Enclosed vs. Open Carports: Which Design Makes Sense for Your Orangeburg Property?

June 14, 2026 | 8 min read

If you are shopping for a carport in Orangeburg County, the first big decision is enclosed vs. open. Both have their place, but they serve completely different purposes. Choosing wrong means either paying for more than you need or buying something that does not do the job.

We build both types across the Midlands. Here is the real breakdown from our installation experience.

Open Carports: What You Get

An open carport is a roof on posts. Three sides open, vehicle parks under the roof. It is the simplest, cheapest way to keep sun and rain off your car or truck.

Cost: A 20x20 open steel carport runs $1,800 to $3,200 installed, depending on steel gauge and roof style (regular vs. boxed-eave). That is about a third of what you would pay for a garage addition.

Best for: Homeowners who just need basic weather protection. If your main concern is keeping the South Carolina sun from baking your dashboard, an open carport does the job at the lowest price. Also great for covering boats, RVs, and farm equipment too tall for a standard garage.

Enclosed Carports: What Changes

An enclosed carport has walls — usually one or both long sides enclosed with metal sheeting, and sometimes the back wall too. You can leave the front open or add a garage door to fully enclose it.

Cost: A 20x20 enclosed carport with one wall runs $3,500 to $5,500. With a garage door on the front: $5,000 to $8,000 — still less than half the cost of a stick-built garage.

Best for: Homeowners who need storage security. If you keep tools, lawn equipment, or motorcycles in your carport, enclosing the sides keeps them out of sight and out of the weather. Add a lockable door and you have secure storage for a fraction of a garage.

The Orangeburg Weather Factor

Open carports do not protect against sideways rain. When a summer thunderstorm blows through Orangeburg with 30 mph gusts, rain will hit the sides of your vehicle even under an open carport. If you are parking a daily driver, that is usually fine. But if you are storing a classic car, a boat, or anything that needs to stay completely dry, you need at least partial enclosure.

Same goes for pollen. Orangeburg County has some of the highest pollen counts in the state. An open carport keeps direct sun off, but pollen still settles on your car. An enclosed carport with walls keeps your vehicle cleaner between washes.

Permits in Orangeburg County

Orangeburg County requires a building permit for any carport over 200 square feet. Most 20x20 carports (400 sq ft) need one. Steel carports on a gravel or concrete pad typically meet county code with minimal site prep. Dubya Carports handles the permit process as part of our service.

Our Recommendation

For most Orangeburg County homeowners, we recommend starting with an open carport if your main goal is protecting a daily driver from sun and rain. It is the best value and easiest to expand later (you can always add walls down the road). If you need secure storage for tools, equipment, or a second vehicle, go enclosed from the start — retrofitting walls onto an existing carport costs almost as much as building enclosed from scratch.