Carport Designs: Single, Double, Attached or Freestanding

Most carport conversations start in the driveway. The car has been sitting out in the hail or baking in the sun, the second car has nowhere to go, or the trailer needs cover.

From there it comes down to four decisions: how many vehicles, attached or freestanding, which roof, and what it's built from. Here's how each one plays out, plus a few carport ideas that make the most of the space.

Single or Double Carport

A single carport covers one vehicle. A double carport covers two side by side, or one car plus a boat, trailer or a bit of workshop space.

Size it around what you actually park, with room to open doors and walk around the vehicle. Large utes and four-wheel drives need more length and height than a standard sedan, and a caravan or boat needs more clearance again. We measure your vehicles and the driveway on site before anything is drawn up.

If there's a chance of a second car in the next few years, price a double now. Extending a single later often costs more than building the right size the first time.

Attached or Freestanding

Attached Carports

An attached carport connects to the house, usually along the side or across the front of the garage. It uses the house for support along one edge, gives you cover from the car to the door, and can be designed so the roof line follows the house.

The detail where it meets the house matters. Flashing and roof drainage need to be done properly so water ends up in the gutter and stays away from the wall.

Freestanding Carports

A freestanding carport stands on its own posts and footings. It suits blocks where the driveway sits away from the house, where the house wall can't take the load, or where you want cover over a second parking spot down the side or at the back.

A freestanding structure needs a full set of footings, and the engineering has to account for wind from every direction. On the Gold Coast, storm gusts put real load through any roofed structure, so footing design is a big part of the job.

Roof Styles

Flat

A flat roof has a slight fall for drainage and sits low and neat against the house. It's the most economical option and suits modern homes and tight spaces.

Skillion

A skillion roof slopes in one direction. It gives you more height on one side, sheds water quickly and has a clean, contemporary look.

Gable

A gable roof is pitched like a house roof, with a peak in the middle. It adds height and presence, suits older and more traditional homes, and costs more than flat or skillion.

Materials and Finishes

A steel frame with a Colorbond roof is strong, low maintenance and comes in a wide range of colours. Timber framing suits homes where a warmer, more traditional look fits better.

Matching the roof colour to your house roof and gutters makes the carport look like part of the home from the street. It's a small decision that makes a big difference to street appeal.

Carport Ideas Worth Considering

• Extend over the front door: cover from the car to the house makes a real difference on a wet night.

• Add lighting: downlights under the roof make night arrivals safer and easier.

• Plan the drainage: gutters and downpipes connected to stormwater or a water tank.

• Size for the future: a double carport with room for a trailer or boat down one side.

• Make it a second outdoor space: with the car out, a well-placed carport gives you a covered spot for a table or the kids' bikes.

• Match the house: roof style, colour and post finish chosen to suit the home.

Do You Need Approval for a Carport?

Most carports need some form of approval in both Victoria and Queensland. A carport at the front of the house can also bring setback rules into play, because it sits closer to the street.

On the Gold Coast, our article on council approval for carports on the Gold Coast covers the rules in detail. In Victoria, carports generally need a building permit, and siting rules apply to structures forward of the house. Either way, we confirm what your job needs and handle the approvals as part of the build.

Get a Free Quote

We design and build carports across Melbourne and the Gold Coast, sized to your vehicles and matched to your home. We'll come out, measure the driveway, talk through the options and give you a fixed-price quote with the full scope written down. Get in touch to book a free site visit.