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When searching for a carport, patio cover, pergola or shade structure can be daunting of what to purchase or what not to purchase there are so much out here. There are two chooses options. To have one built by a professional builder or to purchase one of those kits that come in a box that you can hire someone to put it together or do it yourself (DYI). There is such a price difference between those kit type of structures from low end to high end kits being offered out here. Here are a few things that you should know before you purchase any of the kit type of structures.
What is permanent structure - A permanent structure means a structure fixed to the ground by any of the various types of foundations, slabs, piers, poles, or other means allowed by building codes.
What is a temporary structure - A temporary structure that is used for short period of time that can be defined as a structure that is used no more than few days and that it should be taken down and removed.
What is a portable structure - Is a temporary structure that can be moved from one place to another.
What is a prefabricated structure - manufacture (a building) in a box or sections to enable assembly on site.
What about those prefabricated "KIT" type of structures that you might find for sale online or in the big box, chain stores or garden stores. Almost all of them are a temporary use structure some should never be used as a permeate type of structure. The first thing you want to know before you invest into one of these prefabricated kit types of structures is what are they designed and engineered and certified tested for? Some of these kit structures are not designed, engineered tested for nothing at all. What you want to know what the actual snow, wind and live loads ratings on the structure.
You might not get that question answered because some manufactures are not very forthcoming with their design and engineering product information to the consumers then that should throw up a big red flag on that product.
Even If that kit temporary type of structure is put together and attached to the required in the ground pears, can it meet any of your local building code requirements or not is the question? Can that product be permitted for use in your municipality or not? Even if you live Ruel and don't have any building requirements this could tell you how these building products are built. Do just take their word for it and do not make any assumptions, make sure, to be sure. Show us the proof because the local building code enforcement personal are going to need to see the manufactures specifications before issuing any building permits.
Some of these prefabricated kits manufacturers try their best to represent themselves as a manufactured in the USA product. I have seen them have an USA address posted on its boxes but that just the address of their sales offices in the US to make it look as if is an American made product but when you look though their own building instructions it clearly states that this product is "Made in China" Why are they trying to hide or misrepresent that fact? It is kind of misleading... Other Kits might be made in other countries such as Isriel or Mexico etc. and so on. Most of these kit types of structures are manufactured in China very few of these DIY kits are manufactured in USA expect for the higher end of the product scale but that still doesn't mean that the kit meets any and all of the local building codes requirements. Some of prefab kits structures are the same products just marketed and sold by several different organizations under different names. Some these marketers make exaggerated sales claims about its product and its performance capabilities. They may not be able substantiate any of their sales claims with any actual product testing specifications on its products. You always want the providers to show you the proof, where are engineering and certification docs on their product? In reality, the consumer is kind of just left out in the dark to wonder about the products real and actual product performance. It is kind of sketchy and risky business in my opinion. So, you be the judge! Especially if you're purchasing that product over the internet and you cannot see that product in person. Let's just say the manufactures are not going to tell anyone the bad things about its products, they also are not going to keep any bad product reviews posted on its product website that they are in control of either. Some might say that it is a semi-perinate or lightweight structure, making it portable and suitable for temporary use, yet strong enough for permanent installation. So, you are left to make your own conclusions to make sure that these products are safe or not. Any good product that has been designed, engineered and tested isn't going to beat around the bush about showing the consumers about its product information. I know of one these kit manufacturers that sales in the big box stores does not want the store level people to say anything about its products Proformance's because they could be misleading the customers. They just say we sell a lot of them and nothing about the products that you're inquiring about. I see one of sales retailers now post a claim warning as to as to any claims or even its country of organ clearly posted on their own website.
Some of those DYI prefab kits structures are so overpriced that is ridiculous. Then you have to put it together or hire someone to do that for you. Facts are most of these DIY type of building kits products cannot even meet our minimal standard building code requirements or cannot be permitted by the local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or code enforcement as a permanent type of structure that might be required. They are just a temporary type of structure and should not be used as a permanent type of structure application. These temporary kit type of structure still might not hold up for long because of the stresses and the strain of our higher-than-average wind loads that just might tear those cheaply built and flimsy kit structure apart. That is why I call them a "blow away" as it might turn into an unidentified flying object (UFO). Ask any first responder and they can tell you about them flying around and them having to dodge them during a high wind event. I say this all the time and I will say it again, "What might work in other parts of the county may not work very well here in our neck of the woods because we live in Tornado and Hail core ally" The winds may not blow as hard in other regions like they do here! We might see 80-90mph wing gusts. The winds want to pick up these structures up and throw them around, so they always be security attached to an approved pear structure.
Even if you were to purchase and use one of these temporary building products or DYI kits you would always need to attach it to an inground,
2-foot-deep concrete pear footing or pears as required by its installation manual and most of the local code requirements. Some of local municipalities might also require a pear footing inspection as well.
I have seen where pieces or parts comes flying off of these kits and dent cars and smash there Nabors window glass etc. and so one. That is a problem if it were to get loose or they were to come apart and do damage to your neighbor's property. Remember that any and all building must be used for the purpose of which they are intended any homeowner, or a landlord could be held responsible for any and all of the damages.
Look for clauses that might say: That any permanent structures might require a local building code approval. That might be saying that is just a temporary use structure in most cases and they should be used as such. As the purchaser and the installer of this product you are advised to consult local planning, zoning and building inspection departments for guidance on applicable building codes and/or zoning requirements before spending any money or putting a down payment on one. Do your leg work up front and before you make any product purchase.
I have talk with a few customers that had put money down and waited for a long time to get their product installed only to find out in the meantime that there is such a thing as a local building permit for what they had purchased and that it might be an illegal building structure if they proceed forward with this installation. One customer waited for very long time for her installation date, and she had some questions that she wanted answered but when they showed up from out of State to do the installation, she could not communicate with them about obtaining the required local carport build permit, so she turned them away. Then she tried to go get her money back for the sales lot that she had purchased the product from only to lose some if not all of her down payment money because they didn't go through with the transaction. They might have all types of restocking fees and so the buyer needs to beware before purchasing.
The biggest complaint about these kit type structures is that are citing problems such as flimsy or wobblily construction and subpar building materials, or the product arrive damaged and a lot about missing parts. Other complaints have been about the clear polycarbonate clear plastic roof panels used on the patio covers. One said it bake you like a green house. very bright and very warm. Exactly the opposite of what they wanted from a patio cover. Also, good luck in getting replacements parts within a timely manner.
Each and every local building code enforcement and planning office as well as the local municipality that we deal with are completely different of what they will and will not allow. Some of these offices might have a building size clause meaning that under a certain squire footage no permit is needed, but most do not care what size the structure might be you need a build permit to install it. Most of these permit offices do have a regulation of where you might be able to build the structure of like not within 5-ft of any property line and that includes the back yard property lines. The best thing to do is to do is don't assume anything just do your leg work and find out before purchasing any structure.
As we are in a lot of people's back yards, a lot. I just see these kits type structures setting in someone backyard that is now become past its prime and might become weather worn is now just a big eye sore and needs to hail off to a junk pile. I would say a good percentage of my custom-built structure clients has had one of these DIY kits that didn't last long nor work out for them for very long, so they contact me wanting us to build more of a permanent solution for them.
Assembly: That is whole different can of worms to open up. On the DIY
prefab kits assembly is required, and most manufacturers will say that it is easy, and you can assemble its products in 4-5 hours. Right not on your best day. My first kit type job took me and a helper almost 8-hours, but we were also laying out the site for the legs to be attached to the required cement pears and getting the job site ready as well. The second kit one at the same site took us about three hours just because we just had just finished putting the first kit together before moving onto the second kit. I also learn a lesson and that I never want to do that again. Some might take two days to get these kits put together correctly. You better have a large layout area as there are numerous different types of hardware and build composites that you use to assemble it and you differently do want to lose any of them.
From my own first-hand experience, the prefab kit structure quality wasn't up to our standards we had to really careful not to bend some of these kit structure framing components while handling them during the installation process. The rain gutters where a joke and where so, small that might only handle just a light rain before overflowing. Some of heavy rains would defiantly overwhelm those gutters and it might get clogged a just a couple of leaves they are so small. The polycarbonate canopy tops where a single ply decorative scalloped light gauge roof panels that did hold up for a couple of years until they were hit by a Thunderstorm that has some larger hail stones and that broke right through those plastic canopy top roof panels. The customer tried but could not the find parts they reached out to us to try to help, So I told them that we would try but I quickly learn that model had been discontinued. Not good, but we were able to reach a source that did have one remaining open box of the same kit model and the customers were able to buy just the polycarbonate type of panels from that source, but they weren't not cheap to get those replacement parts. They probably paid close to what that retailer had paid for the whole kit to get those replacement panels they needed, but we were lucky to even find to the parts that they needed.
It seems to me that those DIY kits are made by its manufacturers in large scale model runs and then store these kits in a warehouse and sold through its own multiple distribution and sales channels. Because the manufacturer moves onto a newer model really quickly as they change these product models all the time. Then these manufacturers will sale off the remaining discontinued model stock off to these second tear wholesale retailers.
Some of these manufactures might offer its product kits to be assembled by their independent installation sub-contractor network. That is normally someone that travels a large multi-state region to do their installations. They charge you between $500 and $900 plus any other assemble parts that might be required such as leg tie down kits etc. and so on. That isn't just the installer money as that it is shared by the company as well. Sometimes the customers might have to wait for several weeks or months to get the install done as they can go through theses third party sub-contractor installers like crazy and they can't keep them. Check the BBB and that is the biggest complaint about its installation process. They have no control over these sub-installer contractors.
Theses assembly installers have to run really hard and put in a lot of the windshield time and miles on their vehicles to get to the project locations. These installers are normally just a one-man band and not an installation crew like they like to say. By the time they pay for the fuel, a motel and his food, it cost him a lot of their pay so they might just spend the night in his vehicle and take a shower at truck stop to save on the motel expense. He might go out and away for a week to 10 days, and they get burned out being away so then he comes back home. I know this because we have one of these guys that works with us on a part-time bases and when we need him bases. He tells us of all of his road dog stories. The major problem is that most never do nor is able to pull any local structure building permit for any of those structures that may or may not be required. That is left up to the property owners to do that. So, they are skating by any local building code requirements that might be required all together and hanging it customers out to dry because they are not following the laws.
Note: We do now offer just a select few of these build kits
that are really a nice product that are designed and engineered for the purpose of which they are intended without using thousands of screws. One is the best Timber framing pergola on the market and the other is a powered coated steel frame pergola kit that uses the very same building materials that we are used to using on some of our larger custom build projects.
I'm a builder that builds mainly permanent types of carports and patio covers, pergolas, deck structures for a living and not just a kit assembly guy.
All building products should be used for the purpose of which they are designed to be used for.
Most temporary or portable are built to be light weight - mainly due to packaging and shipping cost as for store handling purposes and so they can be handled and be moved easier. These type of "DIY kits" or portable or temporary type of structures that are being sold and marketed by the Club, Big Box and Garden stores that doesn't have clue about any local building code requirements.
Most of them only rated at 10-pounds per square foot (PSF) max load requirement which is very important specification for anyone to know when purchasing such a product. It is a temporary only structure. They are like a tent they should be taken down and removed after its temporary use.
The PSF (pounds per square inch) load ratings are all about how strong the frame of the structure is and how much weight it can handle that includes live loads and snow and wind loads when properly installed. Some of these kits' providers might offer an upgraded and more expensive higher rated version of these DYI kits. These units might have some more or just larger poles with larger cross beams so that its frame is rated higher and can withstand higher live loads. A 20 - 40 Pounds per square foot (PSF) live load structure does more heavier lifting is a minimum or the least number of pounds per squire roof (PSF) is engineered and rated to handle more weight and can used for permanent type of structure when built correctly and installed within a required cement in the ground pairs that is at least 2-ft into the ground or better.
That is requirement by most of the local building code enforcement officers and to gain a building permit that may or may not be required depending on the size of the structure in some cases. So, any 10 psf is only design and engineered or use as a temporary structure and should be take down after its temporary. They are used at a Arts and Craft and Trade shows and not used specially during one of our Thunderstorms and a high wind events.
You see it all the time on the local news when one of these blow-a-way canopies that take flight and become a flying UFO and most of our first responders are used to dodging them all over the place when responding to an emergency.
Most local municipalities are starting to realize the hazards of these types of temporary or portable type of structures present during a high wind event so they are enacting a required building permit so they can regulate what type of structure that can be safely built on your property.
They only get by with selling such a structure because it is called a "Temporary or Portable use. Not made to be put on your property and a permanite building structure. Because they are cheaply built and flimsy, most won't last much more then 3 years aways before they are damaged, and just torn apart.
What is built for use within one region of the USA might not work well in another region of the US and OK is a prime example mainly due to our high winds that can rip things apart and blow them away. Most of these DYI kits are built from overseas.
After all it is the customer or a landlord that has the ultimate responsibility to find out what is required and how the product should be use. If you're a landlord, you may not allow these on your property for your tenants to use such a product because you could be sticking your neck to be chopped off if anything was to happen. if something was to happen such a structure coming apart or flying away and doing damage to your Nabors property your insurance may not pay if you do not follow standard building code requirements. Before you purchase do your leg work and see what your local city and insurance company rules and regulations are may be. Most who have owned these kit type of carports, patio covers and pergola in the past say they are a waste of money.
It is the customer or a landlord that has the ultimate responsibility to find out what is required and how the product should be use. If you're a landlord, you may not allow these on your property for your tenants to use such a product because you could be sticking your neck to be chopped off if anything was to happen. If something was to happen such a structure coming apart or flying away and doing damage to a Nabor's property your insurance may not pay for that if you do not follow standard local building code requirements. Before you purchase do your leg work and see what your local city and insurance company rules and regulations are. Sadly, some of these DIY kits to not have any specs on them whatsoever.
I'm talking from my own experience as I have put a couple of these carport type of kits that I have put together in my past. They had a ton of parts and screws to assemble it. This customer had purchased two of them and they had been setting around as they were trying to find someone to put them together for them, the first kit took me eight hours and then the second one took be an hour and a half to complete with the required in the ground cement concrete pears to attach its legs too.
I never want to do that again. then about two years later a hailstorm that hit the area and the hail stones broke right through its decorative single ply polycarbonate canopy roof top panels. We were able to help this customer out and find some parts and fix these damaged roof panels but trying to find parts for these kits were not easy. I finally found a dealer that had a open box of one of the same models and he was willing to sell just the ploy roof panels to us for the parts that we needed, but they weren't cheap either. These kits are often changed, and they discontinued all the time. The goal here is to only inform to ensure optimal performance and safety.
There are engineered structures and then there are non-engineered structures.
An engineered structure is designed to meet the design and certain planned performance level. A non-engineered structure may not meet any design or performance levels, but all of the building materials should always be used for the purpose of which there intended. There are building components limits should never be stretched or exceeded.
Any engineered structure planed structure must be reviewed by a state approved structure engineered and he would stamp, and sign certified the building structures plans.
A non-engineered structure you must rely on the builder knowledge and experience to build a safe structure or a local City building engineer when you pull any local build permits.
Most residential structures are not of a engineered types of structure type but some manufactured product designs that are pre-engineered that the provider says will meet certain load performances only of installed per there requirements.
We are seeing more and more communities that now want to see a factory or a pre-engineered structure built as opposed to a "non-engineered structure". Spec and engineering codes and requirements are a ever changing code requirements that are subject to change at any time for the better life safety requirements.
Most counties, cities and municipalities enforce specific building regulations, codes and approval processes that can impact construction factors such as roof type, size and minimum thickness, as well as construction approval and building permits. The larger municipalities are, the more likely you will need a building permit with rules and regulations to what type of canopy structure that may or may not be built on your property. If you live out in a rule area, not so much but you always want to build to meet standard international building codes and standards for insurance purposes. just in case!
I was driving while leaving a friend of mines house that had gotten his front windows knocked out of his house by a hailstorm in 2023 on the Southwest side of OKC. I noticed this carport with half of the carport was covered by steel panels and the other half was covered by plastic panel sheets. That is what is left.
Carports and Patio Covers of Oklahoma
carportsandpatiocoversofok.com
405-832-0444
We build all types of carports, patio covers, awnings, arbors, pergolas, porches, pavilions, sunrooms and screen rooms, decks and more.
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