Month: March 2020

Work Van Storage Ideas

Vans are essential tools for millions of workers. If you drive a work van each day, you will need a safe and protected place to keep that van at night, so that it is always ready to go the next morning. Rather than parking in your driveway or on the street, look to find another solution that will help keep your van in great condition for years to come. View our work van storage ideas, and customize a carport to fit your exact needs with our Build & Price Tool!

Inside Your Existing Garage

If you have an attached garage as part of your home, you might be tempted to simply park inside that space. And, for some people, this will be a suitable solution. However, this approach has a few drawbacks worth noting, including the points:

Loss Of Storage Space

Many homeowners use their garage for storage, and you will lose a large chunk of your available space if you decide to park your work van inside the garage. Remember, you need to have enough room not only for the van itself, but also for you to get in and out, load tools/equipment, and store your items. If you don’t happen to need much storage space in your garage, this sacrifice might be worth it to you, but think it through carefully before going with this plan.

May Not Be Big Enough

It’s also possible that you might not be able to fit your work van inside your attached garage. Most attached garages are designed to fit passenger vehicles rather than work vehicles. Specifically, you might have a height issue to deal with, especially if your van carries equipment like ladders on top. You’ll need to measure carefully to make sure you don’t have an unwelcome accident when you try to pull in for the first time.

Needs May Change

Even if parking in the attached garage works for now, that might not always be the case—so you might have to find a new solution later on down the line. Instead of putting this problem off until later, you could opt for a permanent solution now so that you are free to use your garage as you wish in the years to come.

Adding a Metal Carport

Perhaps the most cost-effective solution for your work van storage needs is a metal carport. This is a basic structure that will offer you covered parking at an affordable price. There are many advantages to opting for a metal carport beyond just the affordable cost, including the ease of construction, minimal site prep, durability, low maintenance, and more. Simply put, there is a lot to like about metal carports, and they make a great solution for work van storage.

If you do opt for a metal carport, it’s best to go with a company that you can trust, such as American Steel Carports, Inc. Working with us on this project will not only ensure that you receive a quality product, but it will also grant you excellent customer service. There are plenty of businesses today that will sell you a carport, but it’s important you choose one with the experience and reputation needed to meet your needs.

Upgrading to a Detached Garage

For some buyers, a basic carport just isn’t going to offer enough protection for their work van. If that is the case for you, a better solution may be a detached metal garage. This option provides you with many of the same benefits as a metal carport–such as low cost, low maintenance, and ease of construction–but it also creates an enclosed space that keeps the weather out.

With a detached garage, you’ll have a place to park that you can lock up at night. Also, you will be able to design the garage to meet your needs, meaning you could build in some storage space for work supplies that may otherwise need to be stored in your main attached garage (or another shed). For the additional investment that comes along with building an enclosed structure rather than a carport, you get many added benefits and a perfect place to leave your work van when each day is done.

American Steel Carports, Inc. Is Ready to Serve You

We hope you consider implementing these work van storage ideas! Building a new detached metal garage or carport is a great way to create a dedicated parking spot for your work van. These options are affordable, they protect from the elements, and they will last a long time when you order from a trusted supplier like American Steel Carports, Inc.

Create a Home Gym with a Metal Shed

If you love to work out, having a space of your own to go through your routine is likely something you’ve dreamed of for years. However, unless you have a particularly large house, you might not have room inside to add a home gym. And, even if you do, it might not be appealing to toss around weights and work up a sweat so close to where everyone else in the family is trying to relax. To solve the problem for an affordable price, learn how to create a home gym with a metal shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.!

Plenty of Benefits

There is a lot to like about the idea of using a metal shed as your new workout space. Some of the benefits include the following:

  • Make some noise. With your workout space now separated from the house, you might feel free to turn up your music a bit and enhance the workout atmosphere.
  • Hold nothing back. You might feel like you need to be extra careful with workout equipment if you are exercising inside your house. In a metal shed? Not so much. You should feel free to go after your workout with full intensity.
  • Customize the space. When you construct a new metal shed to use as a home gym, you’ll be working with a blank slate. You can design the inside of your shed to meet your workout needs, and the end result should be something that helps you stay in shape for years to come.

Carefully Plan Your Dimensions

The last thing you want to do is built a shed that proves to be too small for your vision of a home gym. So, before you place an order, take some time to figure out precisely how much room you’ll need inside the shed to do everything you’d like.

Some likely pieces to include will be some kind of cardio equipment, like a treadmill or exercise bike, along with some free weights. Additionally, you’ll want to leave some floor space open for things like stretching and core work. Get measurements for the equipment pieces you plan to purchase and use those dimensions as a starting point to plan out the overall size of your shed.

Consider Flooring Options

One of the key decisions you will make in this process is how to finish the floor of your new home gym. While it probably doesn’t need to be anything fancy, you do want it to be comfortable and safe. One option is to start with a basic concrete floor and then add some rubber mats to provide you with a comfortable place to perform your exercises. Again, the goal is to make the space work specifically for you, so tailor your flooring choice to the kind of workouts you expect to complete inside the space.

Think About Power

Most likely, you will need to equip your new metal shed with power in order to create a useful home gym. A power supply will allow you to add light to the space, and light is essential to getting through your workouts safely at whatever time of the day you can fit them in. Also, if you add any kind of modern gym equipment, such as a treadmill, you’ll need a power supply to run those machines. Unless you happen to be an expert in this area, running power to your shed is something that is best left to a professional. Hire a licensed electrician to take care of the job so you can be sure it is done right the first time.

Purchase Your Metal Shed Today!

Every day that goes by is another opportunity missed to put in a great workout right on your own property. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to create a home gym with a metal shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.! Use our Build & Price tool to design your metal shed exactly to your liking. If you aren’t sure exactly what specifications will be right for your new shed, we would also be happy to walk you through the process and help you settle on the perfect structure. We look forward to serving you!