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One way to prevent a flying carport

By LEN BONIFIELD
Published October 29, 2005

Several years ago I asked a contractor who was doing some work on my shed if he had any ideas about ways to strengthen a carport during high winds. He suggested some kind of bar that would be held up on the ceiling and pulled down and anchored to the concrete when a storm was coming.

Nothing ever came of the concept. I have sought a solution to the carport, shed and screen-room problem ever since. Who can forget the television pictures we saw of the devastation to carports, sheds and screen rooms after Hurricane Charley in 2004? Often the TV news used the pictures of aluminum thrown around to say, "These mobile homes just get destroyed in high winds."

My wife and I toured two manufactured home communities in Lake Wales shortly after two hurricanes made direct hits on them last year. The scene looked horrible as we drove through, aluminum all over. But a second look revealed that what we saw was carports, sheds and screen rooms. Not one of the actual home structures was damaged except where trees had fallen on them.

Some roof damage resulted when carports that were lifted up and torn off pulled a portion of the roof with them. That convinced me even more to see if someone had a solution to strengthen carports and similar structures.

I kept asking around, and recently I found a contractor who has been making existing carports, sheds and screen rooms more secure. Daryl Brown, owner of All-In-One Contracting, (863) 299-2552, in Winter Haven, has installed his concept on 20 or more homes. He formerly worked for two manufactured-home manufacturers, Palm Harbor and Fleetwood.

I decided to have my carport strengthened even though it had held up well during three of the 2004 hurricanes. My wife said it made her nervous to hear the carport groan and crackle during those storms. My carport is oversized, 17 feet wide and 28 feet long. First Brown installed a 2 by 3 channel across the front, the top of which was bolted to the existing pans and facing panel. This stiffened the front of the carport roof.

Then workers installed a 2 by 3 channel from the front, bolted to the newly installed channel, down the center. They replaced all the small screws down the outside of the carport pans with 11/8-inch washer-head screws.

Then the most important component was installed. The carport's perimeter must be secured to prevent strong winds from lifting it, allowing it to roll back on the house and tear off the roof. This was solved by adding four cables that tie the roof of the carport to anchors in the concrete driveway. Three cables are spaced along the side, one in the center front. These cables are removable, installed only when the owner decides it's necessary, i.e., when a hurricane threatens. Installation is easy enough that my wife, who is mechanically challenged, can handle them alone if need be.

The crews drilled through the newly installed channel in the middle of the carport's front. Then a 7/16 by 4-inch lag eyebolt was installed. This process was repeated three times down the side of the carport, spacing them out equally. They drilled holes in the concrete directly below and pounded anchors for the eyebolts into the concrete. These eyebolts, installed on the cable, are then to be screwed into the concrete anchor by the owner when needed. Quarter-inch aircraft steel cable was measured and prepared with cable connectors that would be attached to the eyebolts when the owner is installing the cables.

When a hurricane is imminent, the owner can easily put the cables in place with a ladder and an oversized screwdriver or small metal bar. Doing so should take only about 15 minutes.

The cost for mine (and remember my carport is oversized) was $500. Is that a lot? Not when you consider the cost to replace a carport or the roof of your house. I think it is inexpensive security and, more important, peace of mind.

-- Send comments or questions to Len Bonifield at elb@gate.net or write him at 2914 Dollar Bonnet Lane, Lakeland, FL 33810. Please include your e-mail and mailing address. Because of the volume of mail, he can't respond personally to every query. Bonifield is a manufactured-home resident and a past HOA president and former officer of the FMO District 1 board of directors.

[Last modified October 28, 2005, 11:07:05]