In all aspects, anchoring is an important process to keep the toughness of a carport. It promises security when powerful windstorms come. Also, city-building officers check this when they inspect. Indeed, anchoring is an integral element to keep it useful and valuable vehicle shelter.
Pre-anchoring assessment
It is correct if you make anchoring your carport a goal to fulfill. Do it with care by assessing first what you need.
Ground and climate. Since anchoring involves tying the carport to the ground, choose the best type of foundation. Among the foundations, concrete is a top choice for securing and anchoring a carport in a place with harsh weather. If it is in a colder area or exposed to saltwater, an asphalt foundation is also an excellent option.
Also, be mindful of the level of windstorms that the outbuilding encounters. Remember that the higher the wind level, the deeper the holes to drill for anchoring.
Anchor and tools. Since there are various anchors to choose from, you need to pick the suitable one. You can’t use a wedge anchor for asphalt because it is for a concrete foundation. You also need to hammer a wedge anchor into a fixture and ground, which is a no-no for an asphalt foundation. Furthermore, each type of anchor comes in distinct features and capacities. A wedge anchor, alone, has three kinds—zinc plated, galvanized, and stainless steel (303,304, and 316).
Grabbing the right tools to use makes anchoring easier. Like for instance, in a concrete anchor, you need a hammer, spanner, hammer drill, and drill bit.
Do it yourself or not? The DIY way of anchoring is not difficult especially if you have the skills, tools, energy, and time. However, it is also cost-effective to ask someone or a contractor if you are too busy and admittedly, can’t do it.
Anchoring steps
To give you an idea of how to anchor a carport, here are the steps if you do it to a concrete slab:
Drilling. Drill holes in the right spot. A strategy to do it is to follow the pre-drilled holes in the base rails. Do it by assembling the base rails and patterning their holes on the slab. If you have already marked all the locations on the concrete, remove the base rails and start drilling holes. Each hole you are creating must be suitable for the diameter and depth of a wedge anchor. For the depth, you need to reach at least the minimum depth for the type of anchor you are using. After the drilling, don’t forget to clean debris in holes so anchors perfectly fit when you put them.
If there are no pre-drilled holes in the base rails, you need to create matching holes in it and the concrete. The holes in the base rails should be slightly bigger than in the concrete.
Fastening. Assemble base rails on top of the concrete slab. Put a wedge anchor in the hole in the base rail down to the concrete. Hit the anchor with a hammer and then, use a spanner to tighten it. Be cautious that you reach only the torque value for each wedge anchor. Over torquing devalues the purpose of the anchors.
