If you’re thinking about buying a carport, then one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is whether to buy a freestanding (detached) carport or an attached carport. We’ve put together some of the pros and cons of each to help you decide.

Freestanding, detached carports enable you to create a bigger and more hardy structure for your car, caravan, campervan or similar. If you have plenty of space and want to make the most of it, then a solid metal carport is a good solution.

Attached carports require less work to install, and are ideal if you don’t have much space. Depending on your house, you could even walk straight into your carport without stepping outside – fantastic in those cold winter months or rainy seasons. Attached carports can also be cheaper as they don’t require four walls, and you may even be able to get away with just a simple canopy structure.

Another factor to consider is what you will be using your carport for. If it’s a multi-use carport that you may also store outdoor equipment, tools or even animals in, then you may want to keep it further away from your home. You may also want to define a garage ‘space’ and driveway to keep your vehicles out of sight or out of the way. This is particularly good if you live in the countryside (especially farmland) as you can keep muddy vehicles and unneeded equipment out of sight – and smell – of your home.

On the flip side, if your car is your prize possession and you want to keep it close to hand, an attached carport is a great solution so you can keep an ear out for added security if you’re worried about theft or damage.

Both attached and freestanding carports are easy to install from a carport kit, so you don’t need to weigh up the pros and cons in this respect. Detached carports are likely to take more time, but there’s no need to complete your build all in one go if you don’t have time.

If you don’t own your own property, a landlord may be more comfortable with a separate carport building that doesn’t affect his or her existing property and yet adds value. You will also need to check your local building and permit laws and regulations to find out the requirements for freestanding and attached carports, although it’s highly unlikely you’ll experience any issues.

Ultimately, it depends what your priorities are. Whilst attached carports can often be limited in space, it may well be useful for you to locate your carport as close to your house as possible. Detached carports are often more costly but are usually less limited by space and potentially have a wider range of uses.