Winter is a difficult time for any vehicle. The unplowed and icy roads become a hazard for driving, and every time you get on the road, you worry about getting into an accident. Every morning, you wake up and get ready to go to work, and after a bad storm, you need to clean all the ice and snow off your car. While your property cannot be entirely snow-free after a storm, your car does not need to be buried under a foot of precipitation. When your property has a carport, your vehicle stays protected and dry, and all you need to do is shovel a path.
Portable carports are made from a powder-coated or galvanized steel frame and a steel or polyethylene top. The steel frame, once anchored into the ground, is strong enough to hold up against several pounds of snow and high winds. Having the structure anchored is key, however. Carports not property anchored will easily tip over or collapse from wind, snow, ice, or rain.
The top portion of a carport keeps out UV rays, rain, and snow. Heavy-duty polyethylene tops, which are in fact tarps, are treated to be waterproof, UV resistant, mildew resistant, and rot proof. Because of the valance Upswing Garage Door style, carports will not lock in moisture. The metal portion of a carport, however, is designed to last about 15 years, but the polyethylene tarp will not. After five years, this material may need to be replaced.
Fully steel carports are not treated to be UV resistant and waterproof; rather, the metal naturally has these properties. Such structures are designed to last 15 to 20 years.
Cars are not the only structures needing protection from a carport, and boats, RVs, and motorcycles can also be kept inside. Garage Door Refacing Panels For seasonal vehicles, however, carports should be enclosed in order to provide the highest level of protection.