Land Prep for Metal Buildings

Have you finally decided that it’s time to get a metal building or carport? Whether you just don’t have enough space to fit your car, have an extra car that you need to protect from the elements, or you need something to protect your work vehicles, Central Florida Buildings and Carports can help.

We work out every detail from size, material, cost, and can help with the permit. Depending on your location, we can also provide a free inspection of your location to be better prepared for a build.

Whether it’s going in a lot, backyard, or front yard you need to be sure that you do the pre-work necessary to have your carport installed. Sometimes you can handle the groundwork on your own, but for certain carports you will need to do some prep work.

If you do not know where your gas or water lines run then consider calling 811, the national call before you dig number, to see if there are any lines beneath the ground that could be damaged upon installation or land clearing. 

Before you do any of this you will need to complete some preemptive work

• Receive a permit
• Arrange size and cost
• Remove any potential hazards

You don’t want any vegetation, trees, or really anything in the way. Yes this includes grass. If you plan to lay your carport on top of bare ground then it needs to be soil. Not grass. You can have grass surrounding the carport, but not during installation. Once the land has been cleared we can decide the foundation for your carport.

A standard dirt or soil foundation carport is the most basic surface. One concern with a dirt foundation is that it doesn’t prevent flooding, mud, or many of the potential negative weather effects that your carport is supposed to protect against. So if you plan on keeping anything besides cars inside this carport be wary of that.

Gravel can be a cost effective and slightly more secure way to place your carport. Like dirt it needs to be leveled out and balanced, otherwise, your carport is not going to be able to be installed properly. The gravel foundation is a little less prone to flooding, but water can still get up under the carport if you do not have something surround the outside of the carport. We should note that gravel can shift over time and may need to be repaved and maintained to keep the structural integrity of the carport/ground intact.

What we usually suggest to our buyers is a concrete foundation. It’s stable and if you plan on keeping anything else in your carport besides the vehicles themselves then you will want the extra ground support to keep those items safe. You are more than likely going to need a professional to handle the concrete installation.

If you have questions about a foundation, please talk to us.