Hey everyone! I recently got a 20x12 carport that I'm turning into a screened porch, but I messed up my measurements and totally forgot about the backdoor clearance. I need to raise the entire frame by about 11 inches, and since I've only set up the frame so far, I have some flexibility to change things up. It's a cedar prefab carport with 6 legs made of 6x6 lumber. I'm leaning towards raising it from the bottom, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Any tips or suggestions would be super helpful!
2 Answers
If you want to do it the "official" way, consider buying longer 6x6 support legs to extend the height. You can also raise the concrete footers about 12 inches, but make sure to secure everything properly. Just be cautious, as adding length could make it less stable than having full-length legs.
You might want to just put a cinder block under each leg. A standard cinder block gives you about 8 inches, but if you stack a 4-inch concrete block on top, that'll get you that 12-inch lift you're looking for. Should do the trick!
I get your concern, but lots of folks use cinder blocks for lifts. Just make sure everything is sturdy and level, and you can always add some bracing if you feel uneasy.
I’m a bit worried about safety stacking them like that. The carport is going to weigh about 987 lbs, and I’m not sure if that setup would be stable enough since it’s free-standing on a mortared brick paver patio.