Author: clickgiant

When you think about RV storage, you probably think first about the harsh winter months. You need to take steps to prepare your RV to deal with those elements so that it’s ready to roll once again when spring and summer arrive. 

However, it would be a mistake to neglect the importance of summer storage in this equation. While not on a trip, you need to properly store your RV to protect its condition and minimize the chances of damage. This article will highlight how to prepare your RV for summer storage. 

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of RV carports that are affordable, durable, and completely customizable. Use our Build & Price tool to design your structure and receive and instant quote!

Why Worry About Summer Storage?

It might seem a little strange to think much about how your RV will be stored in the summer when the weather is nice. Winter threats like rain, wind, and snow are obvious concerns for the health of your RV, but what could happen in the summer?

As it turns out, your RV does face some threats in the summer, and those are related to the power of the sun:

• UV damage. The exterior of your RV could be damaged if it sits out in direct sunlight all summer long. The UV rays delivered by the sun can do harm in various ways, such as causing the paint to crack and peel. That’s more than a cosmetic issue, as losing paint will then expose the body of the RV to further damage. 
• High temperatures inside. When the sun is allowed to beat down on the exterior of the RV in the summer, you can be sure the temperature inside the RV is going to soar. When that happens, items inside may become damaged and may not work properly when you are ready to go on another trip. 
• Tire issues. Another point of concern is the tires on your RV. Direct sunlight can cause the rubber to dry out, so you may wind up shortening the lifespan of those costly tires if they aren’t protected throughout the summer months. 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that sunny weather means there are no concerns for your RV’s health. By storing it properly, you can fight back against the sun and do your RV a big favor. 

The Plan is Simple

Knowing that the sun is your main enemy during summer storage, the objective here is simple: find a way to block the sun from beating down on your RV. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways, but the most appealing is through the use of an RV carport. This kind of structure, available from American Steel Carports, Inc., puts a roof over your RV and protects it all year long. Not only do you get important UV protection in the summer, but that same roof will also provide shelter from the rain and snow when winter rolls around. If you have space on your property for this kind of carport, and room in your budget for this modest investment, an RV carport is absolutely the way to go. 

If that isn’t going to work in your situation, there are some alternatives. You could choose to invest in an RV cover that is designed specifically to fit your model. RV covers are not as convenient as an RV carport, but they do protect the condition of the RV and can be used in the colder months, as well. 

One other option to consider is renting space at a private storage facility. These kinds of facilities often have covered spaces available, so you may be able to get the same experience as you would get with owning your own carport. Of course, there is an ongoing monthly cost associated with this method, so your cost in the long run is likely to far exceed what you would have to pay to build your own RV carport. 

Cleanliness is Important

Most RV owners know that it’s important to give their RV a thorough cleaning before winter settles in. During the summer, however, it’s tempting to let this chore slide, thinking that it’s not that important since you’ll be going on another trip sometime soon. This is a mistake. Do your best to clean your RV thoroughly after each use and before you put it back into storage. Even if you’ll only be storing it for a couple of weeks before leaving again, keeping it clean will protect its condition and make it more enjoyable to use next time. 

An Investment Worth Protecting

RVs can be expensive, so it’s worth your time and effort to make sure you have a good storage plan in place. By storing your RV correctly in both the summer and winter, you should be able to extend the useful life of your trailer, motorhome, or 5th wheel. Thank you for taking the time to consider American Steel Carports, Inc., and we hope to serve you soon!

Build Your RV Carport

A garage is an ideal spot to store your belongings. There are very few limits to what can live in your garage, as long as the space is big enough for the items you have in mind. However, not everything is right for this environment, so it’s important to know what to store and not to store in your garage for safekeeping!

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal garages that are durable, affordable, and fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Starting with the Basics

As you likely know, there are plenty of items commonly associated with garage storage. Even if it’s a review, we need to briefly touch on these basic points on how your garage storage space can serve you and your family:

• Automotive storage. You can obviously store your vehicles in a garage, but it’s also a great place for the various pieces of equipment that may be related to your cars and trucks. For example, if you have some basics on hand like wiper fluid or engine oil, keeping these in the garage makes sense. Anything else you use in or on your vehicles can stay here as well, like attachments for camping.
• Seasonal items. Do you have a collection of holiday decorations or other items that only come out for a short time each year? Those are a natural choice for garage storage, as long as they are contained properly. Consider investing in some plastic totes or tubs with secure lids to hold these seasonal items until you take them out again next year.
• Landscaping equipment. The gear you use to maintain your yard and the rest of your property is another strong candidate for life in the garage. Consider setting aside part of your available garage space for things like a lawnmower, wheelbarrow, shovels, etc.

Everything listed above is a great pick for garage storage, but that list is only a start. Other items that are suitable for this environment include various pieces of sports equipment, tools, camping gear, bicycles, and much more. Depending on what you need to store and the size of your garage, you may need to get creative and think strategically to fit everything in the space.

Items to Avoid

Fortunately, most belongings can be stored just fine in the garage. With that said, there are still a few items that would probably be better served to live elsewhere, whether for safety reasons or for the health of the item itself.

The list below highlights some of the items you should not store in your garage: 

• Firewood. It might seem natural to stock up firewood in your garage as winter gets closer, but there are some unwanted side effects of this plan. Firewood will almost certainly bring a significant number of bugs and other little pests into your garage, from where it will be easier for them to access the inside of your home.
• Electronics. If you can avoid it, try not to store electronic equipment in your garage. Remember, your garage probably isn’t climate-controlled like the rest of your house, so the changing conditions could cause damage to the electronic components.
• Food. This category includes food that is meant for either human or pet consumption. Either way, you’ll be asking for trouble from any little critters that manage to squeeze their way into the garage. Find a place inside your house to store your food items so you don’t run into any unwanted trouble.
• Valuable items. Whether these belongings have monetary or emotional value, don’t keep anything in the garage that is particularly important to you and your family. The garage tends to be a little bit rougher than the rest of your home in terms of conditions and how it’s used. Valuables should stay inside if at all possible to protect their well-being.
• Propane tanks. Propane shouldn’t be stored in enclosed spaces, so find a spot outside (away from direct sunlight) where your tanks can be stored safely when not in use.

Work with American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope you now know what to store and not to store in your garage! It’s hard to overestimate the importance of having plenty of functional storage space available for your belongings. Without the right storage, your home or business will soon become cluttered, and it will be hard to get tasks done. Make the most out of your current garage, or add a new garage with the help of American Steel Carports, Inc., to get organized once and for all!

Build Your Garage

To ensure you’re ready for plenty of great fires once the summer has passed, you need to properly store your stock of firewood throughout the season. Below, we’ll walk you through some simple tips on how to store firewood in summer to streamline and optimize the process.

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal buildings that are affordable, fully customizable, and perfect for firewood storage. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Two Main Enemies

At first, storing wood might seem like an easy task. After all, trees grow outside, so isn’t wood perfectly suited to simply live out in the elements until you’re ready to burn it? Not quite.

You’ll need dry wood if you want to build a great fire, so there are some important details to consider to achieve this while in storage. Also, you want to make sure your woodpile doesn’t cause other issues in regards to your property.

When it comes to summer wood storage, there are two main enemies to confront:

Insects and Rodents

Simply put, piles of firewood are a strong attractant for insects and rodents. If you have wood piled up in an area near your home, don’t be surprised to find spiders, mice, and many other critters exploring the stack.

With that in mind, make it a point not to pile up your wood too close to your house. It might seem convenient to place your wood right outside the back door, for example, but doing so is going to bring all of those little critters near your home. If at all possible, keep your stack away from the house so you can reduce the chance of unwanted guests coming inside.

Moisture from the Ground

In most climates, the summer months aren’t going to provide a lot of moisture from above. Sure, there might be an occasional rainstorm, but there will likely be plenty of dry days in between. However, there is always moisture in the ground, and water coming up from the ground can cause the bottom of your stack to become soggy and maybe even moldy. Later in this article, we’ll talk about how to address this problem successfully.

The strategy you use to store your firewood should address both of the issues above. With the right plan, you can keep moisture away from your wood and make it less likely that unwanted critters will want to build their home in the pile.

The Right Way to Cover Firewood

It seems pretty obvious that covering firewood is a good idea. Keeping rain off the top of your stack is a good start, but that’s not the end of the job. Remember, much of the moisture that you need to worry about is going to come from below, not above.

First, don’t store your firewood under a tightly wrapped tarp. That tarp will serve as a trap for any moisture that’s in the stack, and the wood will struggle to dry out. Instead, you want to cover firewood loosely, so rain is blocked but the wood still has room to breathe.

The ideal solution here is a metal storage shed that will provide a roof but also plenty of space around the wood for air to move freely. It would be even better if that shed had a large door or a couple of windows for plenty of ventilation on nice days.

Strategic Stacking

You’ll need to stack your firewood in an orderly fashion before it’s stored for the summer. Good stacking will help the wood dry out more thoroughly, and it will also make it easier to retrieve pieces when winter arrives.

Here are two key tips for proper wood stacking:

• Stay off the ground. Consider using something like pallets or long 2x4s to create a small platform for your woodpile. This will get the bottom row off the ground and offer better circulation for your entire stack.
• Big on the bottom. Sort your pieces of firewood by size and place the largest pieces on the bottom row. The pieces should get smaller and smaller as you move up the stack, so you end up with a solid structure that isn’t likely to tip over.

There’s a bit of an art to stacking firewood correctly, but you should get better at it in time. As long as the bottom row is made up of big pieces, and is kept off the ground, you should be in good shape.

Work with American Steel Carports, Inc.

It’s important to know how to store firewood in summer. Remember, having a small shed on your property that’s dedicated to firewood storage will make your life a little bit easier in both the summer and the winter. And, by shopping at American Steel Carports, Inc., you can get a durable metal shed for an affordable price. Ready to create your new structure? Use our Build & Price Tool to get started!

If you’re a passionate gardener, or if you’re hoping to pick up this hobby, a backyard garden shed from American Steel Carports, Inc. can be a great help. Having a dedicated place for all of your supplies will allow you to stay organized and get even more enjoyment from this fun activity! Learn more about how one of our structures can assist you, below.

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal sheds 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!

Sheds Offer Many Practical Benefits

Adding a metal shed to your backyard might seem like a pretty minor change. How much could a shed really affect the way you use your outside space? As it turns out, adding even a small shed can be a significant upgrade, and it can encourage you to use your backyard for gardening and other activities more frequently.

View the practical benefits you’ll enjoy when you order a backyard shed from American Steel Carports, Inc:

• Tool organization. Gardening requires a lot of tools. You likely have some basic hand tools like shovels and rakes as well as watering cans, pots, and more. Without a shed for storage, those pieces may be scattered around the yard in various places. You’ll have to hunt down the right tool anytime you want to work, and the messy look will take away from the visual appeal of your garden as a whole. With a small shed in place, you can put everything away after you work in your yard, and it will all be easily accessible for your next gardening session.
• Store supplies. You probably have a couple of bags of soil on hand at all times to plant new flowers and freshen up your beds. If you keep those bags outside, the rain will make them heavy and nearly impossible to use. Your shed can store bags of soil and containers of fertilizer along with your gardening tools.
• Beyond gardening. Do you like to do anything else in your backyard, like cooking on a barbeque or playing yard games? Your shed may be able to store some of the items you need for those activities, as well.

Even if your shed only serves as a home for your gardening tools and nothing else, it will be worth the investment you make. However, there’s a good chance that it will do even more, meaning you’ll get great value over the life of this structure.

Creating a Workspace

Storage is likely to be your primary motivation when choosing a shed for your backyard gardening adventures. However, if you have enough space available, you might want to consider building a big enough shed for you to work inside from time to time. Adding a basic gardening table to your shed will let you pot new plants and complete other tasks while being in the shed and out of the elements.

This is a great option for the gardener who likes to use lots of little pots all around the yard. Planting flowers in those small pots can be a back-breaking activity if you do it at ground level. On the other hand, working on a table in your shed will be a pleasure, and something you’ll look forward to doing each time you get the chance. Adding a basic table to your backyard garden shed will create a workspace and it may also help to organize your storage plan within the shed.

Many Shapes and Sizes

One of the best parts about shopping with American Steel Carports, Inc. for this project is our commitment to customization. We want you to get exactly what you want for a new shed, so we have many customization options available on our site. You can pick and choose the right design, size, and features for your shed, so the end result is precisely what you had in mind.

Order from American Steel Carports, Inc.

Adding a backyard garden shed from American Steel Carports, Inc is not a huge project or major expense, but it can dramatically improve the way you use your property. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure and receive an instant quote! If you have any questions along the way, simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

A canoe is a great way to explore the waters near where you live. However, when not in use, your canoe will need a suitable place to live. Keeping it in a strategic place can protect it from the elements and provide you with additional convenience. Read on to discover some of the top canoe storage ideas that will help keep your boat in great shape.

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal buildings that are affordable, fully customizable, and ideal for canoe storage. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

The Basics of Canoe Storage

Canoe storage doesn’t need to be complicated. By following a few general pieces of advice, you can keep your canoe safe until it’s time to head back on the water. The three basic tips listed below are great starting points as you develop a storage plan:

Store Your Canoe Inside

It seems like it would be okay to store a canoe in the elements since it’s a vessel that’s meant for outdoor use. However, storing a canoe outside is going to cause its condition to degrade faster than it would otherwise. Specifically, direct sunlight day after day can do significant damage over time. If you don’t have an option for storing your canoe indoors, at least provide it with some kind of cover so the sun doesn’t beat down directly on the boat.

Upside Down Is Best

Turning your canoe over and storing it upside down is the favored option for most canoe owners. The side rails of the canoe—called the gunwales—are the strongest spot to allow the canoe to rest while it’s in storage. Leaving your canoe to rest on the ground on its bottom can lead to deforming of the hull.

Find A Secure Location

Many canoes are light enough for a single person to carry. That means they’re fairly easy to just walk off with if left in an exposed spot. While no location is completely theft-proof, do what you can to make it harder for someone to access your canoe while it’s stored. Placing it inside of a locked building will make it a lot harder for a theft to occur as compared to leaving it out in the open on your property.

If you can store your canoe inside, upside down, and in a locked space, you will have gone a long way toward protecting it for the long run. This will not only help your canoe last for years, but it will also make your experience as an owner more enjoyable. The canoe should be in good condition and ready to go whenever you get the urge to take it out for a paddle.

Use a Canoe Storage Rack

So, we’ve discussed that you should be storing your canoe upside down to protect its condition. But how do you make that happen? You’ll need a canoe storage rack, which you can either buy or build. Creating your own from basic lumber is a pretty simple project. However, there are plenty of racks on the market that you can purchase if you don’t want to take on a DIY job.

When shopping or planning a canoe rack, keep in mind the dimensions of your boat. It may go without saying, but a big canoe is going to require a big storage rack. Plus, since this rack is going to stand on the floor, make sure you have enough room in your intended storage spot to place the rack without any trouble.

Creating a Dedicated Space

If you have an attached garage as part of your home, storing your canoe in that space may be your first thought. What’s more, if there’s room in the attached garage that isn’t being used for other purposes, that may be a viable solution. Of course, many people have their garages already packed full of cars and other items, so making space for a canoe storage rack may not be possible.

As an attractive alternative, consider adding a new metal structure to your property. Metal buildings come at a lower cost than wood structures and they can make a perfect home for a canoe. In addition to giving your canoe a place to live, you may be able to set aside space in this new building to handle some of your other storage needs.

Work With American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope these top canoe storage ideas assist you! The structures from American Steel Carports, Inc. offer an affordable, simple solution to your storage needs. We offer everything from small sheds to large steel structures so you can design the building that’s perfect for your property. We look forward to serving you!

Build Your Structure

Having a workshop to call your own is a wonderful luxury. Whether you use this space for personal projects or professional pursuits, keeping it organized is key to both your productivity and your safety. In this article, we’d like to go over some of the basics of how to organize your workshop and how to keep it neat in the long run.

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal workshops that are affordable, fully customizable, and ideal for bike storage. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Think About the Big Picture

While many workshops share some common features, no two are exactly the same. The first step in properly organizing your workshop is thinking specifically about your needs and how they will impact the space. The three points listed below are particularly important:

• What tools will you need? Make a detailed list of all of the tools that you expect to live in this shop. Not only include tools you already own, but also those that you may need to acquire in the future.
• How much open space is required? This is going to depend on what kind of work you’ll be doing. If you plan to work on cars and trucks, you’ll need plenty of space to park those vehicles and move around them easily. On the other hand, someone building small items out of wood may need just a modest workbench.
• Do you need any special features? Pretty much all workshops will need basics like light and power outlets, but is there anything else your workshop will require to be completely functional?

Getting the answers to these questions down onto paper will make it a lot easier to start the organizational process. You’ll then know what needs to be in the shop, and you can begin the work of organizing all of those items logically.

It’s All About Workflow

Organizing your shop comes down to positioning your tools, equipment, and supplies in such a way that serves your workflow positively. In other words, where should everything be placed so that it’s available when you need to use it? This concept can take on many different forms depending on the work that’s being done.

Using the example of a woodworker, some of the commonly used tools in that discipline include a planer, table saw, and sander. Those tools are used in that order in most cases, so they should be positioned in the shop so that one leads to the next. If at all possible, organize your shop so that one workstation leads logically to the next with minimal interruption or interference.

Staying Organized

It’s great to get your shop beautifully organized as a starting point. But keeping it that way can be a big challenge. That’s why you should consider implementing some “rules” that govern how you use your shop on a day-to-day basis. Here are some ideas for rules that can help you stay on the right organizational track:

• Put everything away after each session. It’s tempting to leave your tools out after a work session, since they will likely come right back out again the next time you use the shop. Unfortunately, this approach is sure to lead to a mess, and it might become difficult to get anything done. Make it a rule that you always put all of your equipment back in its spot when you are finished working for the day.
• Finish by sweeping. Almost all of the different kinds of work that take place in a workshop lead to some kind of mess on the floor. Another good rule is to finish up your work session by sweeping up for just a minute or two. This is an easy wind-down task and it will further improve your organizational efforts.
• Give new tools a home. When you acquire a new tool, don’t just toss it into the shop and assume it will find a home later. Instead, don’t bring in anything new until you know exactly where it will be stored when not in use.

Organizing a shop can feel like an unwanted chore, but it will actually help you get more enjoyment and productivity out of the space.

Order from American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope you enjoyed learning how to organize your workshop! If you’re ready to create a new space to work on your projects, use our Build & Price tool for a quick sample of what your structure could look like. We’re excited to serve you!

If you love to ride your bike, you already know that caring for it is extremely important. Keeping your bike in great condition promises a great ride and helps you avoid costly repairs. Bicycles are expensive, so protecting yours properly will save you money in the long run. Use these top bike storage ideas to keep it running safely and smoothly!

American Steel Carports, Inc. offers a variety of metal buildings that are affordable, fully customizable, and ideal for bike storage. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Get It Out of the Elements

This point might go without saying, but it’s an important place to start. Your bike’s condition is going to deteriorate rapidly if it’s left outside in the elements all year long. It might be okay to leave your bike out from time to time, but doing so regularly will be troublesome for key components like the chain, brakes, gears, and more.

At the very least, you’ll want to leave your bike under a carport where it will be out of the rain and snow. Of course, if you can find or build a place where they will be completely inside, that would even be better. A storage shed or enclosed garage from American Steel Carports, Inc. would make a great home for all the bikes your family uses on a regular basis.

Build Your Structure

Invest in a Floor Bike Rack

It’s important to have a convenient way to keep all of your bikes standing up. This ensures you won’t have to lay them down on the ground and take up all the floor space in your storage area. Instead of relying on kickstands, purchase (or even build) a floor bike rack. This is a device that you can roll the front wheel into to hold the bike up nicely while it’s parked. Bike racks like this are relatively affordable and come in all shapes and sizes.

Before you make your purchase, take a look around at all of the various models on the market. Some are relatively minimal, as they provide a way to stand your bike up and not much else. Others, however, integrate other storage space so you can keep all of your biking accessories in the same place. You may or may not want a more elaborate bike rack, but it’s worth taking a look at the options available.

Think About Access

When planning out where your bike will be stored, think about the practical side of how you’ll get to and from the storage spot. For example, let’s imagine that you have a road bike with skinny tires. That kind of bike is not meant to go off-road, so placing your storage shed at the back of your grassy yard to access it is not ideal. Sure, you could carry the bike over, but that chore may get old quickly.

If at all possible, position your storage solution in a place where you can roll right in and out for a ride. This will not only save you a few minutes each time you take the bike out, but it will also encourage you to use your bike more, knowing it’s easy to access.

Keep It Secure

Given the value of some bikes, security is something to take seriously. No storage option is completely safe, but some are better than others. Storing your bike inside an enclosed space is the best option, but that might not be available to everyone. If your bike will be placed somewhere that it can be accessed by others without going through a door, such as under a carport, invest in a quality bike lock. There are countless bike locks on the market, so be sure to do your homework on which works best and delivers the best value for your money.

Work With American Steel Carports, Inc.

We hope you enjoyed these top bike storage ideas! Having a dedicated spot to store your bike will not only keep your bike in good condition, but it will also make your life a little easier. Experiment with our Build & Price tool to see what kinds of buildings are possible when you order from us. Or, simply contact us to get information directly from a member of our team. Either way, we are excited to serve you!