Month: October 2019

The idea of a “man cave” has been around for quite some time now. Basically, the concept is to set aside a space that can be used for all of activities you enjoy, such as watching TV, playing video games, working on projects, and more. While the original concept of a man cave referred to a room within your home, there is no reason to restrict it to this space. In fact, if you want a truly incredible man cave, you might want to look to your backyard for extra space. Enjoy this guide on how to build the ultimate man cave in your backyard!

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Define Your Space

Before anything can be built, or even any plans can be made, you need to decide what it is you’d like to do in your man cave. Are you hoping to watch sports while enjoying a couple of beverages? Maybe you prefer to read a book, listen to your favorite music, or just relax in a quiet, peaceful place. Only you know what your ideal free time looks like, so start here before going any further.

The decisions you make about what you’ll use your man cave for will determine how this project moves forward. Do you want a TV? That’s great, but you’ll need power, and possibly access to cable. Do you just want to read? You might still need power for lighting, but you could probably use other light sources and skip the wiring altogether. If you get ahead of yourself and start building before thinking it through, the end result may not be what you wanted after all.

How Much Space do you Need?

A man cave can be a great place to relax all by yourself, or it can be a go-to spot for you and your buddies. If watching a football game with a few of your closest friends is high on your list of man cave priorities, you are going to need plenty of space. The number of people you would like to have over at one time is another important detail in the planning and construction of this structure.

Managing the Details

There are a few details you need to manage in the creation of your ultimate man cave:

• Your budget. A man cave project is going to involve both the construction of a structure and the design and installation of interior elements. Building a new structure can actually be rather affordable when you work with American Steel Carports, Inc. However, you’ll still need to be prepared for the financial side of this project.
• Permits. This is certainly not the fun part of a man cave, but permitting is an issue to stay ahead of from the start. The last thing you want is to be forced to take your man cave down because it isn’t properly permitted. Not only should you check with local authorities about building codes, but also check with your HOA for the approval procedure.
• Picking a site. You will need to select and prep a site on your property before any walls can go up or any wiring can be run. You don’t want to have to move the whole structure at any point down the line, so get this one right from the start.

The success or failure of a project like this often comes down to the little details. If you want to arrive at the finish line with a man cave you love and minimal headaches, take care of the small details as soon as possible.

Call in the Experts

Perhaps one of the best things you can do to come away with the ultimate man cave is to get help from professionals when necessary. There’s nothing wrong with handling part of the project on a DIY basis, but don’t get in over your head. This is particularly important when it comes to items like electricity and water. The modest cost of retaining a contractor for the trickier parts of the job will be more than worth it in the long run.

Order from American Steel Carports, Inc.!

Now that you know how to build the ultimate man cave in your backyard, don’t put this exciting project off any longer. If you’re ready to get to work, American Steel Carports, Inc. is prepared to help you add a steel structure to your backyard. Be sure to use our Build & Price Tool to experiment with all the different possibilities for your new space. We’d love to be part of making this project happen, so get in touch right away!

If you own an RV, you probably look forward to a summer full of exciting trips each year. While you might be able to squeeze in one or two final trips during the fall months, you’ll eventually need to store your rig for the winter. It’s important to store your RV correctly so it will be ready to hit the road as soon as warm weather returns. Take a look at how to store an RV for the winter the proper way.

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Drain It Out

To prepare your RV for winter, one of the first things you’ll need to do is drain it out. If you leave water in the system throughout the season, cold outdoor temperatures may cause it to freeze. And, when the water freezes, it will expand and potentially damage your RV.

The good news is that flushing out your water system is not a particularly difficult job. However, it will vary a bit from RV to RV, so the best thing to do is consult your owner’s manual for directions.

A General Assessment

It’s a good idea to take an overview of the condition of your RV before you park it for the winter. Over the course of the summer, you may have been so busy using the rig that you failed to notice some issues that popped up along the way. For instance, maybe a seal around one of your windows has come loose, or maybe the roof picked up some damage from a tree you passed on your way to a campsite.

It’s important to review the condition of your RV prior to the arrival of winter so you can deal with any maintenance tasks ahead of time. Problems like a loose seal or roof damage are particularly important to take care of so moisture doesn’t make its way inside when rain or snow comes down.

Cut the Power

You’ll want to disconnect your RV’s batteries before it goes into storage. Once disconnected, you can store the batteries over the winter in a cool place, such as your garage. Keeping them in the RV when temperatures drop below freezing can cause them damage, or at least shorten their lifespan. Of course, it’s important to be careful when disconnecting your batteries. Be sure to ask for help from a professional if you aren’t comfortable working with this part of your rig.

Where Will It Live?

There are two general options for parking your RV for the winter months—on your own property, or at a storage facility. Obviously, if you can park it on your property, you will be able to avoid the cost associated with storage. On the other hand, it might be in the way if you don’t have plenty of extra space available, and your homeowner’s association might have rules regarding RV parking. Plan well ahead of time on this point so you aren’t scrambling to come up with somewhere to park as winter sets in.

Cover It Up

One of the best things you can do for the long-term health of your RV is to cover it up during the winter. Keeping the RV covered will protect it from the elements, helping you to avoid—or at least limit—costly repairs later on.

Tires

For your RV tires, you can purchase tire covers at most dealers or camping stores. Place a cover over each tire to protect the rubber, and make sure your tires are inflated to an appropriate pressure before doing so. Even in the winter, UV rays can damage your tires, so investing in a set of covers is a good option.

The Body

For the body of the RV, you will have a couple of options. You can purchase a cover for this job, although it will be more expensive than the tire covers. The RV cover is strapped in place and provides a nice protective barrier during the cold winter months.

Alternatively, if you are storing on your property, you could go with a carport. By choosing to use an RV carport, you’ll have an affordable structure that puts a roof over your RV’s head all winter long. Not only will this improve your winter storage situation, but it will also give you a protected place to park throughout the rest of the year when the rig is not in use.

Protect Your RV with a Carport

If you know how to store your RV for the winter the right way, it will be ready to go when warmer months roll around. To provide your RV with a safe home for the long, cold season ahead, order an RV carport from American Steel Carports, Inc. You may find that one of our standard sizes fits your RV perfectly, or you can create a custom solution with our Build & Price tool. Either way, the end result will be protection from rain, snow, and debris, leaving your RV in great condition for next summer’s adventures. We hope to serve you soon!