The locally-made, high-performance kitset carports designed to elevate your home

At the mention of a carport one doesn’t often think of sleek architectural design. Instead, images of rust-eaten corrugated iron and unsteady, sun-bleached timber come to mind. An afterthought at the end of a driveway; a glorified garden shed. Streamline Carports do not fit this description, in fact, their clean lines and elegant steel forms are the exact opposite. Designed to truly complement the home, their proprietary designs provide unparalleled strength and durability with a minimalist, modern aesthetic. 

“By stripping out unsightly fixtures and excess components we have created a streamlined, modular design that maximises form without compromising function,” says Streamline Carports’ Bridget Walton. 

“We have over 25 years of experience in the industry, and in that time our kitset carports have graced many architecturally designed homes throughout New Zealand.”

Streamline Carports seeks to make the carport design and installation process as easy as possible for their clients — so easy in fact, their kitsets can be constructed by homeowners themselves. With all components supplied, and shipped nationwide, it’s an extremely efficient way to add a carport to your property. ArchiPro spoke with Streamline Carports’ Bridget Walton to learn more about their unique offering, combining high-performance design with DIY construction.

What makes a good carport?

“The key components of a good carport are simplicity and strength, and Streamline Carports are one of the few that can provide both features — engineered and manufactured in New Zealand to withstand our tough weather conditions,” Walton explains.

Instead of excess beams and supports, strength and stability are achieved through the PurlinDek roofing profile, allowing for a sleek, attractive design without timber or excessive framing. The roof spans up to six metres without supports, making it extremely simple to construct. Plus, at a 6m x 6m standard size, there is no need for a building permit.

The premium quality steel roofing, gutter, and fascia have a 25-year durability warranty, and to ensure longevity, Walton says the underside of the carport must be washed thoroughly with clear water annually. “If you’re within 2km of the coast, we suggest washing down your roofing, gutters, and posts every three months to avoid salt buildup.”

Planning your carport 

To ensure you get the most out of your carport, Walton recommends taking time to measure your space and determine a colour that really compliments your home.

“You want to place your carport in a position that will provide optimum functionality,” Walton explains. “Before you start installation, it’s important to read your local council requirements regarding boundary proximity, and also get acquainted with the underground services on your property.”

Once you have a location in mind, you can visit the Streamline Carports website to plan your colour palette and style. Standard designs can be made for a single car or double car, with a selection of five colours for the roof and trim. If you’re after something more bespoke, Streamline Carports also offer custom lengths, widths, and heights. 

“Our carports are all flat-roofed, which allows for easy installation, and if you want a cantilever or a sloped monopitch, we can do that too.” 

Carport installation and maintenance 

Streamline Carports are designed for easy installation, and every kitset comes with a complete set of assembly instructions for the homeowner or builder to follow. 

“The carports are made up of three main components: roofing, fascia/gutter, and posts. The install process is as simple as digging holes for the posts, fastening the gutters around the posts, and then sliding in the roofing sheets,” Walton says.

If you’re installing your carport over an existing concrete driveway or slab, you have the option to either drill holes for the posts into the concrete or attach top mount feet that secure the carport to the concrete surface. Streamline Carports recommends a set of tools for installation that includes a drill, pop riveter, tin snips or a 60mm hole drill for the downpipe dropper, a ladder, planks, safety goggles, gloves, and foot protection. If you plan on attaching your carport to an existing building it’s a good idea to have it checked by an engineer to ensure it is structurally sound.

Once installed, Walton says it’s easy to extend your carport if the need arises. “Simply determine the extra length required, remove the end fascia where you will be adding the extension, and attach the additional roofing sheets and a gutter joiner to allow length to be added to the gutter beam.”

As mentioned, maintenance is as simple as washing down the roof and underside of the carport, and regularly removing gutter buildup. With the high-performance PurlinDek roof, you’re guaranteed a long lifetime, even in New Zealand’s extreme weather conditions. Coated with a PDVF paint system for ultimate weather protection, greater water-carrying capacity than other similar roofing materials, and interlocking sheets for rigidity, PurlinDek offers unmatched reliability.

Learn more about Streamline Carports.