When people call about a carport, they usually know the size they want. The roof style is the part they haven't thought about, and in Oregon, Washington and Idaho it matters as much as the size.
There are three roofs:
- Round roof: rounded corners, panels run side to side.
- A-frame horizontal: an A-frame with horizontal panels.
- A-frame vertical: an A-frame with vertical panels that run from the ridge to the eave.
Round roof
The round roof has rounded corners where the roof meets the sides, and the roof panels run side to side, the long way along the building.
It's the simplest of the three, and it does the job where snow doesn't stick around. On the dry side of the state, in places like Madras or Prineville, plenty of people use one to keep sun off a truck or a trailer.
The downside is the side-to-side panels. Snow and rain have to cross the ribs to get off the roof, and things tend to sit there.
A-frame horizontal
The A-frame horizontal has a peaked roof with a ridge down the middle, like the roofline of a house. That look is why it's popular in neighborhoods and with HOAs.
Here's the catch: the panels are horizontal. They run side to side, the same direction as on a round roof. It looks sharper, but it sheds water and snow about the same way a round roof does.
A-frame vertical
The A-frame vertical has the same peaked shape, but the panels are vertical. They run from the ridge straight down to the eave. Snow, rain and pine needles slide down the channels and off the edge instead of crossing ribs.
To hold the panels that way, the frame gets extra pieces of steel across the trusses. That makes it the strongest of the three for snow, and it's the roof we recommend for most buildings in snow country. Many manufacturers also recommend it for longer buildings, where there's more roof for snow to sit on.
The thing buyers don't know: look at the panels, not the peak
From the road, an A-frame horizontal and an A-frame vertical look almost the same. Both have a ridge and both look like a house. The only difference is the direction of the panels.
Next time you drive past a carport in Bend or Redmond after a storm, look at the roof. On a round roof or an A-frame horizontal you'll often see snow hanging on in stripes between the ribs. On an A-frame vertical it's slid off into a pile along the eaves.
The same goes for what falls out of the trees. If you're under ponderosa pines around Sisters or La Pine, or in the firs around Sandpoint, needles and cones land on the roof all year. On horizontal panels they collect in the ribs and hold water. On an A-frame vertical most of it slides off, and the next rain washes the rest down.
So when you compare quotes, don't stop at "I want an A-frame." Ask whether it's an A-frame horizontal or an A-frame vertical.
Which one fits where you live
A rough guide, not a rule:
- Mild winter, little snow, no trees overhead: a round roof can be enough.
- Neighborhood or HOA that wants a house look, light snow: A-frame horizontal.
- Real snow, tall trees, or a long building: A-frame vertical. In Central Oregon, Klamath Falls, the Spokane area or north Idaho, that's most people.
Snow load and wind ratings are separate from roof style. An A-frame vertical sheds snow better, but your county still sets the snow load and wind rating the building has to meet. Out by The Dalles or Hood River, wind is usually the bigger worry. Get both numbers from your permit office before you order.
Don't forget the sides
Side panels and gable ends can also run horizontally or vertically. Vertical sides shed water better and match an A-frame vertical; horizontal sides are common on round roof and A-frame horizontal carports.
HOA questions
If you have an HOA, ask what they want before you order. Most care about the look from the street. An A-frame vertical has the same house-style profile as an A-frame horizontal, so in many neighborhoods you can get the better snow roof without changing the look. Get the HOA's answer in writing.
The short version
- Round roof: rounded corners, panels side to side. Simple, and fine for mild weather.
- A-frame horizontal: an A-frame with horizontal panels. Looks like a house, but sheds like a round roof.
- A-frame vertical: an A-frame with vertical panels, ridge to eave. Sheds snow and pine needles best, and it's the safe pick in snow and tree country.
- When comparing, ask which way the panels run, not just whether it's an A-frame.
Try the different roofs in the 3D designer and see how each one looks on your size before you decide.