Is Costco's Steel Frame Carport A Game Changer Or Is It All Hype? What Shoppers Are Saying
When you want to protect your motor vehicles from weather but you don't want to spend the money building a new garage, you may be looking for an alternative that doesn't require construction. Lucky for you, carports are often able to protect motor vehicles just as well. Fabric-covered designs with metal frames don't have quite the same durability or level of protection as all-metal models, but they are far more affordable.
If you're looking to save some money when purchasing a carport, it's worth checking a retailer that can help save money on household items — like Costco. A popular option at the warehouse chain is a 10-by-20-foot steel frame canopy carport for $399.99. Since it's made to be outdoors, it features powder-coated steel bars in the frame to help with corrosion and rust resistance. The model also has a UV-treated polyethylene cover, which provides protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays. This works with low-density polyethylene (DPE) laminate on the fabric to deliver waterproof protection for the vehicle parked underneath.
The opening at the front of the carport has a height of 6 feet, 5 inches. Its 10-by-20-foot coverage area is enough to accommodate a large vehicle, including a pickup truck. Before you spend a few hundred dollars on the Costco steel frame carport, though, you may want to be confident that it will last. We looked at reviews for this product to give you a sense of what actual users think after using it, hopefully helping you decide whether it's a game-changing product that's worth the hype.
Why customer reviewers like the performance from Costco's steel frame carport canopy
On the Costco website, customer reviewers give the canopy an average 4.4 stars out of 5. One person appreciated the ease of installation. "The directions were easy to follow and understand. ... The frame is great and has the pop-together tabs that save a lot of time," they wrote. Another, who owns two of the frames, agreed about the ease of installation. "My husband and I are almost 70 and had zero problems," they said.
According to YouTube reviewer Classic Wings & Wheels, the size of this Costco carport is perfect for protecting all kinds of vehicles, "I've seen one of these get used for storing a boat while it's still on its trailer," they said. "So in my mind, this one outweighs any of the others by far for its price."
As a final advantage, this product is available under Costco Direct benefits. The online-only promotion offers additional discounts to customers who buy more than one product simultaneously under the program. Even without the extra discount through Costco Direct, one customer reviewer said the price is impressive, especially considering you can lengthen the frame's lifespan by purchasing Costco's replacement canopy roof covers for $84.99. "I have owned four of these. ... [The] sides have lasted me three years minimum and six years maximum, all [the] frames held up [for] six years," they wrote. "I like them a lot and for the price, they are awesome."
Some say the disadvantages of the Costco steel frame carport make it not worth the hype
On the Costco website, about 6.5% of reviewers give this product the lowest possible 1-star review. Most of the negative reviews focus on the durability of the fabric cover, although a few complaints discuss problems with the sturdiness of the metal frame. One Costco customer reviewer said the fabric around the zipper began to rip after a few months, while another zipper completely broke. "I tried to live with it, but weeks before this canopy would have been only two years old, half the roof completely ripped away," they wrote. Another agreed about the lack of durability with the fabric material that goes over the metal frame. "With the first strong wind, the roof shredded in a bazillion pieces, making a mess to clean up everywhere. ... Stay away from this you will save yourself a great trouble." One Costco reviewer says older versions of this product included metal couplings on the metal frame. However, the newer versions contain plastic couplings, which affect its durability. "Unfortunately, several of [the couplings] have snapped after a few months."
Some customers might be leery of buying this canopy carport because Costco doesn't list the brand name of the carport on the product page at the website. The description of the warranty lists Sorara Outdoor Living USA as the manufacturer, but the Sorara website does not list this carport as one of its products, which might make some potential purchasers nervous. With that said, Costco does offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all its products.