The Many Portable Garage Choices

I am sure that you are aware of the many uses that are possible with the purchase of portable garage after all if you didn’t you would not be considering purchasing one! However, what you may not be aware of are the many different options that you have to choose from. If you are having difficulty deciding which portable garage model is right for you we have some key points to help you.

Picking the Right Size

Determining the right portable garage size can be determined by three things: how many vehicles need to be protected, what the dimensions of those vehicles are, and how much space is available for placement of the portable garage. You need to determine how many vehicles will be stored under the portable garage or if there will be any other items that you will be storing in the portable garage. You want to make sure that you choose a portable garage that will be large enough to store everything and still have enough room to maneuver around. Make sure you have a rough estimate of the dimensions of each vehicle that you will be storing. This will help you to have a better idea of size and help you to make sure that you will indeed have enough room to store all of the items you need to and be able to move around in the portable garage. The size of your portable garage will also depend on the amount of space that your property has for it to be placed. Obviously you don’t want to purchase a 20 x 30 portable garage when you only have a 15 x 20 piece of vacant land.

Durable Materials

A portable garage, in most cases, will be left up year round so you will want to ensure that the frame and cover is made of durable materials that will hold up through the seasons. The materials used to construct the portable garage affect its strength, weight, and price. The most common material for the frame is steel because of its superior durability but yet it still remains light weight. When shopping the different brands compare the diameter of the frame tubing. Generally the larger the diameter the strong and sturdier the portable garage will be. However, the larger diameter frame tubing tends to be more expensive and not as practical for someone on a tight budget. They are also heavier so they will not be convenient to be moved frequently. Also the cover is a big deal. You don’t want to get your portable garage all set up, everything put under it that needs to be stored just to have the cover rip or tear! Portable garage covers are usually made of polyester or polyethylene. The polyethylene is the most preferred material of the two because it does a better job of filtering out the UV rays and retains more of its strength over time. However, again the better material always costs more than the others. When it comes to constructions material decisions you will need to determine whether durability or cost is more important.

Ease of Assembly

Portable garages are specifically designed to be easy to assemble and usually come in ready-to-assemble kits with easy to follow instructions. The easy assembly is one of their main advantages over traditional garages and carports. As long as you have some basic tools and someone willing to give you a hand, you shouldn’t have any problems putting a portable garage together. If, however, you are not much of a DIY’er or would just rather not have to deal with setting it up yourself then hiring an installer is definitely an option.
Note: Portable garages do not typically require building permits, but it is always best to find out what your local government’s policies are before making a purchase. Your town’s municipal department should be able to provide you with the information you need.

Multiple Uses

Even though a portable garage’s main purpose is to protect vehicles, many models are also suitable for other tasks. Some are ideal for offering shelter for livestock while others can be used to provide weather protection for parties and events. All of them offer a place to store your outdoor equipment and supplies. If you have any interest at all in these alternative uses, it’s definitely worth the extra effort to find a portable shelter that can protect your vehicles and satisfy your other outdoor needs for when they arise. It will prevent you from spending extra time hunting for another shelter down the road and, of course, it will save you from having to make another purchase.

Additional Accessories

I know you are probably thinking, “Wait I thought everything needed was included in a neat little kit for the portable garage!” Yes, that is true. Your frame, cover, fasteners, and instructions will all be included in a ready-to-go kit. However there are some additional accessories that most likely will not be included in your portable garage kit. Most kits do not include an anchoring system so you will have to purchase it separately. There are different types of anchoring kits to choose from; there are the Auger style kits, Hook anchors, or stake anchors. If you do not want to use an anchoring kit then you could also add some canopy weights to each corner or each leg to help secure the portable garage. Another accessory that your portable garage may not come with is a storage bag. You would only need a storage bag if you will not be leaving the garage up all of the time or if you purchased it just for when you host events. A storage bag will keep it all together while protecting the cover from break down. One more accessory to keep in mind is additional side walls. Not all portable garages will have this accessory but if your portable garage does not include closed ends and you decide later on that you would like it to have a closed end it very well could be an option to add a side wall if it is available.