Car Canopies and Portable Car Ports

When the garage is not enough

Some people are lucky enough to have too many cars. The garage is gets filled (with one, two or three cars), and then rest must be left outside exposed to the air, wind and precipitation. For people who live in condominiums or town houses, there may not even be any specific indoor parking spots, and instead these people must contend with a public lot outside.

For people without covered parking spots, an outdoor shade for the car comes in quite handy. Such shades are frequently called car canopies. They are also known as portable car ports. There is probably some overlap with metal awnings or unattached awnings as all three are portable shade structures that can be set up anywhere where there is a good amount of space.

The car canopy

A car canopy is a canopy that is sized to be appropriate for the length and width of a car. Like how a pergola or an awning protects the inhabitants of a home from solar radiation, the car canopy protects a car. The height of the canopy is such that the car can fit comfortably underneath it. The primary purpose of a canopy is to shade from or reflect the sunlight. Sunlight, as we known, as a negative impact on not only the upholstery, but also other components which are prone to drying and cracking. On modern cars, the exterior paint is of such high quality that direct sunlight is not a great worry. But the interior is still negatively affected by light.

Portable and simple

Some car canopies are of the portable type, so they are easy to dissemble and pack into the car. When taking a trip, these canopies can be brought along and set up whereever the car ends up. Modern car canopies have two basic components. The canopy cloth material is a polyester or canvas material that is made to resist mildew, dirt, fungus, and bacteria. This is similar to the materials of other types of outdoor shades. The material is stretched over a metal frame that is free-standing. If the canopy is of the portable type, usually it's quite easy to set up using just the bare hands.

Not a perfect garage-substitute

Although the canopy isn't a perfect substitute for a garage, it comes fairly close. The outdoor shade car canopy can protect against sun, wind, rain, dirt, falling foliage, and airborne projectiles such as hail or a loose baseball. However, many canopies can be cut open with a good knife, rendering them unreliable in high theft areas. Some companies are trying to develop theft-deterrent car canopies, but as of 2010 these are not yet available. The style of most car canopies also leaves something to be desired as they are typically plain and boxy. But people interested in unique or stylish coverings may wish to set up their own, for example by putting up shade sails that double as protection for the car.

Average costs

How much do these outdoor shades for the car cost? The cost is quite variable, but basically depend on two variables: the size of the canopy and the sophistication of the design. The smallest car canopy can cover a compact, whereas the largest can cover medium-sized trucks! The simplest designs are open-air, whereas the complicated ones have enclosing walls and perhaps interior dividers for two cars. Therefore, expect to pay around $200 for the cheapest options, and up to $2500 for the most elaborate.