Students Using Portable Shelters to Raise Awareness

November 18th, 2011 admin

Using portable structures like carports, canopies, greenhouses, etc. is useful beyond your own personal storage or adding space to your property for valuables. Some students in Morrisville, NY, are using handmade portable shelters as a way to observe a national awareness week for homelessness. According to the Madison County New York News, events regarding the cause will be happening all over Morrisville State College Campus:

“…faculty, staff and students on the Morrisville State College campus are doing [much] to raise education, action and awareness about hunger and homelessness during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Nov. 14-20. The campus will be hosting food drives and other associated activities, including a hygiene drive challenge.”

The most interesting part about this campus’s involvement is one professor’s decision to include a design-specific class as a pivotal part of the efforts. The article says that one architecture class has been tasked with designing homemade portable shelters that will act as a home for one night of the week-long observation. The shelters have a few stipulations that will act as a learning experience for many of the students:

“In preparation, Englot’s students have been researching rural homelessness and will design individual makeshift shelters on a shoestring budget. Innovativeness, like using donated and recycled materials, scraps and castoffs will be an important consideration in their design. The task comes with rules and guidelines—shelters must be habitable, portable, resistant to moisture and cold, provide light and ventilation to the interior, and must be aesthetically pleasing.”

As the winter approaches, I don’t expect any of our readers to develop and create their own personal shelter solutions for your property. You should always purchase portable storage sheds and temporary garages from reliable sources to ensure not only proper protection, but also safety.

Developers Seeking Plastic for More Solar Canopy Development

November 10th, 2011 admin

The advent of solar canopies around the world has been a topic I have covered at length in this blog, especially since green technology has become a major component of monetary savings. Many companies are looking to solar panels as a major way of using renewable resources as a way to create energy for physical locations. This is especially true for colleges, many of whom have installed solar canopies and wind towers to put a dent in electric bills for campuses. Many towns are also in the green market, putting up charging stations that not only generate electricity from the sun for powering vehicles, but also generate cash for the local economy.

However impressive solar canopies are, I have failed to look at the actual solar technology behind these products. Interestingly enough, the plastics industry is being hit pretty hard by solar technology development and have needed to develop new plastics for certain standards for charging stations. According to Plastics Today:

“…charger manufacturers are turning towards plastics as they take different approaches to developing covers for the outside. Outdoors, charging stations must remain durable in northeastern Europe’s icy winter weather as well as heat resistant in the southwest deserts of the United States. They also need to allow unhampered communications, as more are operating with wireless…some charging stations now contain links to databases that will accept and keep track of payments.”

The article says that some of the newer charging stations are being made from materials like wood-composite plastic, which is also used for decks and patios. Although one might think that indoor charging stations might have looser regulations, the industry actually demands the opposite. They must be insulated, lightweight and fire retardant in case of emergency situations. One company out of Europe is actually using a type of plastic that can be used indoor and out:

“…their pole and wall-mounted electric vehicle chargers are used in both indoor and outdoor private and commercial locations, and can power electric cars, bicycles, or scooters. The new plastic they use from Bayer MaterialScience is a recyclable halogen-free PC+ABS bend.”

How does this affect the canopy industry in the future? It still stands to be seen, especially since the solar technology being developed is advancing very quickly. However, canopies and metal carports are certainly strong enough to deal with the restrictions from government bodies, so only the plastics need to be tampered with.

 

 

Shelters of America Portable Structure FAQs Answered

November 7th, 2011 admin

https://www.sheltersofamerica.com/products/product850a09311b980160c12478018f985ba6.jpgThe world of portable structures, buildings, carports, canopies and the like can be confusing, especially with so many inferior self-install products available. How do you know what to choose when you in the market to buy a canopy or portable building? Shelters of America, a leader in the world of canopies and carports, is here to help with a large selection of premier products to aid you in protecting your valuables, whether they are vehicles, boats or some other item you need room for. At Shelters of America, a lot of questions are asked, so here are some of the most pertinent things to know about our products:

-          Shelters of America carries products made from galvanized steel frames instead of powder coated steel. The latter has the ability to rust, scratch and be unreliable, negative traits that galvanized steel doesn’t have. There is also the anti-corrosion that galvanized steel offers to people relying on canopies in terrible weather conditions like rain, snow, etc.

-          Galvanized steel also has a much higher threshold for tension and can handle larger amounts of weight if necessary. It won’t wear itself thin from the inside out like power-coated steel. You can’t go wrong with strength and corrosion protection in one package.

-          Always be aware of the warranties that come along with your shelters – this can add a lot to the value of the product you buy. Even though we have some of the best canopies and garages you will ever find, having a strong warranty is a benefit that pays off in case of problems.

-          The buildings at Shelters of America are built to withstand all kinds of weather, but that doesn’t mean that you should overlook bigger storms that require special attention to your portable shelter. If a large storm is on its way, make sure to secure your shelters extra carefully with appropriate anchors and canopy accessories as well.

 

 

Choosing Your Shelters for Winter

October 28th, 2011 admin

Now that winter is on its way and we are seeing bouts of flurries popping up around the country here and there you may be scrambling to find protection for your vehicle through the winter if you don’t have a garage readily available. Adding a garage to your home may be your first thought but these permanent structures can take quite a while to build and they can also be a bit pricey. A great solution for homeowners who don’t believe an actual garage is right for them is a portable shelter. Portable shelters can be easily assembled at the beginning of winter when you need shelter for your vehicle and just as easily be disassembled once spring arrives; or you can leave it up year round to ensure that your vehicle is thoroughly protected. Here are a few shelters you may want to consider investing in to keep your vehicles protected through the winter.

10′ Wide x 8′ High Round Style Shelter – As gas prices are on the rise many people are converting to compact cars as opposed to large trucks and SUVs. With a smaller car you may not necessarily need an excess of garage space so why not go with a portable shelter that you will be able to take down at the end of winter. If you add a permanent garage to your home and you know you won’t be using all of the space you could be taking up square footage that could be used in other ways. This small round style shelter won’t take up much space but it will provide all of the room that you need for your compact car and you can avoid cleaning all of the dreaded snow off in the morning with this addition to your home.

20′ W x 20′ L Metal Carport – If you are a two car home and you are looking for a solution to your covered parking conundrum then you may want to consider this larger metal carport. This shelter is made from galvanized steel poles and metal roofing that will keep your car protected from winters to come. This metal carport offers a bit more permanence than some of the counterparts and can be secured in the ground, gravel, or concrete; so whether you just need parking for the winter or you desire the accommodation year round you can have it with a metal carport.

30 W x 30′ L x 15′ H Round Style Shelter – So far you have learned about shelters for compact cars and for families that have two cars but what if you need to store your belongings along with parking your vehicles? One of our larger shelters with a rounded top offers protection on all sides making it a prime location for storing vehicles and belongings that you may not be able to store in your home. These shelters are also great for agricultural professionals who need storage for their farming equipment such as tractors.

CA Officials Prepare for Disaster

October 19th, 2011 admin

The role of portable structures in the aftermath of any natural disaster is an important one, especially considering the amount of destruction that some areas go through when hit with hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes. Some areas of the world know the risks of these events more than others – the collapse of Haiti’s biggest cities due to earthquake, Japan’s recent bout with a huge tsunami and even the major damage done by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. One of the biggest assists in these crises has been the ability of rescue crews to put up portable buildings for those who lost their homes and need a place to stay.

California is becoming part of a newer movement to be more prepared for disasters that may come its way by securing the use of tent shelters for displaced citizens and medical crews in case of earthquakes. An article from Whittier Daily News says that the new procedures are being enacted in preparation for the ‘Big One’:

“A devastating earthquake in Southern California would almost certainly collapse bridges, destroy roads and render hundreds of hospital beds useless, while leaving tens of thousands in need of medical care. After experts predicted in 2008 that a magnitude-7.8 earthquake would knock out 60 percent of the hospital beds in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties, first responders have become prepared with alternative medical care policies for when a catastrophic event strikes.” 

The field hospital tents that are discussed in the article would be incredibly difficult to set up were it not for the progress made in portable buildings. Think about instant shelters that are easy to set up and place wherever they are needed. Without these, imagine how long it would take to get treatment to those who need it. Luckily, California is on its way to being totally prepared:

“A quake-stricken area would also have access to at least one of the state’s three mobile hospitals – a series of huge tents, each large enough for 200 beds. The tents include emergency rooms, laboratories, intensive care units and up-to-date supplies. Stored at undisclosed sites around the state, they are designed to be deployed within 72 hours.”

Some Portable Building News

October 12th, 2011 admin

Over the last few weeks, there have been a myriad of stories about carports, those intrepid protectors of vehicles and other items on your property that need covering in harsh weather conditions. This could be because of colder weather rolling in, or simply because carports are at the center of portable storage news right now. Either way, here are a few stories about carports and portable buildings that I found interesting.

Carport Fight – Alabama Live has an editorial talking about the storm shelters that were set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after tornadoes hit in April. These shelters were set up at schools in various counties around the state with FEMA fronting 75% of the cost. Now FEMA wants the money back and some Alabamians aren’t too pleased:

“School officials learned later that…they would either have to buy the temporary shelters, sell them at “fair market value” and give the money to FEMA, or tear them down. Only one of the school systems said it has enough money to buy its shelter. Many would agree with Charles Warren, the DeKalb County superintendent who helped raise a fuss about the policy. Warren told Robin DeMonia of The Birmingham News. ‘…I didn’t want to see a half-million-dollar safe room torn down.’”

FEMA should probably just leave the shelters up until the county can figure out the financing or maybe just let them keep the shelters. After all, this probably won’t be the last time Alabama needs a shelter.

Prettying Up Carports – Carports are usually placed outside the home and not always attached in any way. Some architects are seeking to change this, according to My SA. The story says that some groups in San Antonio are looking to make carports a design element in homes that also act as a useful resource for space. One of the examples cited sounds like a beautiful economic storage option:

“The home on Encino Avenue…also uses a carport in a very prominent way. The detached wood and stucco carport was designed to complement the main house with sensitivity to the small lot and existing shade trees. It serves as the anchor for the outdoor living space.”

 

 

 

 

Kansas City Residents Wrestling with Carport Issues

October 7th, 2011 admin

Most people know how useful a carport can be; if you are a regular reader of this blog you probably know as well. You may even have a carport sitting on your property right now that you use every day to keep your vehicle protected from the elements. Residents in Kansas City, Kansas are questioning the strict regulations for their carports and feel passionate about them being changed. These Kansas residents want to be able to use their carports at their discretion and don’t believe they are bothering anyone by doing so, reported the Kansas City Star.

“At its meeting Thursday, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners heard from about a dozen people who question the fairness of the city’s carport regulations. Between 100 and 150 people attended the meeting, more than the number attending many budget hearings last summer.”

Currently Kansas City, Kansas requires that its residents keep their carports 60 feet from the street; this means that carports sometimes end up back yards where it is impractical or difficult to use. There is also a permit process that residents must adhere to if they want to utilize their carports at their home. And not only do these people have to pay for their permits they also have to pay to modify their canopy to ensure that it meets city code requirements. As you can see the cost of using a carport in Kansas City, Kansas can add up quickly.

“Vicki Hackett asked that the city evaluate each property individually rather than imposing a blanket policy.

“Why is it so important that we have these behind the house?” she said. “It’s like we have to hide them.”

At the meeting several of residents came forward to explain why they need their carports and how important they are in their every day life. However, no one spoke out against the carports but several commissioners and staffers claimed they had been approached about the issue in private. Upon the completion of the meeting Mayor Joe Reardon expressed that he understood the frustrations of many of the Kansas City residents who utilize carports and agreed that the permit process needed to be simplified.

Win a FREE Economy Shelter from Portable Garage Depot!

September 27th, 2011 admin

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Is there anyone out there who doesn’t want to get something for free? That person isn’t a lot of fun (or intelligent) and will be sorely missing out when contests arise online. One of the major areas where you can find a free contest is on Facebook or Twitter, the two biggest social networking web sites in use right now. Scour these sites for contests and you’re likely to win a pretty awesome prize.

For instance, Portable Garage Depot is giving away a 6 x 6 x 6 economy shelter, perfect for your motorcycle or lawnmower. Not only will you get the shelter for free if you win, but Portable Garage Depot will also deliver it directly to your home at no charge!

Here is the easiest way to enter to win this economy shelter from Portable Garage Depot:

-          Login into your Facebook account

-          Visit this link and click ‘Like’ to open up the contest form – https://www.facebook.com/portablegarages

-OR-

-          If you are a fan already, click on “FREE Contest” underneath the profile picture on the left hand side.

-          Open up a new window and login into Twitter.

-          Follow @PGDEPOT on Twitter at this link – http://twitter.com/PGDEPOT

-          Fill out the form fully – with your Twitter username! – and submit it!

That’s it! You just got yourself two free entries into the Portable Garage Depot drawing for a 6 x 6 x 6 economy shelter. The drawing is at the end of October (dates may change) and if you win, we will contact you for your address so we can ship out the shelter for free!

Share this blog post with your friends and family! We look forward to giving this prize away!

Portable Garage Depot Returns to the Big E

September 13th, 2011 admin

In two days, the Eastern States Exposition will begin once again, as it has since its first inception in 1917. More popularly known as the Big E, this agricultural trade fair is an extremely large tribute to the things that make New England great. With various fair areas representing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, the Big E shows a broad cross-section of the many things that make New England great!

Another major draw of the Big E is the entertainment, which ranges from parades to horse shows and major concerts. This year, there are a number of wildly popular musicians coming to perform at the fair, including country songstress Reba, classic rock band Cheap Trick and country star Blake Shelton. Don’t miss out on the The Big E Super Circus either – it’s a blast for the whole family!

However, the Avenues of States and various concerts are not the only part of the Big E that people come out for – let’s not forget all of the vendors who come to the exposition to show off their wares! One such vendor is Portable Garage Depot, a world leader in the sale of portable garages, shelters and other temporary structures for storage. A wide variety of products from Portable Garage Depot will be on display, including a number of DIY garages for your vehicles, lawnmowers, boats, RVs and other equipment you simply don’t have room for in your house. You are definitely going to want to check them out this year at the Big E.

Throughout the Big E, stay tuned to Portable Garage Depot’s Facebook and Twitter pages for information about the fair – and a secret fans-only contest that will be announced shortly! Make sure to stop by their booth for the best in portable garages, canopies and all of your outdoor storage needs!

The Big E takes place at the Eastern States Exposition from September 16th to October 2nd.

 

Solar Canopy Trees Shelter Cars from Sun

September 2nd, 2011 admin

Although it seems like it might be over, the summer still has a few weeks to go. What does this mean for us? This indicates that there will probably be at least a few more hot days for us to deal with before the cool autumn air rolls in. Arguably, the worst part about these types of days is how hot your car gets when you can’t find a shaded spot anywhere in the parking lot. This may become a problem of the past, if canopy makers have anything to do with it.

The majority of canopies and carports are used for these reasons as it is – protecting vehicles from the elements – but some towns are looking to make them even more useful. In an article from Physorg, the canopies are being fitted with solar panels to collect energy while shielding the cars from the sun. This isn’t anything new (I’ve written about it before) but the solar canopies we’re talking about are very different:

“…they’re big silver specimens with 12-foot-tall trunks and broad steel canopies that will shield cars from the sun – and produce solar power. Known as ‘solar trees’ because they are topped with photovoltaic cells, the ‘groves’ are sprouting up in California parking lots at Santa Clara County government buildings and health clinics in San Jose and Gilroy, and at a jail in Milpitas.”

The installation costs of this type of project might seem too much to handle in a rough economy, but just think about the money being made on the backend. According to the article, greenhouse gases will be cut down and $18 million will be saved over the course of 25 years. The real beauty of these solar trees however, is not the shielding of heat, is the space they take up:

“The solar trees at the eight sites will eat up only six of more than 1,000 parking spaces.”

Now that’s environmental and friendly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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