convert to garage or leave as car port?

[Mario Berrones]

convert to garage or leave as car port?

Is it worth the investment?

[Edward Hamill]

Having worked in the Manufactured/Modular industry for many years, I have seen this done hundreds of times...usually with negative results (not suggesting your home is a manufactured home or that your results will be negative). Here are the list of questions I used to rattle off to clients who talked about enclosing their carport... for what its worth:

How many windows are looking into the carport? How do you plan to eliminate these windows and still meet light and vent rules or emergency egress rules? You cant just leave the windows...causes an issue with co gases entering the home.

Is there a main door from the home into the carport? Is there another easy way to access the home once this is hidden inside a garage? What is the firewall/firedoor code for your area? Usually higher for an enclosed garage than a carport.

On another note, how about these questions... Where does the dryer vent exit the house? How about the bathroom vent? Is there a hose bib under the carport that will now be in your garage? How much headroom is there to put in an overhead door? What size is the support beams that hold up the carport...will they support the added weight of a moving overhead door, hardware, opener, etc? Is there a perimeter footer run down the length of the carport to build your side wall on (usually not). Is the current carport roof a pan roof or a SIP panel? Will the current roof meet the code for a garage roof?

There is a lot more than just closing in 2 walls and hanging a door... end result usually costs more than it is worth... That is why so many people simply plant hedges or hang lattice along the length to give an opinion of enclosure without the actual cost.

Your mileage may vary... this is just an example of the questions I have had to face in Florida.