arrow carport

Making the decision to invest in a metal carport often makes more sense than most people realize. While using it for a vehicle is common, it is far more flexible and can be used in many other ways. It can also be a long-term investment, one that you make today that lasts for years. If you are not sure if a metal carport is the right investment for you, consider the following details that could help you decide.

What Exactly Are Metal Carports?

So, what is a carport? A carport is a structure often featuring a roof that’s supported by beams and posts. A variety of options exist, providing various sizes and shapes to accommodate different types of vehicles or storage needs. Most often, a carport is not fully enclosed. Its sides may have partial cover or no cover, with the front and back open to the environment.

Most often, carports sit in an area to allow a driver to pull a vehicle inside it, allowing for the vehicle to have overhead protection from the elements. Depending on location, that could mean minimizing the amount of snow, UV light, or rain that builds up on the vehicle. It is a type of garage structure, and though it is designed for the storage of a vehicle, it is often far more useful.

While many homes have garages that are completely enclosed with walls, roofing, and an entrance, many people choose not to store a vehicle inside. Luckily, a carport garage is a great alternative. What is a carport exactly? While garages are completely enclosed with walls, roofing, and an entrance, carports are typically open metal structures covered by a metal or fabric roof. Each car storage solution provides its own list of benefits. If you need an extra space to store your items or vehicles, and you're unsure of the advantages of a carport vs. garage, look no further.

Both carports and garages offer convenient and practical added space to store cars, tractors, or other motor-powered equipment - but both structures are different. In fact, there are several factors to consider when choosing between a carport and a garage including what you need to store, your space limitations, and where you plan to use your unit. Find out more about these distinct structures, and which will be the best option for you.

Carports and Garages: What’s the Difference?

Now that we’ve looked into some of the factors to consider when deciding whether to invest in a garage or a carport, let’s go more in-depth about the differences between carports and garages. We’ll discuss what each solution consists of and their uses at home, at work and in the community.

Carports vs. Garages: Factors to Consider

Now that you understand what each structure consists of and can be used for, let’s look at some key factors and benefits each structure provides to find the best options based on your needs:

1. Outdoor Workspace.

2. On-site Office Pavilion.

3. Public Shade.

Your days on the water are thrilling and relaxing at the same time. Nothing says ‘me time’ like the open lake or bay where you are totally removed from the busyness of everyday life. You take your watercraft to explore new places and spend time alone or with your favorite people. To enjoy many days like this, it's important to protect your boat throughout the year.

When it’s time to choose boat storage for the winter, there are several choices. Whether you keep it at the marina or put it on land, how do you best keep it protected? Overall, storing your watercraft on land will preserve it the longest. This guide will explain proper winterization methods and how you can easily store your watercraft with affordable outdoor sheds and carports. 

Watercraft Storage Methods

To protect your watercraft, you will need to follow a few important steps. The process may differ depending on the type of watercraft, your location, and storage method options.

• Clean and maintain your watercraft during the season.
• Winterize your watercraft at the end of the season.
• Store your watercraft in a safe place. 
  • In warm climates: The watercraft may stay docked at the marina after winterization for a seasonal fee.
  • In all climates: For the best results, the watercraft should be stored in an outdoor or indoor dry shelter. 
• Get your boat inspected and serviced after every season.

Your unique situation determines the methods you use, but you should always have a safe place to store your watercraft and a consistent maintenance plan. No matter what boat storage solution you choose, you must first winterize your watercraft properly.

How to Store a Boat (Winterization)

Boat owners should consult their watercraft’s user manual and contact the manufacturer for specific instructions for winterization. However, the general process of boat winterization is as f...

Many people believe that winter is the most dangerous season for their vehicles, and it is during this period that they ensure they stay under the protection of a car tarp tent or another shelter. As the weather begins to warm, we bring our vehicles out and are less determined to keep them under shelter. However, this is a dangerous belief since summer weather and conditions can also compromise your vehicle's exterior and interior.

Throughout this article, we touch on why summer can be a damaging season for your vehicle and the different types of car shelters to protect them during the summer.

The Importance of a Car Shelter for the Summer

While there isn't ice, freezing weather, and salted roads during the summer, there are still damaging weather conditions. Overexposure to sunlight steadily causes the color inside and outside of your car to fade. Rain and hail cause rust and dents over the exterior of the car. If you live in a wet and humid area, these will set in on the car even faster.

A car shelter is an essential addition to your summer protection to maintain the value of your vehicles. They can easily protect your car from rain, help create a balanced environment on the interior, and stop your car from getting dented during hail storms. Whether you decide to get one with or without walls is up to you and the amount of work you want to put in to maintain your car. For example, a car shelter without walls might still require you to dry the exterior of your car after a rainstorm if the rain slanted to come under the shelter.

When you consider the car shelters below, think about the weather patterns you experience in your region, the space that you have, the aesthetic you would like to maintain. Also, think about the other uses a car shelter could have for you to maximize...

Car shelters are your vehicles' first line of defense against the elements. They come in many different sizes and price ranges, providing you with a variety of choices to find the perfect car shelter for your needs. If you aren’t sure which car shelter is right for you; here are 5 basic tips to help you decide the best vehicle storage that’s suitable for your storage needs.

Why Do You Need Car Shelter?

Car shelters provide an adequate storage space for your vehicle, either short-term or long-term. There are also a lot of added benefits depending on your weather situation. With a car shelter, keep your vehicle protected from something as small as accumulated dirt to problematic inclement weather. Some car shelters can help you worry less about protecting your vehicle from snow, while others are made to block harmful UV rays from deteriorating your investment.

Tip #1: Know What You want to Store Before You Shop.

It may not come as a surprise, but our first tip is to identify what you’re looking to store. Do you need storage for one or two vehicles? Car shelters can accommodate multiple vehicles depending on size. For instance, some portable garages are greater than 20ft. long, helping you not only shelter multiple vehicles, but act as additional storage. You’ll also need to consider how much movement you want in your car shelter. Will you have enough room to open the doors of your vehicle? Is there enough clearance space? Answer questions like these to determine the correct size for your car shelter. Once you’ve figured out the perfect size for your car shelter, you’ll also need to think about available space on your property. When you pick a location, it should be able to accommodate a size larger than your vehicle.

Tip #2: Understand Your Local ordinance and Building Codes.

You also need also need to understa...