Why go cantilever
A cantilever roof is held from one side, so there are no posts at the front or the open side to steer around. That solves the two problems standard carports create on a tight Joburg stand: a post in the way of the car door on a narrow driveway, and a post on the reversing line where a driver has to inch past it. The clear span also looks architecturally clean, which is why it is specified on modern homes and design-code estates.
| Cantilever | Standard (posted) | |
|---|---|---|
| Front posts | None | Two |
| Best for | Tight driveways, clean look | Open stands, lowest price |
| Single price | R14,000 – R24,000 | R6,500 – R14,000 |
The engineering behind the clear span
Carrying a roof from one side puts more load through fewer, heavier footings, so a cantilever needs deeper foundations and a stronger steel beam than a posted carport of the same size — that is what the premium pays for. On the Highveld the design also has to resist storm-wind uplift on the open edge, which is engineered into the footing depth. The wider the cantilever, the more it costs; a full double cantilever is the top of the range.
Is a cantilever worth it?
On an open stand with room for posts, a standard double carport gives the same cover for much less. The cantilever earns its premium only where a post genuinely gets in the way, or where the look is the point. Weigh it against the other types on the carport prices in Johannesburg page.
Common questions
How much is a cantilever carport in Johannesburg?
A cantilever carport in Johannesburg costs from R14,000 for a single and R26,000–R42,000 for a double, supplied and installed. The premium over a standard posted carport pays for deeper footings and a heavier beam to carry the roof from one side.
What is a cantilever carport?
A cantilever carport carries its roof on posts along one side only, so the front and the opposite side have no posts. It gives a clear span for tight driveways and reversing, and a clean architectural look.
Is a cantilever carport worth the extra cost?
It is worth it where a front post would block a car door or a reversing line, or where the clean look is required by an estate or the homeowner. On an open stand, a standard posted carport gives the same cover for less.