I need some out of the box help. We trimmed this house, and now the HOs want a 26′ wide x 20′ deep carport/solar panel holder sort of fenced in.
They’re pretty vague about it, but they saw something in a magazine they liked.
The posts are 5″ steel, rectangular w/ 4″ between round overs. 115″ from slab to gluelam beams. Widthwise, there are 2 140″ spaces between posts. Depthwise it’s 49″, 140″, 49″. The posts are kinda plumb.
HOs wanted something like shelving w/ 6″ spacing to go about 8′ up. Originally they wanted 5/4 PT, but I think, unless I break every thing up into 2′ spans, there’s going to be a lot of sagging, not to mention how PT likes to behave in the sun and rain. We could run it like fencing, staggered on both sides of the post, but I still see the same squirrely behavior with the PT happening, and these HOs like things to look pretty clean, and contemporary.
I thought maybe trex or azek, but it would have to be supported, no matter how it would run. So then I thought maybe some small angle or aluminum tubing. Now I’m up to breaking the big sections into 6′, and mortising azek jambs to take 3/4- 1″ aluminum square tubing.
Cable rail might be another option?
I’m really looking for some other ideas, I don’t even really care if they’re good ones LOL
Ohhh, sorry bout the big pic, it’s the same as the other front
Now you see this one-eyed midget Shouting the word “NOW” And you say, “For what reason?” And he says, “How?” And you say, “What does this mean?” And he screams back, “You’re a cow Give me some milk Or else go home”
Replies
I'll give you a bump.
I'm thinking welded steel square tubing with welded supports at midspan on the long runs. Use 4/4 cedar as the shelf material.
I think Dave is on the right track wtih welded steel crossmembers - something like 1.5" or 2" square.
Based on the look of the carport and house, though, I think that you should look at either some heavy gauge welded wire mesh (like a 6x6 grid) for the infill material. They could plant it and let the vegetation be the real screen.
If they aren't too attached to the semi-open look, the roofing material from the house coming up 7 or 8 feet above grade might work, too.