Month: May 2023

If you have some space available on your property, you might be going back and forth between building a shed and a garage as the best use of that area. A garage will be larger, of course, meaning it takes up more terrain – but also offers more options inside. We’d like to use the article below to help you make this important choice.

As you think about whether you’d like to create a shed or a garage, you can experiment with our Build & Price tool to see the options in both categories. Thanks to our nearly endless customization possibilities, you can create something just right for your needs. To learn more, simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Don’t wait any longer to bring this project to life!

Build a Budget

Before you can create an actual structure on your property, you need to first create a budget for the job. Having a clear budget will help you ensure you don’t spend more than you can afford and direct you toward the right choice for the project. Of course, you can expect to spend less on a smaller building than a bigger one, so a shed might be the necessary choice if you are on a tight budget. Gaining clarity on this point as soon as possible will make everything else easier.

Make Specific Plans

It’s one thing to think that having another building on your property would be nice. It’s another thing to figure out exactly what that building would be for and how it would be used. This more specific type of thinking will allow you to zero in on the right type of structure for your needs.

• Storage requirements. Think about what it is that you’d like to be able to store in this structure. Are you going to use it as a place to put lawn and landscaping equipment? Do you have a small boat like a kayak or canoe that needs a home? Whatever the case may be, write down a list of everything that you would like to fit into the structure, and it will become clear how big this building needs to be.
• Useful indoor space. Beyond storage, you’ll also want to think about whether or not you would like to be able to work inside the building. If you want space to work in addition to storing your things, a building that looks more like a garage than a shed is likely the way to go.
• Think long-term. In addition to making sure this building serves your immediate needs, think about the big picture and consider any possible uses for the structure down the line. You can’t be sure what you’ll want to need in the future, but do your best and consider those thoughts.

Balancing the Use of Your Land

Adding a shed or garage to your property is a great way to use land that you have available. With that said, you might not want to take up too much of your property with this structure, as you could have other uses in mind, such as gardening.

To picture how big a proposed shed or garage will be, consider using some rope or string and a few stakes to mark out the footprint of any structure you are thinking of creating. This will give you a great visual out on the land and make it easy to decide if what you are considering is the right size for your overall goals. It might take a few different iterations of this layout before you land on something that looks good. You’ll be happy you went through this effort ahead of time to get the sizing just right rather than waiting until your building arrives only to find that it is larger or smaller than you wanted.

While this article has been framed around deciding between a shed and a garage, the reality is that those words are just general labels. Your new building doesn’t need to fit neatly under any label – it could wind up being something between a shed and a garage in form and size. That’s because we make it easy to customize your building to suit your needs, so you don’t have to pick from a limited list of prefabrication options. Start designing your dream building today and we’ll bring it to life!

For many people, having a dedicated workshop space is a dream come true. Whatever work you like to do in your free time – or maybe you need this workshop for professional reasons – it’s always better to have a dedicated space all to your own. If you have long thought of creating a workshop on your property, this article will help you reach that goal.

The starting point for this type of project is the building itself, and we’d like to suggest a metal structure from American Steel Carports, Inc. Metal is a great pick because of its affordable and durable nature, and you can easily create a custom design when you work with our Build & Price tool. Have questions? Just contact us, and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.

Start with the Practical Points

Consider the practical elements of this project before getting carried away with your plans is vital if you are going to arrive at the finish line successfully.

• Permitting. You probably took a long, deep breath when you read this first point, which is understandable. Getting a building permit can be a headache, but you need to make sure this ground is covered before going any further. Check with your local authorities to see if a permit is needed, and if it is, get that process started immediately.
• Establish a footprint. Take the time to figure out exactly how much of your property this new workshop will cover. This point goes hand-in-hand with the permitting point, as there might be setbacks or size restrictions to keep in mind along the way.
• How much can you spend? This is another one of those essential points that can’t be ignored. Figure out early on how much you are willing and able to spend on the workshop, as this point will guide future decisions.

Take your time in the planning stage so problems don’t come up later than could have been avoided.

Foundation and Flooring

What can be accomplished in your workshop will largely be determined by the nature of your foundation and floor. While many metal buildings can be constructed without a solid foundation, like a concrete pad, such a design would not be great for a workshop setting. Instead, plan on having a formal foundation poured so you have a great surface on which to place your tools and do your work.

Regarding the flooring, you might choose to work directly on the concrete foundation. Alternatively, you could add a strong and durable flooring surface that is a little more comfortable under your feet and adds a bit of insulation to the space.

Access to Power

It’s almost certain that you will need power supplied to the detached workshop to be as useful and enjoyable as you would like. For this, hiring a professional electrician to do the work is the only way to go. Be sure to have it done right – and safely – by hiring a pro early on.

Once you have power available, you’ll also want to think carefully about how the space will be lit. Proper lighting makes any workshop far more useful, so you’ll always want to err on the side of too much light rather than not enough. Thanks to the availability and affordability of LED lighting today, it’s easy to shine a bright light on the entire workshop space.

The Fun Part

With your building in place and the basics like electricity and lighting handled, it will be time to work on your floor plan and start moving tools into the space. As was the case with the first point about practical matters, it again pays off here to take your time and be patient. Think carefully about how you like to work and what types of projects you like to work on. Then, you can move your tools in strategically and create a workflow that will serve you well.

Are you ready to get started on this workshop project? Simply reach out to American Steel Carports, Inc., and we’ll put the wheels in motion. Creating a new building for your workshop might be more affordable than you expect, and the timeline is short when you work with our team. Thank you for taking the time to visit, and we hope to serve you soon!

The fun part of owning a boat is spending beautiful days with family and friends on the water. Those are the times you dream of when making your purchase – but another side of boat ownership needs to be handled properly. Of course, that side is the storage of your boat when it isn’t in use. Where is your boat going to live?

Plenty of options are available on this point, so we’d like to dive into the topic in the article below. If you decide that building a new metal structure on your property is the right solution, American Steel Carports, Inc. would be happy to help with that project. We have created an intuitive Build & Price tool to allow you to customize a design, and you can always contact us if any questions come up. Let’s get started today!

The First Decision – Inside or Out?

Consider whether you want to store your boat inside or out in the elements as a starting point. Obviously, when stored indoors, the boat will be protected from the elements and will likely last longer. Also, a boat stored indoors may need less maintenance than one kept out in the open.

With that said, storing a boat inside means you’ll have to move it outside each time you want to use it. That may or may not be a big deal depending on how you plan to use your boat, but it is at least something to consider. Also, if you own a large boat, you may need to find (or create) a rather big indoor space where it can be housed.

We should point out that you can split the difference between these two options and store your boat under a carport. With a sturdy metal carport, your boat will live under a roof, but it will be open on the sides. This could be a good compromise that gives you a bit of the best of both worlds.

At Home or Near the Water?

Assuming you don’t live on the shores of the water where you’ll be using your boat, you will need to decide if you want to keep it by the water or at home. Storing your boat near the water is obviously convenient, but it comes with an ongoing rental cost that could be significant.

When you keep your boat at home, you always have it close at hand to do any required maintenance or repair work. Also, you can create your own structure for storage, such as a carport or garage from American Steel Carports, Inc. Once you have constructed the storage building, which is a one-time cost, you’ll be free from any monthly rent payments that would have been required to store your boat at the marina.

Seeing the Big Picture

It’s best to remember the big picture when deciding which approach to boat storage will be best for your needs. Think about both the costs associated with each option and the impact those options will have on your boat. For example, simply parking your boat outside on your own property is likely the cheapest choice, but it won’t do anything to protect the condition of the vessel. Over time, a rather significant degradation could occur because it’s been left out in the weather.

On the other end of the spectrum, indoor storage at a marina facility on the water would offer protection and tons of convenience. But such storage is very expensive, and you will likely grow tired of that monthly bill sooner rather than later. Your boat will remain in great shape for years to come, but the same can’t be said about your budget.

Covered, protected storage that you create on your own property walks the line between these two extremes. The boat gets protected, which is important, but you avoid the ongoing costs of rented space, which is also important. As you think about storage over the long run, this is likely the best way to go for most boat owners.

How Can We Help?

The great thing about turning to American Steel Carports, Inc. to solve your boat storage problem is the value you’ll get from this purchase. We offer fair prices on durable structures that are sure to serve you well for years. With the right design for your needs, this new metal building is going to create a comfortable and secure place for your boat to live while out of the water. Contact us today.

As a boat owner, it’s easy to take the security of your vessel for granted. Stealing a boat might seem like a bold move that few would attempt, but that’s not actually the case. Thousands of boats are stolen on an annual basis, so thinking about security is one of your most important tasks. And you can start by considering some of the tips and ideas included in this blog below.

Our Top Tip to Keep Your Boat Safe

To make life particularly difficult on potential thieves, consider adding a metal structure from American Steel Carports, Inc. to your property. Parking inside a locked building will make it less likely that anyone will even try to steal your boat. You can use our Build & Price tool to experiment with options, and you can always contact us to get help.

Securing the Boat While In Use

First, let’s talk about keeping your boat safe while it is in use. When you are out at the water, there are some steps you can take to make it less likely that someone will make off with your vessel. Consider the following –

• Always keep the keys. You certainly don’t want to make it easy for someone to steal your boat. So, when you step off at the dock for a moment, never leave the keys in it. Get in the habit of grabbing the keys and putting them in your pocket. This certainly isn’t fool-proof protection, but it is a starting point, and there’s no reason to skip this step.
• Add a cutoff device. Another good way to make it much harder for someone to drive off with your boat is to add a cutoff switch that disconnects either the electricity of the fuel that powers the boat. These aren’t too expensive, and they are easy to add to the boat’s equipment.
• Lock the cabin. If you own the type of boat that has an enclosed cabin, make sure the door to the cabin locks (and be sure to engage that lock when you leave). Adding as many layers of defense as possible will reduce the odds that someone can successfully steal your boat.

While all of the steps above are important and worthwhile, having your boat stolen at the water is somewhat rare. It’s a difficult getaway for a thief who steals a boat on the water, so it isn’t attempted very often. What’s more common is to have a boat stolen while it is already on a trailer and ready to hit the road, so that’s the situation we’ll discuss below.

Preventing Boat-on-Trailer Theft

When you have your boat on its trailer, the whole package is ready for someone to approach, hook up the trailer to their vehicle, and drive off. Fortunately, just as with theft on the water, plenty of options are at your disposal for decreasing your chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime.

• Use various locks. Many different lock products on the market can help to secure your trailer. If your boat and trailer are parked near a boat launch, and you will be away from it for a while, lock up the hitch, tongue, wheel, or some combination of those components. These locks will have to be broken or bypassed to pull the trailer away, which means the thief will probably just look for an easier target.
• Indoor parking. While at home, parking your boat on its trailer inside a garage is a great way to keep it safe. Not only will it be behind a locked door, but it will also be out of sight from the street – so most people won’t even know it’s in there. American Steel Carports, Inc. is the perfect partner for a detached metal garage construction project.
• Tie it up. You probably don’t have the option of parking indoors while you are out using your boat and trailer, but you can bring a chain and a lock along for the trip. Tie up the trailer to a heavy, solid object, and you’ll add yet another barrier that a thief must overcome.

Taking some time now to consider security issues for your boat will leave you more time in the future to relax and unwind out on the water. We hope the information in this article is helpful, and our team is standing by to help with a detached metal garage project that would provide your boat with a safe and secure place to live. Thank you for taking the time to consider American Steel Carports, Inc. Contact us today to find out more.

A hurricane is one of the scariest weather events you can encounter. With the potential to do massive property damage – along with endangering the health of anyone in the area, hurricane warnings should be taken very seriously. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes during parts of the year, having a plan for those potential storms is an important step.

Below, we’ll walk through some strategies you can use to secure your camper when a storm is approaching. If you’d like to get ahead of the game, consider building a metal garage on your property with the help of American Steel Carports, Inc. Parking your camper inside of an enclosed structure will give it a better chance in a storm, and it will come along with plenty of other benefits, as well. Try our Build & Price tool to see what is possible or contact us to learn more.

Keeping Safe During a Hurricane

No matter how much you love your camper, there is never a situation where the condition of material possessions is more important than the health and safety of human beings. When a hurricane is coming in, your top priority should always be to make sure you and the people around you are in a safe position. If that means leaving the camper behind in a vulnerable position so you can evacuate in a timely manner, so be it. Always respect evacuation orders and guidance from local authorities to avoid danger. Hurricanes can be dangerous storms, and you never want to underestimate their power.

Being Prepared

Thanks to the capabilities of modern weather forecasting, you will typically have quite a bit of warning for a potential hurricane. Often, you’ll hear of the possibility of a hurricane a few days in advance, so you don’t have to be caught off-guard at the last moment if a storm is going to roll in.

When you first hear about the possibility of a hurricane, it will be just that – a possibility. You probably won’t need to evacuate just yet, but you do want to be ready. So, make sure your camper (or vehicle) is full of gas, and have your things organized so you can pick up and leave quickly, if necessary. Also, having a few basic supplies like tools, duct tape, and extra batteries will help you deal with any issues that might come up along the way.

The Camper Evacuation Process in a Hurricane

If you happen to be traveling in a motorhome when a hurricane approaches, you’ll need to evacuate in that same rig. That’s okay, but make it a point to allow yourself as much time as possible to make the journey. Navigating a motorhome or another type of large camper in thick traffic in the midst of an evacuation would be a harrowing experience. Leave as soon as you can to make the whole process less stressful.

Leaving Your Camper Behind

In some cases, you might have to leave your camper behind when you evacuate. This could happen if you are pulling a travel trailer and don’t have time to pack it up or are evacuating from your main home and leaving in a passenger vehicle rather than your RV. If you’ll be leaving the camper to ride out the storm on its own, here are a few tips to keep in mind –

• Make sure all of the doors and windows are closed and locked. There is going to be a lot of water that comes down as part of the storm, so you’ll want to give the RV the best possible chance of keeping that moisture out.
• If possible, park your RV inside to add another layer of defense between the storm and the camper. This is made easy by working with American Steel Carports, Inc. to add a durable, sturdy detached metal garage to your property.
• Also, think about using any anchoring points that are on your RV to tie it down to the ground. The winds that come with a hurricane can easily topple even a large rig, so tie-downs could make all the difference in trying to keep the camper right-side up.

With any luck, you and your camper will never have to go through a hurricane. It’s not a good plan to rely on luck alone, however, so you’ll want to prepare yourself and know what to do when a powerful storm pops up in the forecast. Get in touch with American Steel Carports, Inc. today to get started!

Having a trailer that can easily attach to your vehicle and be pulled to various destinations is a wonderful luxury. If you have a boat, for example, a boat trailer will make it possible to explore bodies of water you couldn’t have reached otherwise.

Unfortunately, the fact that this trailer is easy to hook up to your vehicle means it is easy to hook up to other vehicles, as well and therefore stolen. Below we will highlight some effective solutions to this problem, so you can return from a fun day to find your trailer right where you left it.

Keep Your Trailer Safe at Home

To keep your trailer safe while at home, your best option is to park in a secure garage or shed from American Steel Carports, Inc. With the trailer hidden behind a locked door, it will be far more difficult for thieves to haul it off. Try our Build & Price tool today to create a structure that works for your needs, or contact us to get assistance.

How to Lock a Trailer So It Can’t Be Stolen in 4 Steps

Lock Up the Hitch

One common strategy trailer owners use to prevent theft is keeping the trailer firmly attached to their vehicle. Most believe that someone will be less likely to attempt to steal the entire vehicle and trailer at the same time. There is some merit to that thinking, but if the hitch isn’t locked to the vehicle, this step is easy enough for a criminal to undo.

To make this strategy work for you, having a hitch lock in place is important as the hitch on the vehicle will make it significantly harder for a criminal to switch the trailer over to their vehicle for towing. Investing in a quality lock is worth it for the peace of mind it will deliver.

Lock Up the Wheels

If your trailer can’t roll down the road, no one can steal it which is why chock locks exist. This device will wrap around the tire and engage with the wheel, where it will be locked into position. Without getting this lock off, no one can drive away with your trailer, as the wheels won’t be able to turn. While this is an effective technique, these kinds of locks are pretty big, so be sure you have a plan for where you will store the lock when it isn’t in use.

Park Indoors

So far, we’ve been talking about putting locks on the trailer itself, and those methods certainly are important. But you can also put your trailer behind a locked door. When parking inside, with a lock on the garage door that you use to get in and out, it’s going to be very difficult for your trailer to be stolen.

Of course, this is only a method that works while you are at home, so you’ll need a combination of strategies to be successful. For instance, you might have a wheel lock that you use while out on trips and a parking spot in a secure garage or shed from American Steel Carports, Inc.

Add a GPS Tracker

This last tip won’t stop a thief from driving away with your trailer, but it will make it far easier to get it back. There are plenty of GPS tracking devices on the market today, so consider picking one up and attacking the tracker in a discrete location on the trailer. Then, if the trailer goes missing, you can simply open up the app on your phone and see exactly where it has been parked.

Get a Secure Metal Carport, Garage, Shed, Barn & More

Taking steps to protect your trailer is a smart move that will help to protect not only the investment you’ve made in the trailer, but also whatever you use to pull it. Given the security and other benefits enjoyed by parking inside of an enclosed structure, considering a detached metal garage from American Steel Carports, Inc. makes a lot of sense. Get started on this project today by contacting us.