Can You Put Carport On Uneven Ground? (How To)

Suppose you have learned the benefits of a carport and are planning to install one in your place. Unfortunately, you have sloped and uneven terrain and are worried about whether you can put a carport on such uneven ground. Here is a guide to take you through various aspects of carport construction.

You can install a carport on uneven ground. However, it is not recommended because it can interfere with the smooth opening and the closure of the carports doors and windows. Also, the unbalanced roof might not withstand strong winds and storms, posing a risk of damage to your car.

With the uneven ground, it would also be hard to park your car inside the carport. That said, you should level the carport ground to enhance its efficiency and minimize the risk of damage to your vehicle.

Should You Put Carport On Uneven Ground?

You should never put a carport on uneven ground as it can compromise its structural integrity. Besides, it is a risk to the vehicle, people, and animals, especially if the area experiences strong winds. Further, the uneven ground makes it hard for you to park your vehicle inside the carport.

For best results, you should:

Identify the bumped and depressed areas on your identified area to level them to make parking your vehicle a breeze

Identify the sloped areas to correct them to avoid mechanical damage to your vehicle. Besides, leveling sloped areas would:

Enhance the smooth opening of the carport doors and windows
Improve the structural strength of your carport

Have difficulties in identifying the sloped areas? Use a spirit level to determine the sloped regions of your interest area to level them.

Note: You should level the ground before laying your concrete, asphalt, gravel, or whatever material you wish to use in creating your carport.

What Tools Do You Need To Put Carport On Uneven Ground?

To install a carport, you need to clear the target area of any unwanted elements, then level the surface before putting up the carport. You can only succeed in this project if you have access to the right tools.

Examples of the tools you need to put a carport on the uneven ground include a constructor’s spirit level, shovel, digging hoe, stakes, mason’s string, metal rake, braces, etc. below is a detailed explanation of each.

Spirit level: For measuring the levelness of the installation surface. Use spirit level with mason string and stakes to level your carport installation space for the best results. The spirit level contains a bubble that helps you determine a level ground or the direction of the water. For a level ground, the water bubble should be at the center.

Digging hoe/ shovel/ and a rake: The hoe is ideal for digging out or leveling bumps above the ideal elevation. The shovel and the rake are suitable for spreading gravel and earth to level it.

Hardware: These include iron nails, screws, etc. for fastening together the lumber pieces

Stakes: For attaching the constructors’ string during leveling. Use a constructor level to adjust the flatness of the construction ground.

Claw Hammer: For driving the stakes into the ground and removing nails from wood

Measuring tape: For measuring the dimensions of your work area, support beams, roofing sheets, and lumber posts during construction.

What Preparations Do You Need To Install Carport On Uneven Ground?

Now that you understand the essential tools you need to put up a carport on uneven ground; the next step is to look at the preparations you need to make to install a carport on level ground.

The main preparations you need to install a carport on uneven ground include gathering the necessary permits, assembling the vital construction materials, clearing, measuring, and leveling the construction area. Below is a detailed explanation of the above steps.

Step 1: Gather The Necessary Permits

Most states require you to obtain construction permits before you engage in any construction project. You should check with your local city planning office to ensure that your carport construction project complies with the local code.

To grant the permit, most authorities may demand proof of ownership of the property, drawings of the planned project with a signature of a certified engineer, etc.

Step 2: Assemble The Necessary Materials/ Tools

Now that you have the necessary permits, you must assemble the essential construction materials to take your construction job to completion.

Examples of construction materials you may need in putting up a carport include:

Gravel: For leveling the bumped or depressed areas on the target area

Posts with metal anchors: For holding the support beams. I recommend six 4×4 posts from strong lumber to make the sturdiest structure. Constructing the carport with metal posts is also doable, but I prefer wood due to its ease of use and sturdiness.

Concrete: For securing the support beams to the ground. You can also use concrete to make the parking floor for your vehicle.

Support beams: For attaching at the top of 4×4 lumber posts to connect them at the top. They are aimed at creating a sturdy base for placing the sheeting material.

Roof sheeting: Cover the roof of your carport to protect your vehicle against the elements. I’m usually fond of metal sheets as they can withstand high winds, fire, torrential rains, snow, and hail. In addition, they don’t rot, split or crack easily.

Playground chalk: For marking your working space on the ground

Step 3: Measure The Ground

Use a measuring tape, masons string, stakes, and a hammer, to measure the area where you want to put up the carport. If you don’t have a plan, then I recommend that you measure a rectangular space of 16 feet long and nine feet wide. Then, mark the area with playground chalk and then start leveling.

Step 4: Level The Carport Area

Start by removing any grass, shrubs, or stones on the ground. Determine the sloped areas on the construction area to correct them.

Below is the procedure for determining the sloped areas and the other spots that need leveling.

Step 1: Place Your Stakes

Place one stake on one corner of the selected area, then place another at an interval of your preferred length. Repeat the process step until you take all four corners. At this point, you also need to ensure that all the diagonals in your working area have the exact measurement and that the length and width sides intersect at 90 degrees. I usually find this easy using the Pythagoras theorem.

Step 2: Level The Surface

Identify the stake on the highest elevation and then Mason’s string on it. Then, extend the string to the other stakes at the position where it appears to be level with the first stake.
Use a spirit level to adjust the strings until its bubble stands at the center, upon measuring the level on all strings.
Fill the empty areas with gravel or concrete until you level the surface. Sometimes you may have to remove some bumpy regions to achieve a level surface. If you opt for a concrete pad, let it settle for one day and then put up your carport.

Don’t have concrete? You can level and finish your carport area with gravel or pure earth. However, the latter may not be the best when building a carport in regions that experience hails, strong winds, and storms.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 25, 2022.

How To Install Carport On Uneven Ground

After leveling the carport area, you want to put up a carport to secure your ride from the elements.

Installing a carport on uneven ground is super easy. Start by preparing the construction areas using the steps above. Then proceed to install the beams, followed by the roof, and you are done building the carport. Below are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Build The Beams

Start by digging the holes for your 4×4 lumber posts. For best results, the holes should be at least 2 feet deep to accommodate enough concrete to secure the posts inside them.
Pour 6 inches of concrete into the 2 feet holes and plant the lumbar posts. Fill half of the remaining hole with concrete and the remaining part with soil.

As the concrete dries, use a spirit level to ensure that they are straight

Wait for the concrete to harden, then fasten the front and the rear beams at the top so that the three posts along the long side are connected.
Fasten also the width sides to create a box-like structure before you start working on the roof. The idea is to create a sturdy base that can support the roof and the person working on it.

Note: You should arrange the posts so that the front posts have a smaller height than the rear posts to allow the roof to rid away the rainwater and snow (if any).

Step 2: Fasten The Rafters

After installing the beams, the next step is to fasten the rafters to create a base for the roofing sheets. While installing the rafters, ensure that the rafters align with the six posts in the front and back for more support. If you have more rafters, spread them in equal intervals and fasten them with nails.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 25, 2022.