Want to protect your vehicle from sun damage year-round?
Cars sustain billions of dollars of damage every year from weather exposure. Whether it’s hail damage, rust from rainwater, or faded paint from sun damage your car takes abuse when left unprotected.
Fortunately…
Metal carports and buildings provide an affordable and effective way to cover your vehicle from the elements. And best of all…
Metal buildings hold up for decades with minimal maintenance and keep your car in great condition for years to come.
In this article we cover:
- Why Weather Damage is So Bad For Vehicles
- Why Metal Carports Are The Best Cover-Up Option
- Top Benefits of Protecting Your Car From the Elements
- How to Choose The Right Carport Cover for You
Why Weather Damage is So Bad For Vehicles
Weather damage should not be taken lightly.
According to NOAA data, 2024 has had 27 billion-dollar weather disasters in the United States alone.
No houses and businesses are the only ones taking costly hits from severe weather…
Cars are also subject to extensive damage from Mother Nature. Falling debris, hail storms, UV rays, rain storms, and wind storms can ruin your vehicle if it’s left unprotected.
Paint fades, roofs get dented, and windows can crack. When left uncovered, the average vehicle eventually succumbs to the harsh elements of nature.
Unless you cover your car.
Most weather related damage to vehicles is preventable. A durable weather resistant carport creates a barrier between your vehicle and harsh weather.
When left out in the open, your vehicle can be affected by:
- Hail that leaves dents and broken windows.
- UV Rays causing paint to fade and interiors to crack and break down.
- Rain and Snow that promotes rust and corrodes metal surfaces.
- Flying Debris when winds pick up and drop trees or hail rocks.
Why Metal Carports Are The Best Option
Metal buildings are the preferred choice for covering your vehicles. They outclass other styles in almost every category.
First off why metal?
Metal buildings made of steel or aluminum are just stronger overall than canvas canopies or wood buildings. Metals won’t rot, warp, or fall apart at the first sign of bad weather.
Picture this…
If you put a canvas car cover over your vehicle it will offer some protection from the sun. But that canvas will never stand up to a hail storm or heavy winds. Metal buildings are built tough to take on whatever Mother Nature sends its way.
Steel carports are also treated with rust and corrosion resistant coatings. That means many years of dependable protection and very little maintenance.
Top Benefits of Protecting Your Car From the Elements
Parking your vehicle under a metal carport is beneficial in many ways. Protecting your car from the elements gives you benefits you’ll quickly start stacking up.
Hail Protection
This may be the most important. Hail can literally trash your vehicle in minutes.
In the United States there are about 245,000 auto insurance claims filed for hail damage each year. And the average claim amounts to several thousand dollars.
But if you park your vehicle under a metal carport you negate all that damage.
Any hail that would dent your hood and windshield will simply bounce off your steel roof instead.
Sun and UV Ray Protection
Believe it or not your car gets destroyed by sitting in the sun all day more than you might think.
UV rays break down the molecular structure of your vehicle’s paint. Eventually, sunlight causes paint to fade and oxidize turning shiny black colors to chalky colors.
And it’s not just the paint job that suffers…
UV rays also destroy the interior of your car. Dashboard cracks, seat leather fades and splits, and steering wheels deteriorate. The inside of your vehicle rots away slowly as it sits in the sun all day.
But if you have a metal carport cover…
You effectively block 100% of UV rays from reaching your vehicle. Paint won’t fade and interior will last longer than the factory AC letting you down.
Rain, Snow, and Moisture Damage
Water is another major cause of vehicle deterioration.
Rain and snow promote the growth of rust on metal surfaces. Wet weather also gets into seals and crevices causing interior damage and electrical issues.
Dry off your car before driving every time it rains or slushes? Do you have to scrape ice off of your windshield every winter just to drive to work?
Keep your vehicle under cover and say goodbye to those problems.
Protected From Falling Objects
Ever notice how when it storms or winds pick up trees drop dead branches everywhere?
Not only that, but have you ever witnessed a bird attack? They can do some serious damage to an exposed vehicle.
Parking your car underneath a strong metal carport protects your vehicle from the danger of falling objects. Bird droppings, branches, and even hail rocks simply bounce off your roof instead of your car.
How to Choose The Right Cover for You
Not all carports are created equal. When choosing a carport there are some things you should take into consideration.
Size
What do you plan on covering? Start by measuring your vehicles.
If you’re only covering a single sedan or small SUV a single car garage will do the trick just fine.
If you have multiple vehicles to cover or own larger trucks you may want to look into our two-car garage options or even our oversized truck carports. The extra width gives you more room to access your vehicles and storage on the sides.
Roof Styles
Here at Keen Buildings we offer three different roof styles when it comes to our metal carports.
- Regular roof — just as it sounds. A nice rounded roof. This is our most affordable roof option.
- Boxed-eave roof — Also known as our A-frame roof. This gives the front and back of the carport horizontal panels.
- Vertical roof — Vertical panels that run up and down instead of side to side. This is best for snow and water/debris runoff.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snowfall or bad storms frequently, we recommend vertical roof carports. Snow, water, and debris just slides right off!
Material Gauges
The lower the steel gauge the thicker and stronger the steel used to build your carport.
While 14-gauge steel is more than sufficient for most applications. If you live in commercial areas or severe weather prone areas you may want to step your gauge up to 12.
Building Codes
As far as zoning goes. It would be best to check with your local city or town to know if you need to pull a permit to build your steel carport.
Many states will require you to have your metal building professionally installed. Or if you plan on doing it yourself there may be certain anchor requirements.
Here at Keen Buildings all of our metal buildings can be customized to meet your local wind and snow load requirements.
Conclusion
Millions of vehicles suffer from weather-related damages each year. Many times the damage is due to vehicles being left out in the elements with no protection.
Metal buildings are one of the best ways to protect your vehicle from the harsh rays of sun UVs. Covering your car from the top will prevent rain/snow damage and protect your paint job from fading and oxidation.
Investing in a metal carport to cover your vehicle is one of the best investments you’ll ever make as a vehicle owner. Your carport will pay for itself many times over by preventing damage that would require costly repairs.
Don’t continue to let your vehicle suffer. Keep your vehicles protected from the harsh elements and your car will thank you by running longer and looking better for years to come.
