Thinking about getting a carport to protect your vehicles from tornadoes and other weather? They’re an easy way to keep the elements off your cars or trucks without needing to add an enclosure to your home. Carports are freestanding open shelters that will protect cars from rain, sun, wind and snow. However, it’s important that you pick a material that can stand up to the weather.

Carports are often made from both aluminum and steel. Which should you pick? Overall, steel carports are the best for the climate and weather in Oklahoma City, OK. Here’s why we think you’ll love a steel carport.

Why get a carport?

Carports are great for storing your vehicles safely when there’s no room in the garage. They’re usually open structures with a weatherproof roof:

• Protect your vehicles: Most importantly, carports help keep your car safe from the weather and falling debris. Even if it’s icy outside, your carport will help keep ice from forming on the windows. It’ll also help keep dust, dirt and rain from affecting your paint job.
• Avoid additional property taxes: Since carports are open, semi-permanent structures that do not require a foundation, they won’t affect your property taxes in most areas. (Even without a foundation, you should anchor your carport to the ground as much as possible.)
• Movable: Because carports aren’t permanent structures with foundations, you’ll have the option of moving them around your property. If circumstances change and you need to use a certain part of your property for another purpose, you can simply anchor your carport to another part of the land.
• Versatile: Carports are primarily for protecting your vehicles and boats, but they can also be used as a makeshift patio awning. They can provide shade for your home’s or business’s entertaining or business needs. Never let the weather ruin your outdoor event again!

Why steel is superior

Your options for carports are numerous. When it comes time to choose a material, here are some reasons to go with steel:

• Strength: Aluminum might be lightweight, but it has about half the strength of steel. To make it as strong as steel, you’d need to make it significantly thicker—not a practical solution for most carports. Since Oklahoma City is affected by snow and tornadoes, you should opt for steel for its strength, weight and load-bearing capacity.
• Durability: Steel and aluminum alike can last for a long time, but when it comes to standing up to everyday dents, dings and other issues, steel has the advantage. Aluminum tends to show dents and dings, while steel is much harder to damage.
• Maintenance: Aluminum and steel are both low-maintenance materials. Both resist rust and corrosion, although aluminum can start to look chalky after a while. Steel resists rust and corrosion and will still look great, even if it’s been exposed to the elements for years.

If you’re thinking about getting a carport, we think you should go for it—you’ll get to enjoy years of vehicle protection and other uses. Make sure to pick a steel carport for the best quality in Oklahoma City, OK. Call L & S Seamless Guttering today to get started.

This post first appeared on https://lsseamlessgutter.com/