Last Updated: July 2026
As the name suggests, a carport is a place to port (or house) your car, which offers some protection from the harmful weather we experience in Australia, primarily the sun and extreme storms.
A carport is not limited to just your car. It can also protect your other vehicles like the caravan, camper trailer, RV, boat, trailer, motorbike, cycles, go-karts, tractor, mower, quad bikes, jet skis, off-road vehicles and trucks.
Constant UV and sun exposure will cause paint to deteriorate over time and hail stones from severe storms can write a vehicle off in a couple of minutes.
In this post, we look at common ways our clients use carports when they aren’t using them for parking.
What are the benefits of carports for Brisbane homes?
A carport offers protection for your vehicles and more, which is why DeKing regularly designs and builds carports in Brisbane.
Why not capitalise on the Queensland sunshine and install solar panels atop your carport? Installing solar panels on a carport is quite often easier than installing them on a home roof. Even if you already have solar panels on the roof of your home, why not add a few more on the carport roof? Flat roofs often have panels absorbing more of the sun’s rays throughout the day compared to gable roof types. This means even more savings on your electricity bill, making it even more worthwhile to change to green energy.
Sometimes the front of the home gets better breezes than the back patio, especially if it is more open and not surrounded by fences and other buildings. This makes the front of the home the ideal place to beat the heat and sit back and enjoy the afternoon breeze.
Even when parking your car under the carport, there will still be enough room for a small table and chairs. A metre doesn’t sound like much, but it is plenty of space to create a compact space to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
If you are not using the carport for vehicles, you may consider enclosing the carport in mosquito netting or screens to keep bugs out while you enjoy the new space. Add in some outdoor furniture, plants, and a fire pit and you have an amazing area to spend those summer afternoons and evenings.
Carports have plenty of natural light but are protected from the direct harsh Queensland sun. This makes a carport the perfect area for growing plants.
If co-sharing the carport with vehicles, you can easily add some herb gardens and/or a few potted plants in front of the car where the carport meets the home.
If you’re not sharing the carport with vehicles and you really want to get into gardening, convert the carport into a greenhouse. Simply add a plastic awning around the carport to control the internal heat and humidity of the carport. You can even replace parts of the roofing with transparent sheets to allow for more sunlight.
Having a carport garden can add some beautiful colour to your home. You can add plants like wisteria vines to add structure and create a visual impact at the front of the home.
Carports make ideal outdoor entertainment areas. Simply park the car in the street for the night and transform your carport into party central. It’s a great place for birthday parties, Friday night drinks with mates, summer BBQs, even footy finals, and movie nights. Just bring out some chairs or beanbags, hang a sheet up, and grab a projector, and the fun begins.
A carport is a great place for the kids to play. It isn’t directly in the sun and gives protection from the rain, and gets the kids outside in the fresh air. Get creative and make a sign to name the area Kidz Clubhouse. The cement floor is great for bike riding, skateboarding, or riding a scooter. Paint a track or road to follow on the cement floor.
Lots of fun things can be added to a kids’ zone. Table tennis is quick and easy to set up and then fold away against a wall when play is finished. Older kids may enjoy a painted handball court on the floor or a dartboard on the wall. Add some tables and chairs for fun painting and drawing activities and messy science experiments. A sandbox and water play area will keep the little ones entertained for hours on hot summer days.
Nowhere to hang clothes on those wet weather days? No problem. Add a retractable clothesline or some high ropes in the carport, and hey presto, you have an instant space-conscious laundry extension where you can dry your clothes whatever the weather is doing.
If you have outdoor animals, it is important to ensure they have adequate shade and shelter, especially during the harsh Queensland summer months. A carport down the side of the home or out the back is a great solution for a pet shelter. Move the kennels or cages under the carport to protect them from bad storms and intense heat. Cement floors keep cool in the shade, so your dogs and/or other animals have a nice cool place to relax.
If you are not using the carport for a vehicle, consider turning it into a gym area. Move the weights and exercise machines under the cover of the carport. Hang a punching bag from the roof. Exercise in the fresh air, but under cover and in the shade. A carport is also the perfect place for yoga. Invite your friends over, lay out the yoga mats, and enjoy the fresh air.
A carport can also be your storage solution. Store the outdoor gardening equipment undercover where it will be dry – mowers, brush cutters, chainsaws, hedgers, wheelbarrows, etc. If you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, camping, canoeing, surfing, cycling, etc. the carport can be the ideal storage solution for equipment like tents, boards, and bikes.
Carports do provide some protection from sun and rain, but you can always pack your items in sealed plastic tubs for extra protection for storage under the carport.
Need more space for a hobby or craft? Look no more, the answer could be right under your carport.
There is never enough space inside the home when your hobby involves big tools and big projects. A carport is a great solution for an outdoor workspace without having to build a new shed or structure. If concerned about rain or dampness around the machinery then a carport is fairly easy to convert by adding sheets of galvanised steel on 2-3 sides to protect equipment from the weather.
This type of workspace could be ideal for mechanics, woodworkers, metal fabricators, welders, tool repairers, etc.
If you are looking for an outdoor structure like a carport to provide protection from the elements for a wide variety of uses we can help. The team of professionals at DeKing can help design and build the perfect structure for your home.
Deking Decks services Brisbane, Northside, Southside, Redlands, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
PRICES?
Use our Patio Roof Calculator (patio roof flyover or attached) to estimate the cost of your carport or outdoor structure or Contact Us to get a more accurate estimate.
Quote Calculator