a project like this, I discovered that the first thing I needed to do before putting a shovel to the ground is to apply for a building permit from my municipality. This will need to include fairly accurate and detailed drawings, including elevations, of what I have planned, the measurements, the lumber dimensions, and materials, and any electrical and water runs that I will be including. The city doesn't require that I have this computer generated or anything, so accurate hand drawings are fine, but it does have to meet structural requirements for the snow loads expected in our area, as well as any particular building code requirements.
The only hiccup that I ran into when applying for my permit, and this was not so much a hiccup as an oversight on my part, was the fact that my property taxes are going to increase as a result of building my new carport. I shouldn't have expected any different, of course the carport will increase the value of my property, therefore my taxable value will increase. One minor comfort is the fact that my carport is not going to increase my taxes nearly so much as a fully enclosed garage would.
Next on my list of to-dos is to actually get a conceptual plan on paper. I have looked at quite a few different designs, and have decided that a wooden carport with a timber frame sort of look is what I will be going for. Using wood for any type of project lends a lot of flexibility to the design, and in this case there are a lot of details that I can add to give my carport a unique look which is important to me that I blend the style of my new carport in with the existing style of my house.
The final step before actual construction is to get my plans approved by an engineer. I have a lot of building experience but it is best to have a certified engineer go over the plans carefully before I even start the foundation. I think there is a very good chance that I might use the flat roof as the base for a second story addition at some point in the future. I don't have the money to do the second floor addition right now but I want to have the option in the future. Accordingly, an engineer can help me calculate the load I need to plan for. I may do the second story addition in steps. Perhaps in a year I will build a deck with outside access.
So far it has been a lot more thinking and planning than actual work - but I always find the planning and idea stages of any DIY project to be very enjoyable jobs. However, actually getting the lumber and starting to build is even more exciting, and I'm hoping to get everything approved and ready to go by the beginning of June. With most of my weekends available for building, I should have time to get everything built and finished off before the first true test of my DIY skills - the first snowstorm of the year, when I will finally appreciate my carport to its fullest! - 21393
While I was researching the steps necessary for a project like this, I discovered that the first thing I needed to do before putting a shovel to the ground is to apply for a building permit from my municipality. This will need to include fairly accurate and detailed drawings, including elevations, of what I have planned, the measurements, the lumber dimensions, and materials, and any electrical and water runs that I will be including. The city doesn't require that I have this computer generated or anything, so accurate hand drawings are fine, but it does have to meet structural requirements for the snow loads expected in our area, as well as any particular building code requirements.
The only hiccup that I ran into when applying for my permit, and this was not so much a hiccup as an oversight on my part, was the fact that my property taxes are going to increase as a result of building my new carport. I shouldn't have expected any different, of course the carport will increase the value of my property, therefore my taxable value will increase. One minor comfort is the fact that my carport is not going to increase my taxes nearly so much as a fully enclosed garage would.
Next on my list of to-dos is to actually get a conceptual plan on paper. I have looked at quite a few different designs, and have decided that a wooden carport with a timber frame sort of look is what I will be going for. Using wood for any type of project lends a lot of flexibility to the design, and in this case there are a lot of details that I can add to give my carport a unique look which is important to me that I blend the style of my new carport in with the existing style of my house.
The final step before actual construction is to get my plans approved by an engineer. I have a lot of building experience but it is best to have a certified engineer go over the plans carefully before I even start the foundation. I think there is a very good chance that I might use the flat roof as the base for a second story addition at some point in the future. I don't have the money to do the second floor addition right now but I want to have the option in the future. Accordingly, an engineer can help me calculate the load I need to plan for. I may do the second story addition in steps. Perhaps in a year I will build a deck with outside access.
So far it has been a lot more thinking and planning than actual work - but I always find the planning and idea stages of any DIY project to be very enjoyable jobs. However, actually getting the lumber and starting to build is even more exciting, and I'm hoping to get everything approved and ready to go by the beginning of June. With most of my weekends available for building, I should have time to get everything built and finished off before the first true test of my DIY skills - the first snowstorm of the year, when I will finally appreciate my carport to its fullest! - 21393
posted by X - Men @ 3:08 AM
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