Carport Question: Fix It or Nix It?

Our old carport is the first project listed on my “Project Plans for the New Year” post.

Currently, it’s being used for firewood storage, but we’ve often discussed a multitude of possibilities for it. Unfortunately, it isn’t in the best shape.

We’re not sure when it was built, likely about the same time as our pantry. The construction techniques, materials, and problems certainly point to the same builder.

The siding falling off in the above photo is minor. The real problem had to do with the roof.

Between an inadequate roof overhang and roofing nails exposed to the weather, the windward side of the carport was in pretty bad shape. Girders and ends of roof rafters were all rotted out.

Was it the same on the leeward side? Dan removed the composite fascia board and found everything to be pretty sound.

Pounding on the girders, however, made the whole building wobble! That wasn’t a surprise, really, considering that the posts are simply set on top of the carport’s brick foundation.

Because the knee braces are primarily ornamental, the builders’ fix to stabilize the structure was to brace it like this…

Between that and the plywood ceiling, the old carport has managed to stay standing for who knows how many years.

The last thing Dan did was to take a peek through the front gable vent cover to get a look at the rafters. Except for the rotted ends on the one side they were in good shape.

Based on all of the above, Dan decided to work with the existing structure rather than tear it down and build a new one. First step? Mill the lumber.