Adding a new building to your property is a big decision. Not only is there a financial investment involved, but this is one of those decisions that is not easy to reverse. Once the building is up, you won’t want to take it down anytime soon. So, it’s worth doing your research to get this right on the first try.
In this article, we are going to discuss two of the primary options on the market today for new buildings—red iron and galvanized steel buildings. Each option has its benefits, and they are both quite popular for commercial and residential properties. In this post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, so you can make the best decision for your needs.
Owning a riding lawn mower can be a huge time saver. If you have a big yard on your property, cutting the grass with a riding mower instead of a push model is a great upgrade. However, every growing season comes to an end, and when summer and fall give way to winter, you’ll want to have a storage plan in place for this piece of equipment. Here, we’ll show you how to store a riding lawn mower for winter to ensure it stays in top shape.
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Consider the Engine
A good starting point for your winter storage plans is to think about the engine in your riding lawn mower. The mower will likely be sitting for several months without running the engine, so you need to take some steps in advance to avoid long-term damage. While you should always consult your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your model, here are some general steps to consider for the winterization process:
Run it out of gas. While you still have some gas in the tank, add a fuel stabilizer product to help prepare the engine for winter. Then, use up that gas on the last mowing job of the year, so the tank is empty when the mower goes into storage.
Change the oil. This is something you should be doing regularly anyway, but it’s particularly important prior to winter. Storing your lawn mower with old oil will cause buildup and deposits to sit for months. This is also a good time to add a clean oil filter.
Take out the battery. Be careful when performing this last task. If you remove your battery before putting the mower in storage, you should be able to preserve it and use it again next spring. If the battery is left connected, it’s likely to drain down and may not be functional when you are ready to mow.
Clean the Mower Completely
Mowing the lawn is a messy task. Not only are you cutting countless blades of grass that are tossed around in the process, but there is also dirt, mud, weeds, and more to consider. So, at the end of a long summer and fall, your mower is probably going to be pretty dirty.
Even if you’ve been cleaning the mower a little bit during the year, you’ll want to perform a thorough cleaning before storing the mower away. Any grass you leave on the mower is going to get nasty after a while and will stink up the area where you have parked the machine. Also, the finish of the mower and the condition of the blades could be harmed if left uncleaned.
Park It Inside
If at all possible, you will want to park your riding lawn mower inside for the winter. Keeping the mower completely out of the elements is the best way to ensure it stays in top shape. Without indoor storage, the rain, snow, and wind that come through in the winter months will take a toll.
Adding a metal storage building to your property can be a great option for a riding mower. American Steel Carports, Inc. offers custom buildings, so you can design anything from a basic metal shed to a large steel garage. Metal buildings are an affordable and convenient way to establish protected storage for your mower and any other equipment that you might need to keep out of the winter elements.
The tires on your riding lawn mower could develop flat spots if parked in the same place all winter long. This happens as a result of the tire pressure slowly decreasing, and the rubber getting a little harder in the cool weather. There are a couple of potential solutions to this problem:
Slightly overinflate the tires. Starting with a bit more pressure than normal in the tires can help you avoid flat spot issues.
Move the mower occasionally. If you have time during the winter for this quick task, you could simply move the mower a few inches every once in a while. Just moving it slightly will be enough to change which part of the tire is supporting the weight of the machine.
Work With American Steel Carports, Inc.!
Now that you know how to store a riding lawn mower for winter, keep it protected with a metal structure from American Steel Carports, Inc. Get started today by exploring our Build & Price tool, and feel free to contact us with any questions you have along the way!
There are few experiences quite like riding a motorcycle on a beautiful summer day. But as summer gives way to fall and then winter, it may become too cold to continue taking your bike out. If this is the case, it’s important to learn how to store your motorcycle for the winter to ensure it stays in top condition.
American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal garage and carport options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!
Start with a Thorough Cleaning
You want your bike to look like it just rolled off the showroom floor when you park it for the winter. Giving the motorcycle a proper cleaning before it goes into storage serves a couple of purposes. First, it will look great when you’re ready to ride again, which will be a nice bonus as compared to having to clean a dirty bike before you can take a trip.
More importantly, cleaning the bike will protect its finish and various external components. Leaving dirt and grime on the motorcycle all winter long can cause the finish to deteriorate—and some of that damage might be permanent. It won’t take long to clean the bike, and you will be greatly rewarded for your efforts.
Address the Fuel and Oil
Even though your motorcycle’s engine won’t be running during the winter, you still need to think about both the fuel and the oil. Specifically, the fuel tank should be filled, and the oil should be changed.
Be sure to fill the fuel tank up completely to limit the amount of moisture that develops inside the tank. Water mixing with your fuel is bad news, so keeping the tank at maximum capacity will protect against an unwanted reaction. You’ll also want to be sure to add a stabilizer product according to the manufacturer’s directions.
For the oil, changing it right before storing the bike will remove the deposits and gunk that have accumulated in the old oil. Some oils are meant for winter, so find one of those specially-designed products for best results.
Decide on Your Storage Location
If at all possible, you don’t want to leave your motorcycle completely exposed to the elements during the winter months. Between cold weather and precipitation, winter conditions are not friendly to a motorcycle. At a bare minimum, you could invest in a bike cover to provide the motorcycle with some basic protection. However, putting a roof over the bike is going to lead to far better results.
Adding a structure to your property for motorcycle storage is the best way to keep it safe in the winter, and it’s probably not as expensive as you think. With a metal carport or garage from American Steel Carports, Inc., you can give your bike the roof it deserves without spending a huge sum. While a full garage will provide more protection than a carport from harsh conditions, either option is going to go a long way toward helping your bike make it through the winter in good shape.
If you’ve created a storage space for your bike, topped off the fuel, changed the oil, and given it a good wash, you’ll be almost ready for winter. There are, however, two other points you’ll want to keep in mind—the tires and the battery. Here’s what you need to do:
Tires
If parked in one place all winter long, the tires on your bike may develop flat spots. This happens because the air pressure in the tires will slowly dwindle over the winter, especially in cold climates. As the pressure drops, the bottom of the tire will flatten out.
One simple solution is to overinflate the tires a bit at the start of the winter, and then move the bike from time to time (even just a few inches). As a better option, leave the motorcycle on a stand to take all pressure off the tires during the storage months.
Battery
In the same way your tires will bleed air pressure through the winter, your battery will also slowly lose its charge. It’s quite likely that the bike won’t start in the spring as a result of the battery losing its juice. To avoid that frustration, take the battery off the bike while it’s in storage. You can use a trickle charger to keep the battery in good condition until you’re ready to hook it back up.
Work With American Steel Carports, Inc.!
It’s important to learn how to store your motorcycle for the winter to ensure it stays in top condition! American Steel Carports, Inc. can help you reach that goal. Use one of our carports or garages to protect your bike and keep it out of the elements. Get started with our Build & Price tool to see what is possible for your new structure!
If you own a car that only hits the roads during good weather conditions, you may need to store it through the winter season. With proper storage, you can maintain the vehicle’s condition so it’s ready to roll when spring arrives. Here, we’ll explore how to store a car for winter the right way.
American Steel Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal garage and carport options that are affordable, durable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!
Settle on a Parking Spot
Leaving your vehicle exposed all winter long probably isn’t an appealing option. That said, it’s important to find some sort of protected storage area to keep it parked. Fortunately, there are several possibilities, including the following:
Attached garage. A garage attached to your home would be great winter storage for your car. This is an extremely convenient choice, but there are some downsides. First, you won’t be able to use the garage for the vehicles you drive every day. Also, you might want to use your garage for other purposes, such as a workshop or storage space, so you’d be giving up that option.
Off-site storage. Another option is to rent a space in a facility that is meant for vehicle storage. Your car will be completely protected from the elements in this kind of facility, but you’ll have to pay a monthly rental bill for the spot. Renting a storage space can significantly increase your cost of ownership on the vehicle.
Carport. A metal carport can be a perfect solution for winter storage in mild climates. If you live somewhere with relatively calm winter weather, a carport will put a roof over your vehicle without the added cost of a full garage. Also, during the summer months when you’re using the car, you can keep parking under the carport to prevent sun damage.
Detached garage. Perhaps the ideal solution for winter car storage is a detached metal garage on your property. This option keeps the car out of your main garage but still allows it to be fully protected from the elements. A detached garage is particularly desirable in a tough winter climate where rain, snow, and wind are common.
If you have room on your property, adding a metal structure–either a carport or a garage–is the ideal solution for your storage needs. View what’s possible for a new metal structure with our Build & Price Tool!
Wash Before Storage
It’s important to give your car a thorough wash before tucking it away into storage. Anything left on the vehicle for the next few months could wind up leaving a stain that you may not be able to remove later. By washing it properly before storage, the car will look great when you are ready to drive it again.
Oil and Gas Considerations
In addition to washing your car, you’ll also want to change the oil and fill up the gas tank. Fresh oil is smart because it flushes out the old oil which can contain contaminants and lead to buildup. By filling the tank with gas, you help prevent unwanted moisture accumulation. Add an appropriate fuel stabilizer to the tank to fight back against potential gum buildup during the off-season.
Think About the Tires
Keeping a car parked in one place for several months is not good for the tires. There are some options to mitigate the effects of long-term parking, such as the following:
Jack it up. To avoid flat spots on your tires, think about jacking up the car to keep the tires off the ground entirely.
Add more air. If you don’t want to keep the car on jacks, put a little extra air in the tires when the car goes into storage. That air pressure is going to drop a bit over the winter, but hopefully, there will still be enough to ward off any flat spotting issues.
Don’t use the parking brake. Locking your parking brake into position and leaving it for months on end could leave you with problems in the spring. Specifically, you might not be able to get the brakes to release after leaving them for so long. To make sure the car doesn’t roll away while stored, use blocks in front or behind a couple of tires.
Work With American Steel Carports, Inc.!
Learning how to store a car for winter is easy! As long as you secure a protected parking spot before the bad weather arrives and take a few other small steps, your vehicle will be in good shape. To see what kinds of structures are possible when working with American Steel Carports, Inc., try our Build & Price tool right away. Our metal buildings will provide the storage your car needs for the cold season ahead!
