How much does it cost to build a carport in Australia?
According to hipages, a tradie listings website, building a custom carport can cost roughly $6,000 for a single carport and $20,000 or more for a double carport.
The exact cost will vary depending on a range of factors, such as:
- Its size
- The material and design elements used
- The complexity of the build
- Any additional features you’d like or works needed
A potentially cheaper alternative is to purchase a carport kit. Again, prices can hover between $1,000 and $5,000, with the same factors above impacting its final cost.
Regardless of choice, it could be worth considering engaging a licensed builder or carpenter to install your carport, which will add to the final cost.
These prices can serve as a helpful guide, but you may need to budget a bit extra for your carport if the cost of materials and labour increases.
Do take note that the laws in Australia around building permits for carports can vary from state to state and even council to council.
Before planning your design, contact your local council to find out what guidelines are for carports and building permits in your suburb. This will help you budget for your carport and avoid setbacks mid-project.
Is a carport cheaper than a garage?
Yes, a carport will usually be cheaper than a garage of the same size.
Hipages suggests that the price of building a garage can be anywhere between $10,200 and $66,000, or $1,200 and $1,700 for every square metre.
Like a carport, prices will differ depending on:
- Its size:
- Single garage: $21,600 to $30,000
- Double garage: $43,200 to $61,000
- The materials chosen
- The complexity of the build
- Builders permits
- Insurance plans you choose
You could potentially save a significant amount of money by opting for a carport over a garage.
With a carport, the open sides and doorless entry mean (depending on the layout of your yard) that you only need a concrete or gravel ground cover, posts and a roof.
In most cases, the fewer materials needed, the cheaper the build.
Is it cheaper to build a carport or buy one?
If you’re a handy person and you have all the necessary tools, building a carport from scratch could be cheaper.
However, there may be some wastage on materials if you need to buy some of them in bulk. It’s also worth crunching the numbers to see if it works out cheaper to buy a carport kit that you can put up yourself.
A carport kit is prefabricated, meaning you won’t have the issue of wastage, with everything pre-measured and cut to size. The carport may also be installed sooner.
Does a carport add value to your home?
Yes, a well-designed carport has the potential to add to your property’s value. A protected parking space may be particularly important to families with dependents.
For example, when it’s raining, a family may want to get babies and young children buckled into their car seats while staying dry. Additionally, some families may need to help elderly get in and out of their car safely. Simply unpacking groceries from a car is often more pleasant undercover than out in the open.
What are the benefits of carports?
Carports may deliver the following benefits over parking your car on the road, the driveway, or on grass:
- Weatherproofing: Parking your car under a carport roof shelters it from hailstones, debris from overhanging trees, bird droppings (guano), and paint fading caused by direct sunlight.
- Easy to install: Unlike a garage, a carport generally consists of a roof and a few posts, making for a fairly simple installation.
- Security: A carport could make it less likely for your car to be broken into, especially if it’s well lit or behind a locked gate.
- Car insurance discounts: Depending on your insurer, you may be able to reduce your car insurance premiums by parking your car in a carport.
However, compared to garages, there are some trade-offs:
- Burglary prevention: The lack of a garage door may be less of a deterrent to burglars.
- More protection: Garages can provide better weather protection.
- Value: A carport probably won't add as much value to your property as a garage.
What are the options to finance a carport?
Before you dive into the work, thinking about the most suitable way to pay for your renovation is an essential step.
When considering how much does a carport cost, your options could include:
- Paying out of your own pocket: You could consider using your savings if you have enough. It’s a simple way to avoid the additional costs of interest when using credit to pay for your carport.
- Home loan: If this job is big enough, or you’re doing broader home improvements at the same time, you may consider refinancing or restructuring your home loan. Or, if you’re ahead with your home loan, you may be able to withdraw some cash through a redraw facility.
- Personal loan: Depending on your circumstances and the carport cost, you may consider using a personal loan to fund the work. Keep in mind that interest rates are generally higher for personal loans than for home loans.
- Credit card: It may also be possible, depending on the cost and your ability to repay the debt quickly, to pay for the project on a credit card. There could also be fringe benefits for doing so, such as extra insurance cover in some cases. Keep in mind, credit card interest rates are typically much higher than home or personal loan interest rates. Interest can quickly accumulate on large balances. If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off the card’s balance in full each month, a credit card may not be the right option for you.
