Cover Maintenance Guide

Garage-In-A-Box

Garage-In-A-Box SUV

AutoShelter

ShelterCoat

ShelterTube

ShelterTech

Shed-In-A-Box

High Tunnel Greenhouse

GrowIT Greenhouse

AccelaFrame

Cover tension is important to maintaining your building and extending its lifespan.

It’s important to check cover tension regularly to ensure your cover is attached properly: not too tight, not too loose.

How to Check and Adjust Cover Tension:

Schedule a building check-up when: 

• Seasons change (4x per year)
• There’s a storm or significant inclement weather
• Dramatic temperature changes and fluctuation

Determine what type of building you have, and the cover tightening methods  you’ll need to reference: 

• Sliding cross rails
• Ratchet rails
• Lace connections

Tightening Your Cover Under Each Method: 

• Sliding cross rails
• Ratchet rails
• Lace connections

Pro-Tip: For a holistic building check-up, check your anchors while you’re at it. Make 
sure your building is properly anchored! Reinforce / tighten anchors about once per 
season.

CHECK OUT THE ANCHOR GUIDE

Sliding Cross Rails:

Tightening Method - Loosen the clamps on the cross rail, pull the cover taught, and then retighten the cross 
rails.

• Shed-in-a-Box
• Garage-in-a-Box
• AutoShelter
• ShelterTube
• AccelaFrame
• GrowIT Greenhouses
• Run-in Shed-in-a-Box
• Run-in Shelter
• Greenhouse-in-a-Box
• ShelterCoat (less than 28 ft. wide)

Ratchet Rails:

Tightening Method - At every bay, there is a ratchet that connects the cover rail and ratchet rail. Give each ratchet a few clicks to ensure the cover is taught.

• ShelterTech
• ShelterCoat (28 ft. wide)
• Corral Shelter

Lace Connections:

Tightening Method - Start at one end of the lacing and begin pulling the rope in sections toward the other end. When you get to the other end, untie it, pull the slack out, and re-tie that end.

• ClearView

Check ratchets to cover, and ratchets to end-panels:

Ensure that there is no slack in the webbing. If you detect slack in webbing, we recommend giving the ratchet a couple of clicks. Check manual and pull it in here.

For Cover Tightness, Find the Sweet Spot:

Cover should neither be attached too loosely nor too tightly. If you see a significant strain on the cover against the rib connections, your cover may be on too tightly.

For canopies and certain sheds and greenhouse units:

Any bungees that seem at the end of their lifespan, check and replace as needed.

1. You should immediately and carefully remove any accumulated snow or ice from the roof using a broom, mop, or soft-sided tool. Do not use a sharp object like a rake or a shovel, which could damage the cover.

2. Always remove snow and ice from the OUTSIDE of the unit. Do not try to remove snow from inside the unit by poking the roof, as it could cause a puncture to the fabric. Do not bang the cover to remove snow in any way.

3. Branches should carefully be removed by hand to prevent punctures, rips, and tears to the fabric.

Why You Should Keep Your Cover Clean:

• Cleaning building makes accumulation more difficult – snow / rain slides off more easily when building is clean.
• A clean cover can extend the life of your cover.
• A clean building looks great.

How often should I clean my cover?

• Whenever there is debris, dirt, or other accumulated, you should clean your building as soon as possible.
• Cover clean frequency should depend in part on your geographic location. If you experience hot and humid or wet conditions, you may need to be more cognizant of dirt and debris, for example. However, cover should be cleaned at least once per year, both inside and out.
• Depending on your environmental conditions and geographic location, it is still possible for fungi to grow on dirt stuck to your cover. Our covers are treated not to allow fungi to grow directly on it. A clean cover will prevents fungi growth.

1. Use a solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water and a soft sponge or a brush to clean your building cover. You may rinse the solution off with water from a garden hose.

2. Do NOT use ammonia-based products to clean the cover of your unit.

3. In order to prevent damage and puncturing the fabric of your unit, we do NOT recommend using a brush with a sharp edges or blunt corners or pressure washers to clean your cover.

4. Both the inside AND outside of your cover should be cleaned. While more debris can be visible on the outside of buildings, we see units with debris on the inside the building as well.

Keep doors zipped whenever possible:

If the doors are left unzipped, it also creates added tensioning on the zipper that could cause damage.

With proper maintenance your cover will last you many, many years.

The lifespan of your cover depends on your commitment to maintenance of your unit. Many of our customers have seen their units serve them for many, many years and last them through even some very tough weather conditions. Proper maintenance will keep your cover looking great and extend the life of the cover.

Rugged ShelterLogic covers are built to last but can wear down over time. A replacement cover allows you to extend the life of your ShelterLogic structure. All you need to place an order is your cover number, which you can usually locate on the inside corner of your building.

ShelterLogic covers come in three different weights:

Standard, Heavy Duty and Ultra Duty

Here’s why you should consider an upgrade:

• Extra protection of your stored goods
• A stronger longer lasting cover
• Longer warranties up to 15 years