Warning about those metal carports from big box stores

I checked out a neighbor's setup last weekend and the roof panels were already rusting at the edges after just 8 months. They got it at Lowe's for around $1,200 and the bolts were stripping out too. Has anyone else had trouble with these holding up in wet climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

theas285d ago

Wow, I have to push back hard on this one. My uncle put one of those metal carports up from Home Depot about two years ago and it's still rock solid with zero rust. He lives right on the coast in Florida too so it gets hammered by salt air and humidity constantly. I think the problem is people don't prep the ground right or seal the bolt holes when they install them. If you take the time to put down a gravel base and use some basic caulking on the fasteners, those things can last a decade or more. Have you checked if your neighbor actually followed the directions or just slapped it together?

susan815d ago

Oh man, I TOTALLY get where you're coming from here. My cousin put one of those up last summer and I was super skeptical but honestly it's held up amazing through all kinds of weather. I think a LOT of people just don't take the time to do it right and then blame the product when it fails. It drives me crazy when folks skip the prep work and then wonder why stuff falls apart. It's nice to hear your uncle's is still going strong, gives me a little more faith in those kits honestly.

elliot_roberts4d ago

Funny enough, @theas28 your post actually reminded me of something wild my buddy dealt with. He bought one of those same carports from Lowe's and the instructions said to bolt it right onto concrete without any sealant. So he did exactly that and six months later water got under the roof panels and rusted everything from the inside out. Turns out the real trick is to put some rubber washers under every bolt head before you tighten them down. My neighbor's experience sounds like a classic case of skipping that tiny step. Makes you wonder how many complaints come down to something as simple as a missing washer.