How to Choose the Best Carport Roof Style for Your Home

Choosing the right carport roof design is important for ensuring proper drainage, long-term needs, and visual appeal.

With 26 years of experience, here are our top tips and considerations to help you choose the best carport roof style.

Key Summary

• The right carport design ensures you protect your vehicle, visually complement your home, and get the function you need
• Different carport roof shapes affect aesthetics, drainage, and function
• Choosing the right carport roof involves careful consideration of your home’s current architecture, location, space, and budget
• A well-designed carport should be a seamless extension of your home and enhance your home’s beauty, not detract from it
• Choose roof materials that are manufactured to withstand Australia’s harsh conditions
• It is important to consider your local climate, council regulations, and clearance height needs when choosing a carport design

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Carport for Your Home

Factor #1. Roof Design

The number one factor we consider when building carports is roof design. Roof design affects everything from appearance to drainage to durability.

For instance, when we install carports in areas that see extreme winds, we prioritise gable or hip end roof styles.

Factor #2. Freestanding or Attached Carport

Whether or not your carport will be attached or freestanding affects maintenance, space, engineering, and drainage.

Freestanding vs Attached Carports

Factor #3. Storage and Space Needs

Another key consideration is how much space you need. How many vehicles do you need to store? What clearance height do you need? Do you want space for a workshop?

We offer single, double, and four bay carport options to suit all your storage needs.

Choosing Carport Roof Materials

As with all our products, we only supply and install materials that can handle the harsh nature of Australia’s climate.

Our team will help you choose the perfect roofing material for your carport.

SolarSpan

We frequently recommend SolarSpan due to its:

• High structural integrity and ability to cover long, unsupported spans without additional supports
• Rigorous testing in cyclonic regions to ensure durability
• High thermal efficiency
• Long warranty
• Perfect for low-pitch, flat patio roofs

Fielders C-Dek

With five different COLORBOND® colour choices and a high-gloss, durable finish, Fielders C-Dek offers:

• Sleek, modern lines
• Versatile design
• Ability to span large areas
• Low maintenance
• Exceptional durability and strength

Stratco Cooldek

Stratco Cooldek Roofing offers:

• An all-in-one roofing solution
• Reduced heat from overhead sunlight
• Minimises glare
• High durability and steel and polystyrene construction

Stratco Smoothdek

We supply and install Stratco Smoothdek due to its:

• Self-locking ribs that enable rapid installation
• High-tensile steel construction
• Strong profile
• Ability to work well with low roof pitches

Carport Design Styles

Flat Roof Carport

What It Is: 

Flat roofs appear completely flat, but they have a subtle slope to direct water away to one side.

Ideal for: 

• Complementing minimalist or modern homes with minimal framing and flatter rooflines
• Sites with limited space or height restrictions
• Areas with narrow access
• Side yards
• Homeowners with a limited budget who still need extra storage or vehicle protection

Considerations:

• Requires effective waterproofing membranes
• Minor construction errors can lead to long-term issues
• Requires careful design by a professional to ensure proper drainage to prevent water pooling
• Not ideal in areas with frequent heavy rainfall

Example:

This flat roof carport appeals with its classic, sleek style and functional design. The design complements the home’s existing roof and acts as a seamless extension of the home.

With several mature trees not far from the home, we had to get creative with spacing. Flat roof carports are ideal for working in limited, narrow spaces, as we did here.

Gable Roof Carports

Another one of the most popular carport roof styles is a gable roof. This carport roof style features a triangular shape that peaks at the top center of the roof.

With two sloped sides, gable roofs easily shed water and complement a variety of architectural styles.

Ideal For: 

• Homeowners who want a visually striking roof design to complement a variety of architectural styles
• Providing excellent protection from the elements
• Areas that receive moderate to heavy rainfall
• Homes with pitched roofs

Considerations:

• More expensive than simple single-slope roof designs
• Requires careful consideration of proportions to ensure visual appeal and alignment with the primary roof
• Ridge height must be taken into account to ensure adequate vehicle clearance

Example: 

This raised gable roof carport was an ideal design choice for the extra clearance required to store a taller boat. Gable roof carports are one of our go-to design choices when 3000mm or more clearance is required.

Dutch Gable Roof Carports

What It Is:

Dutch gable roofs feature a small gable section with a hipped roof style near the base. The result is a unique architectural detail that adds character and visual interest.

Ideal for:

• Character-rich homes
• Adding visual appeal and roof interest

Considerations:

• More complex construction
• Higher cost
• Requires careful proportioning to achieve desired aesthetics

Example:

This Dutch Gable Roof Carport is equal parts beauty and function. The finished result is a great example of matching a carport roof style to your existing roof.

Dome Roof Carport

Dome roof carports, also known as curved roofs, feature an arched roofline. This framework is elegant, unique, and offers a stand-out appearance.

But dome roof carports also offer functional benefits, including structural integrity in high-wind environments.

Ideal For:

• Pairing with architectural or contemporary home designs
• Making a design statement
• High-wind or coastal environments
• Freestanding carport designs

Considerations:

• Limited compatibility with attached structures
• Custom fabrication requirements
• Strong visual impact
• Higher upfront cost
• Dome roofs perform well in harsh conditions but are best suited to certain home styles

Example:

With its blend of striking visual appeal and function, we love how this dome roof carport turned out.

Skillion Roof Carport

Skillion roofs slope in one direction and are a popular design for freestanding carports. Skillion roofs slope toward the back or away from a house. Reverse skillion roofs fall toward the house. 

Ideal for:

• Modern and contemporary homes
• Attached or freestanding carports
• Draining water away from a house
• Homeowners looking for fast installation and straightforward design

Considerations:

• Runoff direction and gutter placement require precise planning
• Requires careful design and installation to ensure visual balance and appropriate proportions

Example:

This reverse skillion carport is versatile, practical, and maximises natural light. With its airy, spacious design, the homeowners can easily protect two cars underneath this reverse skillion carport.

Raised Carport

Raised carports, also known as flyover carports, are installed higher than a home’s existing roofline. This increased height provides maximum ventilation and natural light, serving as a good option for large caravans or boats.

Ideal For:

• High clearance or large vehicles, such as caravans or boats
• Maximising height, ventilation, and natural light
• Keeping the area underneath the carport naturally cooler
• Complementing modern homes

Considerations:

• Requires careful consideration of the existing roofline to ensure visual continuity

Example:

These homeowners had an existing two-car garage, but it lacked the needed height clearance. We built this raised carport to give the homeowners the space and height needed for their storage needs.

Tips for Choosing the Right Carport Style

Here are the tips we share with homeowners to help them choose the right carport roof style for their home:

• Consider Local Climate: Does your area frequently receive excessive rainfall or experience high winds? Gable, dome, and hip roofs perform well in areas with high wind or rainfall.
• Check Council Regulations: Always check local council regulations regarding setbacks, height, and size requirements. 
• Integrate the Design with Landscaping: Don’t forget to plan landscaping into your carport design. See our landscaping ideas for inspiration: 10 Simple Yet Stunning Patio Landscaping Ideas.
• Ensure Adequate Clearance: Plan an additional 200mm clearance from the highest point of any boat, caravan, or vehicle.

See some of our recent carport projects by scrolling down on our page here: Carport Perth | Custom Carport Builder – Aussie Patio Designs

Custom Perth Carports

Carports add curb appeal, create valuable storage, and provide protection for vehicles, caravans, bikes, and boats against the elements.

The roof design you choose will affect the function, drainage, and appearance of your carport. Our team has been installing custom carports throughout Perth for almost thirty years. We can help you choose the roof style and carport design that will fit your needs and complement your home.

Browse our carport gallery to see some of the Perth carports we’ve installed, or call us on 08 9354 8000 to arrange a free on-site quote.