To meet your needs as a growing family, converting an existing underused carport into a livable space allows you to gain indoor square footage without expanding your home’s foundation. This allows you to stay within building codes and permit allowances.

    Although time-consuming to execute, installing a custom tapered roof with modified rafters and rolled roofing material provided the needed slope to solve drainage issues. With a combination of new walls and modified existing walls, the playroom quickly took shape.


    Construction

    Transforming an existing carport into a livable space presents a number of construction challenges to consider before starting demolition and building work. Careful planning is key. You’ll need to remove parts of the current structure before erecting new walls and features.

    Framing and Roofing

    One of the most complex aspects of a carport conversion involves framing and roofing changes to remove the flat roof and create an adequately pitched slope for weather protection. This intricate carpentry requires expertise and is generally best left to professionals.

    A vital challenge is constructing a sloped roof and rafters to replace the flat carport roof. This tapered design prevents rainwater and snow accumulation, which can cause leaks over time. We customized each rafter’s angle and dimensions to create an ideal slope. Hurricane ties secured the rafters for extreme weather resistance.

    The rolled roofing is sealed tightly while permitting expansion and contraction without cracks in temperature swings.

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    Siding and Concrete

    The crew poured a new reinforced concrete slab extending from the existing one while framing progressed inside. Moisture and insect-resistant fiber cement siding replaced damaged exterior wood walls.

    Drywall

    Inside, an expert two-person team installed moisture-resistant drywall throughout — taping, mudding, and sanding it smooth.

    Finishing Touches

    Durable, neutral molding trimmed out the playroom and wiped clean easily after kids’ messy play. Custom built-ins provide storage and display. Adjustable entertainment center shelves accommodate electronics.


    Exterior Entertaining Space

    Outside, covered and uncovered areas allow relaxed entertaining by parents. A custom stone grill station with stainless appliances simplifies cooking.


    Additional Tips

    Navigate through the tabs below for additional tips on converting your carport to a functional living space:

    All homeowners understand proper safety gear’s importance, but it’s easy to forget where it’s stored. It helps to stash equipment together in a plastic bag clipped on a shop pegboard. Then, the gear will be conveniently there to grab and return after use.

    Ridgid’s bits save time on carpentry and repairs via clever design, allowing quick bit changes, self-starting screws, and resharpened spurs. The essential set — with 1⁄2 to 1 1⁄4 inch sizes — costs only $4 to $6 per bit. Versatility at a bargain!

    Before frost hits, complete key garden tasks starting with extension office soil testing to enable amending nutrient or pH levels. Also, dig up tender bulb plants like begonias for storage in cool darkness until spring planting time comes around again. Advance planning aids lush growth when warmer weather returns.


    So, Is a Carport Conversion Worthwhile?

    Transforming unused carports into living spaces can indeed be worthwhile for homeowners needing room. The main advantages are sizable new interior square footage without expanding one’s home footprint or foundation using some existing structure.

    Downsides include demolition work and correctly pitching the roof — intricate carpentry and roofing that significantly increases costs over typical room makeovers.

    Overall, if one has basic framing skills and can enlist roofing professionals as necessary, reviving derelict carports can yield an abundant new living area.

    Find Roofing Cost Estimates In Your State


    FAQs About Carport Conversions

    What are the typical costs of converting a carport to a room?

    On average, refashioning carports into rooms runs $100 to $300 per square foot, depending on size, construction complexity, and finishes. For instance, a 500-square-foot carport could cost $50,000 to $150,000+ on average.


    Can you turn a carport into an enclosed garage?

    Yes, carport-to-garage conversions involve installing walls, doors, extra roof framing, and finishes to create protected parking — averaging $40 to $60 per square foot.


    What roofing is best for converted carports?

    Architectural shingles or metal panels best shield converted carports from precipitation and weather. Moreover, angled rafters achieving at least a 3:12 pitch provide a crucial slope to drain.


    How are walls framed under carports?

    Framing carport walls means securing bottom plates to the slab and then erecting 2×4 or 2×6 studs atop fitted with nailed top plates and braced with hurricane ties. Finally, add exterior sheathing before the siding goes up.


    Can you add a room without removing a flat carport roof?

    If adequate height exists, framing short knee walls while enhancing waterproofing of the flat roof may work — but extending the roofline via pitched rafters and shingles gives superior weather security.



    *Costs in this article are sourced from estimates by HomeAdvisor and Angi.

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    Elise LaChapelle

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