Enclosing a Carport: Five Mistakes to Avoid

Enclosing a carport is a great way to convert it into a usable room in your house. A wasted area can become something functional, which can be used for a variety of different purposes depending on your needs. There are, however, a number of common mistakes that are made when undertaking this project. You can avoid making the same ones by knowing exactly what to look out for ahead of time.

Not Cleaning the Floor

A very common mistake for anybody enclosing their carport is not cleaning the floor. Before you can start work, this must be done. At the very least, a dirty floor will waste a lot of time during the project, if it doesn't create other problems as well.

Not Building a Concrete Pad

If your carport isn't already built on a concrete pad, you will need to excavate the area and make one from scratch. The concrete will be the foundation for your building. It's important that the concrete pad is perfectly level, as this will make your construction project much easier.

When laying a concrete pad you should excavate the area, and then use wooden boards to create a frame which will contain the concrete as it dries. This can then be held in place using stakes which are hammered down into the ground.

If you do already have a concrete surface, you must check that it is thick enough to support your new structure. If it's not, you may have to excavate it anyway.

Not Using Marine Grade Plywood

The plywood used to cover the outside of the structure must be exterior grade plywood. This will ensure that it won't warp or become damaged due to damp or moist conditions. A very common mistake is when people use standard interior grade plywood outside. This will only last until it rains or gets damp, as it will bend, warp, and delaminate soon after.

The plywood must be fixed around the frame before the wall covering of choice is applied. This includes if you're using siding, as the plywood will provide extra strength and durability to the structure.

Not Adding Wiring Before Drywall

If you are wiring any electrical outlets into the new building, you will need to connect these before you hang the drywall inside of the building. This will ensure that the electrical outlets are flush with the wall and look as professional as possible. It's a good idea to plan and add these outlets now while the walls are bare.

Not Doing Enough Planning

The most common mistake that people can make when enclosing a carport is not planning properly. Having an overall picture and strategy for the project should help to ensure that you are getting everything and that you are able to do it all in a methodical manner. This isn't the type of project that you can hope to guess and guide your way through. You must do plenty of preparation because measurements here are critical.