Most people ask about price first. But what decides whether a carport lasts or turns into a headache is the stuff you don’t see in brochure photos: where the rainwater goes, where the posts land, and whether the wall you want to fix it to can actually carry the load. That’s why Rong looks at the site before suggesting any design.
On the survey he measures the real parking space, including room to open the car doors, and checks the boundary with the neighbours, which way the rain will run off, whether the ground is soil or concrete, and which wall or beam of the house could take a fixing. If you’re near the beach in Ao Nang, Klong Muang or Nopparat Thara, salt air goes into the choice of steel and rust protection from day one.
The common mistakes are a roof too low for a pickup or SUV, rainwater dumped onto the neighbour’s land, and a new frame bolted onto an old concrete awning that was never designed to carry extra weight. If something on your site shouldn’t be done, Rong will say so during the survey.
You can hire us for labour and materials, or buy the materials yourself and pay for the crew only. Either way you get an itemised written quotation first. Renting? Get written approval from your landlord before we start, and check any village or condo rules.
- Jobs start from
- 10,000 THB
- Team experience
- 30+ years
- Site survey
- Free
- Steel grade
- Your choice
Designs and options
Lean-to (single-slope) carport
The simplest and most budget-friendly shape, and it uses the least steel. Good against a house wall or boundary fence. The slope must send water onto your own land, not next door. On a wide frontage the low side can end up quite low, so check the height of your tallest vehicle.
Gable (two-slope) carport
Water runs off both sides and the space underneath feels airier. Best for a free-standing carport or a wide open area. Not ideal hard against the house, because one side drains straight towards your wall. Uses more steel than a lean-to.
Curved roof carport
Looks modern and sheds water quickly, but the frame and sheets have to be rolled to shape, so it takes more work and usually costs more. If you just want shade and shelter on a tight budget, a straight roof is better value.
Cantilever carport (no front posts)
Nothing to reverse into, but the beams get bigger and all the load goes back to the fixing side. If the existing wall or columns aren’t strong enough, Rong will recommend front posts or an engineer’s check first rather than forcing it.
Materials: the honest pros and cons
Metal sheet roofing
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- The most affordable option and easy to source
- Light, so the frame can stay smaller
- Plenty of colours
Worth knowing
- Hot underneath and loud in heavy rain without insulation
- Cut edges and screw holes start rusting if the finishing is sloppy
Near the sea, choose a well-coated sheet grade and make sure the drilling swarf (tiny steel shavings) is brushed off the sheets. Those shavings rust first and stain the roof.
Metal sheet with PU foam backing
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Foam under the sheet cuts heat and rain noise
- Looks neater from underneath
Worth knowing
- Costs more than plain sheet
- If water gets into the foam through a bad joint it is hard to fix
If the carport is only for parking, plain sheet is usually enough. If it sits next to a bedroom or doubles as a sitting area, the foam-backed sheet is worth it.
uPVC (vinyl) roofing sheets
Good near the seaPros
- The sheet itself can’t rust
- Much quieter in the rain than steel
- Doesn’t hold heat like metal
Worth knowing
- Dearer than metal sheet
- Purlins (the steel battens the sheets are screwed to) must follow the maker’s spacing or the sheets sag
A good choice close to the beach, but the steel frame underneath still needs full rust protection. A rust-proof sheet doesn’t make a rust-proof carport.
Polycarbonate
Good near the seaPros
- Lets light through, so it’s not gloomy underneath
- Light and rust-free
Worth knowing
- Much hotter underneath than a solid roof
- Scratches easily and can go cloudy or yellow over the years
Not recommended if the main job is keeping the sun off your car. A few clear panels mixed into a solid roof usually works better.
Structural steel frame (posts, beams, purlins)
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Strong and sized to your site
- Easy to repair or extend later
Worth knowing
- Needs rust primer and top coat everywhere, welds included
- Post bases sitting in puddles need watching
You choose the steel grade, sizes and rust-protection system. Rong explains the pros and cons of each before you decide, and your choice is written into the quotation.
How the price is worked out
Carport work starts from 10,000 THB, but there is no fixed price or price per square metre. The cost depends on your site, the size, roof shape, sheeting, number of posts and the price of steel at the time, which changes constantly. Rong does a free site survey, then gives you a written itemised quotation. Remote or boat-access locations such as Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi carry a travel fee, which is shown in the quotation before you agree to anything.
There is no fixed price. It depends on your site and on steel and material prices at the time. The site survey is free.
Included
- Free site survey: measuring, checking boundaries and rainwater run-off, and suggesting designs
- Written itemised quotation so you can see what each part costs
- Steel frame, posts, beams and purlins with rust primer and top coat
- Roof sheeting in the material you choose
- Clearing away offcuts and debris when the job is finished
Not included
- Materials, if you choose a labour-only contract
- Concrete slab or paving for the parking area, unless listed in the quotation
- Electrical work and lights, unless listed in the quotation
- Gutters and downpipes, unless listed in the quotation (ask Rong whether your site needs them)
- Permit fees with the municipality (thesaban) or OrBorTor, if your area requires a permit
How a job with us runs
- 1
Send photos on LINE
Photos plus a location pin. Rong tells you early if the idea is realistic.
- 2
Free site survey
He checks the walls, the ground and where the rain will go — the things photos can’t show.
- 3
Written, itemised quote
Full contract (labour + materials) or labour-only. Nothing hidden in a lump sum.
- 4
30% deposit, then work starts
Only once you have agreed the design and price. Payment is by cash bill, no VAT invoice.
- 5
Walk-through before handover
We check every point with you. 1-year warranty under the conditions in the quote.
How long it takes
It depends on size, roof shape, site conditions and weather. In the rainy season work may stop and start, because welding and roof work shouldn’t be done in the rain. Rong gives a timeline after the survey and it goes in the quote.
1-year warranty: what it covers
One year, under the site-specific conditions written into your quotation.
Covered
- Installation workmanship by our crew
- 1-year warranty, under the site-specific conditions written in your quotation
Not covered
- Damage from misuse or later modifications
- Anything the quotation does not list as covered by the warranty
Steel Carports: questions we get asked
How much does a carport cost in Krabi? Do you have a price per square metre?
Jobs start from 10,000 THB, but we don’t quote per square metre because two carports of the same size can cost very differently. Posts, footings, roof shape, sheeting and the current steel price all change the total. After the free survey you get an itemised quotation, which is the only fair way to compare builders.
Can I buy the steel and roofing myself and just pay for labour?
Yes. Rong gives you a materials list with sizes and quantities so you don’t over- or under-buy. If something you bought is the wrong size or grade for the site, he’ll flag it before starting, but problems caused by the material itself are the owner’s responsibility.
We live near the beach. What won’t rust?
uPVC and polycarbonate sheets don’t rust, and good coated metal sheet holds up well if it’s finished properly. What people forget is the frame: salt air attacks the steel posts and beams just as much, especially welds and post bases. Pick a proper rust-protection system and rinse salt deposits off from time to time.
Do I need a permit, and can I build right up to the fence?
Rules on setbacks and permits vary, so check with your local thesaban or OrBorTor, or the Krabi Provincial Public Works and Town Planning Office, before building. Housing estates and condos may have their own rules too. Whatever the paperwork says, the roof shouldn’t overhang the boundary or drain onto the neighbour’s land, which is the most common cause of disputes.
Can the carport be fixed to our existing concrete awning?
Usually not. Old awnings are rarely designed to carry extra load, and the join between old and new roofs is where leaks start. Rong will look at whether it should stand on its own posts or fix to the main structure of the house instead.
How does payment work? Do you give a tax invoice?
We take a 30% deposit before work starts, and the balance is paid as set out in the quotation. You get a cash bill, but we do not issue VAT or tax invoices. If your company or landlord needs a tax invoice, tell us at the start so there are no surprises.
Read this before you build
What a Steel Carport in Krabi Really Costs to BuildWhat really drives the price of a steel carport in Krabi: size, roof sheet, attachment, ground, rust protection and access. Why there is no price list.
Roof Extensions That Survive Krabi's Rainy SeasonHow to build a roof extension that copes with Krabi's rainy season: roof slope, gutter sizing, flashing against the old house and when to schedule work.
Hiring a Contractor in Krabi as a Foreigner: A Practical GuideA practical guide for foreigners hiring a contractor in Krabi: comparable quotes, deposits, cash bills vs VAT invoices, warranties and working in English.
Related services
Cantilever CanopiesPost-free canopies and carports on cantilever beams, built only after the fixing structure has been checked.
Covered WalkwaysSteel-frame covered walkways between houses, carports, kitchens and resort buildings, with the joints at both ends done properly.
Awnings & Lean-to RoofsSteel-frame awnings and lean-to roofs over windows, doors and patios, built with the wall joint and drainage done properly.
Metal Roofing & Re-roofingSteel roof frames and metal re-roofing for houses, with the existing structure checked before we recommend repair or replacement.
Garden Salas & PavilionsSteel-frame salas and pavilions with roof shape, materials and flooring chosen for how you’ll use them, after checking the ground and drainage.
Roof Frame Repair & ReplacementRepairing or replacing rotten timber or rusted steel roof frames on existing houses with a new steel frame, then re-roofing.