Storage

Storage has always been a necessary part of life, and this necessity has led to many innovations, including larger living quarters with indoor storage, off site storage, and backyard storage or outdoor storage buildings.

Home or public storage

With our increasingly mobile society, extra storage has become more important than ever, and with so much downsizing due to economic difficulty, indoor storage has become less of an option. This leaves either storage off site, which has the downside of being some distance from the home, which requires travel time and expense, and rental cost, or the use of sheds and outdoor storage buildings.

Garden sheds

Garden sheds can make life a lot more convenient, while protecting your lawn and garden equipment and other items that might otherwise end up taking up the space in your garage that your car should occupy.

Storage building uses

There are any other advantages to owning your own storage shed, and there are many ways to use them to solve other problems around the home and workplace, and many opportunities to improve the families lifestyle. Utility buildings like storage sheds can serve many other purposes like exercise rooms, workshops, office space, game rooms, and business storage for those of us who work at home.

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Metal Garages

Traditional garages are built into, or onto a home. They rarely serve the purpose for which they were originally intended. Most garages are being used for storage, or extra rooms of some kind, and in many ways, this is for the best. Think about it: How smart is it to park a fossil fuel powered, internal combustion engine vehicle inside your home?

Unconnected metal garages

Today a lot of people are opting for an unconnected garage a short distance from the family home, and that is often a metal garage. Metal garages can be created in a lot of shapes and sizes, and the simplest of them can be very affordable, while the more complex metal garages are, at worst, a great value.

Steel garages the metal of choice

The metal of choice for a garage, a carport, or a shop is steel. Galvanized steel frames, and galvanized, painted sheet metal will last for many years, and provide attractive, durable service.

Metal garage uses

The uses for such steel garages or shops are nearly endless. Workshops, offices, storage, and even housing is not out of the question. Garage type metal buildings are being built as homes, and as the basis for stores of every type throughout the country.

Indeed, many home owners are replacing composition shingle roofs with steel roofing when it is time for a change. It is only a matter of time before builders and homeowners alike extend the steel siding to the rest of the home.

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Shopping for your utility building

How do you get that just right utility buildings? Go shopping. You don’t have to climb into the car and drive all over town to start this.

You can do it from the comfort of your own home. Search the Internet for buildings like the one you know you will need. Search locally by adding the name of your location. For instance, if you live in a town known as “Example”, search for “utility building Example My State”. Don’t add commas between the words. that will cause the search to serve up results for utility building, and results for Example, and results for My State, all separately. Look through the results of your search. There should be at least some results for utility building businesses close to your area. click on the results, and see if they have what you are looking for. Continue to click on the results until you have the results you are looking for, even if it takes several pages of results to find what you need. Collect the phone numbers and addresses of the most promising dealers. If at first you don’t succeed, try a different search for a different group of words.

Telephone shopping for utility buildings

There is also the good old fashioned phone book. Use it to find local utility building dealers, and call about details. You are already armed with the facts about what you need!

Looking at utility buildings

Now, hop in the car, and take a look at the buildings that you have discovered. There is a good chance that exactly what you are looking for, is setting somewhere on a local lot! If it is not, many dealers can have a utility building custom made for you in short order. In most cases, you will not be charged much, if any, above what the building would cost if it were already setting on a lot.

Deciding where to locate your utility building

Your utility building should be placed where it can be reached easily, and where it does not interfere with lawn and landscape practices. we also need to think about the irrigation system, and how it will interact with the utility building. Some irrigation adjustments may be needed.

Getting your utility building to you

Most buildings are built at a factory like facility, and then delivered to the locations where they are to be displayed and sold. When a utility building is sold on a lot, it will be picked up at that lot, and hauled to it’s new home. That is not the only way it can be done though. A utility building can be built to meet your specific needs, and hauled directly to your place, or they can be built on site. On site building normally requires an on site fee, but this will be partially offset by omitting the cost of a delivery fee. There is always a cost for delivery.

When a dealer tells you that they do not charge for delivery, that simply means that they have figured the cost into the utility building in other places. Free delivery is a gimmick. Look at the quality, and the final cost, and that will determine the buildings true value.

Free utility building delivery?

If you buy a building it will have to be delivered to your site, or built on your site. As for delivery, don’t be fooled by claims of “no delivery fees”! You will be charged a delivery fee, whether it is included in the cost of the building, or charged separately. Fuel and labor are not free, and the cost will be passed on to you in one form or another. If you are looking at two or more companies, free delivery claims should not be the deciding factor. The deciding factor should be value.

What you need to determine is the value of the utility building, and that will be determined by the buildings long term suitability, and the final price. A building made of inferior materials, with poor workmanship will cost you a lot more in maintenance down the road, free delivery or not!

Delivery and placement planning

As for the actual physical delivery, there are a few things that will need a little attention:

• You will probably be asked to give directions when you make your purchase.
• You will also be asked about the surroundings and final placement, and how the building should be oriented on the truck for proper placement.
• Being certain that the route to your house is clear of low hanging limbs or lines will be of tremendous help to your delivery driver.
• Plan for such things as fences, gates, or any other impediments to delivery.
• Know the exact spot where you want your building to be placed ahead of time.
• The delivery crew will level the building on the spot, but the ground should be reasonably level before delivery.

Financing utility buildings

Portable utility building producers and dealers want to sell buildings. That is why they are in the business. For that reason, most will have several financing options available. Of course, everyone loves cash. Most will help you to locate a loan source, and there is also the rent to own option, and some dealers offer ‘90 days same as cash”.

See also: Storage Building Placement

• Renting Or Owning Storage Space
• Choosing The Right Storage Building
• Portable Buildings Need And Uses
• Utility Building Shopping Buying Placement

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A few notes about building delivery

Sheds can not be zapped into existence, or zapped into your backyard. They will not drive themselves to your place of residence when you buy them. This is important to take into account. If you are buying a storage building for delivery, there are a few things you should consider.

Free Delivery?

I know there are a lot of manufacturers who offer “free delivery”, but don’t let such offers be the deciding factor in choosing a building. In the first place, pick out the building you want, with the accessories you need, made with the materials you desire, determine the cost to get the building to your place and then compare apples to apples. There is really no such thing as free delivery, the cost of the delivery is calculated into the cost of the building at some point. There may also be a permit fee in some areas.

Don’t expect next day delivery

The delivery of a storage shed will probably not happen over night. If your storage building is built especially for you, it will take a little longer still. I say this to let you know that if you want a storage building in your yard next month, you should buy it today!

Delivery methods

If you buy a storage building, you will need to have a way to get it to your home. The standard means of doing this is on a truck or trailer. In most cases, the supplier will supply this service.

Storage building delivery directions

You will need to give clear directions to your home so that your delivery team can get your building to you easily. Drawing a map would probably be a good idea. You will also need to tell them how it will need to be loaded in order to off load it in the right position.

Obstacles to storage building delivery

You should become aware of any potential obstacles to delivering your storage shed. Low hanging power lines or communication lines, narrow gates, and other such problems could slow or halt your delivery. It is better to know about these problems ahead of time so that the proper arrangements can be made to solve the problem.

Delivery problems with your site

Be sure that your own property is ready for the delivery of the building as well. Make sure that the spot you have picked out is accessible, clear of any debris, and reasonably level. If weather conditions can make your location unavailable, let your storage shed company know as soon as you are aware of this. It could save you and your delivery people a lot of frustration and heartache.

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The type of material used for a storage building or any type of portable utility building will largely determine the long term durability of that building. It has been our experience that steel storage buildings provide the best longevity, and any extra cost above the other building materials is offset by that longevity. Steel storage buildings will actually cost less in the long run!

Comparing steel storage buildings with other materials

Have you ever taken a close look at storage buildings that have been around for a few years in an irrigated, or otherwise damp and humid back yard? I am willing to bet that their condition is dependent on one particular aspect of their construction, the materials they were built with! Sure, there may be other factors, like the craftsmanship that went into the building, and the design of the structure, but all other things being equal, the material is the key to longevity.

Composite shingles

Let’s start at the top. A building built with composite shingles will almost always have a few missing after a year or so. They get lifted by the wind, moisture and debris settles between them, and eventually, they will age and break off with the next big gust. If this condition persists, anything inside will suffer, including the floors.

Wood siding

The material used for the walls of the building is another critical factor. Wood, or wood composite materials may look great initially, but will alternately absorb moisture, and dry out continually. This loosens the grip of the fasteners and the seals. It eventually causes problems with the paint. It also causes problems with the material itself, and will eventually lead to rot and decay. If you have one of these, the best way to maintain the building is to clean, reseal, and paint it about once a year, or every 18 months. The average cost for such a project is about $500.00 per year!

Doors

Doors are also important. Wood or composite doors have the same problems as wood or composite siding, plus, they are heavy, and with all the moisture problems, they eventually sag. This type of material will inevitably allow moisture to get to the floor of the entry, rotting away several inches of flooring at this critical point.

Plastics and vinyl

Plastics and vinyls suffer from ultraviolet light, even the ones that are uv coated. They also have other problems, like sensitivity to heat and cold. These materials will warp and undulate with changing temperatures, and will eventually develop a coat of unattractive powder on their surfaces. After a while, they will become brittle and crack with the first sharp blow they receive.

Floors and framing

The inside flooring and the frame of the structure are important as well. It should be of the best material available, and as long as it is structurally sound, it will be fine, that is, if moisture is kept from invading it. That is the function of the shell of the building, the roof, and walls, and openings. If these are made of the right materials, no moisture can get inside to cause damage.

What is the best building material?

So, what is the best material for covering a utility building? That’s easy, metal siding and roofing! The best metal for the job is galvanized and painted steel. The best door covering materials? Light weight metals like aluminum!

What o look for in a storage building

Look for quality utility buildings manufactured with the finest wood framing materials, protected by galvanized, enamel coated steel panels, from manufactures who offer long term warranties on the material and workmanship. We suggest metal clad, double sealed doors, which will prevent the door area rot so common on other types of buildings. If you choose a roll up, or garage type door, ask about the warranty for this as well.

Steel storage buildings and maintenance

Maintenance? That is the beautiful part about steel storage buildings. They are virtually maintenance free, and that gives you a longer lasting building, that looks better, keeps your possessions safe, and won’t cost you hundreds of dollars a year for cleaning, painting, and sealing! The building should be kept clean, free of debris, and checked periodically for things like loose screws, and door and window operation. This will add to the buildings life expectancy.

Other options

For sheer practicality, steel coverings are the best materials for the money, but there are situations where other types of materials are warranted. If you want a Japanese style tea room, or some type of rustic look, wood will be your best option. Permanent additions to the home landscape might call for a brick or stone building. Matching the siding of your vinyl covered home might make vinyl a good choice. Modern steel storage buildings come in a wide variety of colors, which will match almost anything on your property, so you should have no problem with color continuity.

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Renting or owning my storage space

Should you rent storage space, or buy a building for storage? That depends on your needs, and your individual situation. For some short term needs, when you will only need a little extra storage space for a short time, renting from a storage facility might be the best idea. In most cases though, buying is better than renting, even if you must pay a higher than normal rate of interest, or find an alternative to standard methods of financing. Renting to own, or leasing to own can be a much better option than paying years of rent with no eventual ownership.

If you have a location, buying is always better than renting. In the end, you have a product that has value, and belongs to you. This product can be used for continued storage purposes, re tooled for other purpose, or even sold if the need for it is gone. There are more reasons. A building on your own property is more convenient than one across town. If you own the building it can be used any time you get ready to use it, day or night. Because it is near your back door, you will save on fuel as well.

Buy instead of renting if possible

There are two types of storage. That which you own yourself, and that which you rent from someone else. Self storage and mini storage or two forms of public storage, which is the type you pay your hard earned cash to rent. Storage sheds, or storage buildings are utility buildings which are most often used for private storage, which is the type of storage you pay for once, and then own forever. Let us show you why owning your own storage is better than renting public storage.

Your peace of mind.

You can rest easier knowing that your cherished belongings are tucked away safely within the confines of your own property, and within easy reach.

It’s environmentally green.

In these days of environmental awareness, we have become aware, that it makes more sense to store your items closer to your home to avoid wasting energy and adding pollution to the atmosphere. What better way of reducing your carbon footprint than to avoid extra, and unneeded trips?

Fuel cost.

You have to pay rent to someone else to get them to allow you to put your stuff in their building located miles from your own home. Fuel prices are in a state of flux, but wasting money on fuel is always out of style. All those extra trips to get boxes from some “self storage” place 10 miles away can wind up costing you a lot of money.

Rent cost.

If you buy a building, you are paying for something that is yours, so instead of perpetual rent, you have something to show for your money, and it can be used in many other ways, and for many other purposes if the need to store something is over. What you have left after paying rent, is more rent! When you stop renting, you have nothing!

Your safety in transit.

Any time you drive, you take risks. That is part of our everyday lives, but why take more chances than you have to?

Your safety on site.

Most storage places are somewhat remote, and while there are usually security systems in place, (whether they are working or not is another story entirely) the very layout of the buildings present safety issues. Besides, having a nice video of you being robbed outside your self storage unit will help the police to catch your mugger, but that is, after all, “after the fact.”

Your convenience

The ability to grab what you want from your own building at any time of the day or night, without having to leave your premises, waste any time, or fight any traffic will go a long way toward stress reduction, and that is one thing that most of us would prefer. In that regard, buying instead of renting is good for your mental and physical health, and consequently, your longevity!

Your time is important to you and your family.

Even if buying instead of renting won’t increase your longevity, it might just increase the amount of time available for doing the things you want to be doing. Time is our greatest asset, wasting it just might be our greatest failure. You have soccer, and baseball, and piano, and school activities, and shopping and…! It is much less time consuming to step into your back yard than to make a trip across town.

Other reasons for buying storage space

If you buy, you can eventually use the building as a selling point for your property if you decide to upgrade. The building can be re purposed for other uses, or sold to someone else after the need for the storage space is gone.

See also:

• Renting Or Owning Storage Space
• Choosing The Right Storage Building
• Portable Buildings Need And Uses
• Utility Building Shopping Buying Placement

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The number of wooden or composite surfaced homes built in the United states is much smaller than fifty years ago, but there are still some being built. Outbuildings, like garden sheds, utility buildings, cabanas, and storage buildings are often built with wood or wood composite materials, which require a little extra attention to keep them looking good and functioning properly. A planned maintenance schedule for preventative maintenance can increase the life and functionality of any structure, and this is nowhere more of a truth than with wood or composite structures.

Even if your building is covered mostly with brick, there are still wooden areas that need your attention. The most likely spots are the upper portions of the gable ends, the soffit, and facia boards.

Preventing moisture is the key

Moisture is the enemy of wood. To preserve your wooden structure, you need to prevent moisture from getting into the wood. This is accomplished with paint, stain, or some other type of wood preservative, to seal the moisture out. The edges and ends are most susceptible. The will need extra protection where they are exposed, or joined. This is the job of caulking and trim.

Build a planned maintenance schedule

The best way to go about this is to have a schedule for cleaning, painting and sealing your wooden building. This is best done once a year, or at least every 18 months. This may seem like a lot, but you are dealing with the life of your structure, so it is important.

Wood structure preventative maintenance checklist and tips

Please follow the order listed below. If you caulk the building, and then realize you need to level it, your caulking may separate when the building is being leveled.

• Check the building for levelness. Do this first.
• Check for wood to ground contact and correct this.
• Check for termite trails on the sides of any concrete blocks.
• Scrape off any loose paint. Completely clean the entire building exterior. This is important for finding potential problems, and for assuring a clean surface that your coating will adhere to.
• Check for missing or damaged shingles.
• Remove any brush, limbs, or other debris.
• Check the edges of the eves and overhangs to make sure that there is nothing rotting there. If there is any potential damage from moisture in this area, you should consider adding, or extending metal flashing.
• Check directly under the roof, where it contacts the outside of the building, caulk any places where there are gaps.
• Check the corners of the building, look for gaps, and caulk accordingly.
• Check around doors, and windows.
• Check the door and window weather stripping.
• Check the siding, and caulk any exposed nail or screw holes.
• Apply your paint, stain, or wood preservative only when these other steps have been taken, and the building is clean and dry.

If you have a planned maintenance schedule, and practice preventative maintenance, it will increase the longevity of your building, and the building will stay in good condition as long as you continue your planned maintenance schedule.

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The need for portable buildings

Almost everyone needs storage space at one time or another. The nature of modern life is that we need some things periodically, and temporarily, and between those times, they have to be placed somewhere for safe keeping.

This is true of our tools, our recreation equipment, and even our documents. Portable buildings offer an option that is versatile, and of course, movable for other future uses.

Portable buildings are utility buildings

Portable buildings are utility buildings that are movable. Portable buildings are versatile, which is the utility part of the equation, and they are small enough to be moved, which adds to the utility.

Portable buildings: Why they are needed.

If you fit into any of these groups a portable building can help:

• We are moving more often as a society. we are just becoming more nomadic or transient as time goes by. It is easy for people to move, but our goodies may need a place to stay for a while.
• We are a society of collectors and pack rats. We just accumulate a lot of stuff!
• Our garages are full. We have more cars and less parking space. Often we need to remove the things from our garages, to provide parking for our boats and atv’s, not to mention our cars!
• We have more retirees than ever before, and these folks usually want to move into smaller places, or need a little hobby work space.
• Foreclosures. Victims of foreclosures tend to down size, and need extra space to store some of the down sizing leftovers until they can get back into the homes of their dreams.
• College students need short term storage during school year brakes. Summer brakes can mean no place to store all those dorm room goodies.
• Downsizing operating space. As space goes for a higher and higher premium it can become necessary to down size business operation space, and a need for storage space is created.
• Lawn, landscape, and pool businesses and other small operations often work out of storage buildings. As small businesses grow, storage needs grow.
• Salesmen need storage to store samples.
• Online sales spur the need for storage. Buying on line storing out back, and shipping as needed have become normal activities.
• Home based businesses. As people work more and more from home, they have more and more things to ship and store.
• The need for maximizing available office space may make it necessary to move some of the less used documents or equipment to another location like a portable building.

Portable buildings for storage and workspace

Almost everyone in the United States of America could use a little extra space for storing things that are not used as often as others that we might want to keep close at hand in our homes, offices and shops. There is also a growing need for workspace, of both the office, and workshop type for home and small business use. In most cases, craftsmen, tradesmen, and home owners need both storage space and workspace. We decided to make a general list of businesses and trades, and without being too specific we easily compiled this one. It would be easy to get more specific. You could add to the list under general contractors, such trades as plumbers and trim carpenters.

Portable buildings: Who needs them

• Accountants need portable storage buildings for document storage.
• Air Conditioning and heating contractors need space for parts and units being held until installation.
• Appliance dealers, installation, repair and maintenance technicians need portable buildings to store parts, and appliances for future installations and repair space.
• Auto Repair technicians need places to store tools, and parts for future use.
• Builders often need on site offices and storage facilities for materials that need to be kept dry. Portable buildings work particularly well for this purpose.
• Cabinet Makers and installers sometimes need extra space for holding finished products until installation, or extra materials.
• Carpet installers need to keep products dry before installation.
• Dry wall installers have sheet rock and tape, bedding, and texture materials which need to be stored in a safe dry environment.
• Electricians need to keep their materials safe and dry.
• Farmers need extra space for storing materials and equipment.
• General contractors often have a variety of construction related items which need temporary storage such as building materials, hardware, and fixtures, and have need of portable buildings for portable office space.
• Health, medical billing and medical equipment agencies need places to store documents and equipment as well as other items related to the medical industry.
• Hobbyists of all types, whether creating small furniture, crafts, or just about anything else you can imagine need portable buildings to work and store materials and products.
• Janitorial services need places to house supplies.
• Landscape and lawn care companies can use portable buildings for storing tools and the materials used in this trade, as well as repair shops for equipment.
• Masonry, supplies such as Portland cement need to be kept dry until mixed for use.
• Nurseries need tool storage space, and a place to keep fertilizers, pesticides, and other nursery growing related materials.
• Pest control services must have storage for pesticides, and the tools of the trade such as sprayers and spreaders.
• Pool cleaning and supplies. Chlorine, baking soda, and other chemicals used in this industry require dry storage.
• Property management storage involves storing a variety of materials and tools related to building and property maintenance.
• Real estate agencies needing a place to store signs, left behind goods, and other items related to the industry.
• Remodeling contractors need all types of plumbing electrical, hardware, and appliance storage space.
• Roofing contractors need space to store shingles and felt as well as other supplies.
• Small engine repair requires a place to work, and the tools and materials for doing the job. Portable buildings work well for both needs.
• Tile workers use a variety of grouts and other masonry materials that need dry storage.
• Upholsterers need portable building space for storing fabrics and working.

Portable buildings can create instant office space, workshop space, craft and play space, and even space for storage.

See also:

• Renting Or Owning Storage Space
• Choosing The Right Storage Building
• Portable Buildings Need And Uses
• Utility Building Shopping Buying Placement

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Utility buildings are outdoor structures. Utility buildings, by definition, are buildings which can be used for many purposes. Probably the most common utility building is the portable storage building, and the most common use for such structures is as home storage sheds, but there are many other possibilities.

Utility building uses

• Storage.
• Workshops.
• Offices.
• Home gyms.
• Play houses.
• Tool sheds.
• Game rooms.
• Television rooms.
• Craft and hobby shops.
• Fishing and hunting cabins.
• Guest rooms

This is not an exhaustive list. The imagination is the only limit.

There are other types of utility buildings. Modular steel garages and carports are very popular, and can come as a turnkey package, or as building kits. Wood, metal, and vinyl storage building kits are also available from many manufacturers.

Find storage sheds online

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There are things you use only inside, and things you use only outdoors. Even outdoor equipment can benefit from some protection from the elements. For equipment that needs some protection, a simple covering can be plenty of protection. One of the best ways to get this protection is with simple, and inexpensive metal carports.

Metal Carports

Metal carports can protect your property from the ravages of nature, and from financial loss. They can be one of the best forms of insurance for your car, truck, or boat.

Your car is one of your biggest investments, protecting it should be a high priority. The same is true of your truck, or your boat. Metal carports offer protection for your car, and for you! They can also save you money! These things usually fall into 2 categories, living things, and climate conditions. Following is a list of a few of the things that metal carports can help protect you and your vehicle from:

Living things

• Falling tree limbs can be a constant problem, and are completely unpredictable. They can cause minor damage, or, in some cases, even total your car!
• Some types of tree sap can damage your auto or truck’s finish, while others are at best a nuisance, costing you time and money to remove.
• Bird droppings can be a major problem, and cause serious paint damage to your vehicle. At best, they are an aggravation.

Climate conditions

• Acid rain can be hazardous to your car, or truck’s paint.
• The sun can bleach your equipment’s paint, causing it to fade prematurely, and may even destroy your property’s re-sale value.
• The sun can warp your cars plastic interior parts. It also can cause pain, inconvenience, and discomfort to you. The sun’s rays can do damage to fiberglass boats, and other parts like the seats.
• Hail can leave you with dents and dings in metal vehicles, and cracks in fiberglass.

Metal carports the cost

What’s an owner to do? It is simple, protect your property from the elements by installing a nice, attractive, affordable metal carport. The cost is minimal, most of the major carport manufacturers offer metal carports starting at only $695.00, and can save you that much in body shop bills with the first fallen limb, or the season’s first hail storm. For the price, simple metal carports can be the best and cheapest property insurance you can buy!

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