With the average cost of a car reaching over forty-two thousand dollars, keeping your automobile in pristine condition is essential. It is a massive expense, after all!
If you don’t have a car-sized garage to store your vehicle or your garage is filled with other items, a portable garage can come in handy. These are temporary structures that serve to shield and protect your essential belongings.
Cars, trucks, RVs, and motorbikes are all susceptible to weather and sun damage, so ensuring they’re stored properly will help them look and run their best.
However, buying a portable garage is a considerable investment, so ensuring you take the time to research your options before you make a purchase is crucial. Continue reading to learn what you need to consider before deciding.
In this article
Consider What You’re Going to Store
Before you begin, you’ll need to consider what and how much you plan on storing inside the fabricated building structure. This will impact the size and style of the garage.
If you know that you plan on storing cars, you’ll want to take the measurements of each car. This helps ensure you have enough room to park both cars under the canopy, without the vehicles hitting one another.
You’ll also want to ensure you can open the car doors to enter. You won’t be able to move your car from the shelter if you can’t open the door! Similarly, if you plan on working on the cars inside the garage, you’ll want to give yourself enough space to walk around and store tools.
If you plan on storing motorbikes, you have more freedom, as you won’t need something as expansive.
Finally, if you know what you’re storing, you can select the kind of door or entrance that makes sense for the contents. For example, some portable garages have doors that roll up, taking up height space. Ensure you can safely move your car in and out of the port without obstruction.
Select a Size
Once you know what you plan on storing, you can narrow down your size options. Though you likely have an idea of the general size you need, considering the measurements of the actual structure is essential.
In general, a one-car port is twelve to eighteen feet wide. This size will comfortably store one car. However, if you choose an eighteen-foot space, you can keep a small motorbike inside if you have a compact car.
Selecting a portable garage eighteen to twenty-four feet wide will comfortably store two cars. Anything over twenty-four feet can store up to three full-sized cars. You should also consider the height and length of the structure. If you have an RV, you’ll want to find a structure that is taller and longer to accommodate the size. Similarly, if you’re storing a boat, you’ll want to have the dimensions handy for reference when considering your options.
When choosing a size, knowing what you want to store ahead of time can help you select the best option for your needs. If you’re only storing a bike and compact car, a structure over twenty-four feet will be unnecessary.
Look at the Types of Portable Garage Frames
Next, you’ll need to look into the various portable prefab building styles and frames that will work best for what you’re storing. Most frames are standard, with sides and a vaulted roof. This is great for those looking for simplicity and easy access to their vehicles and equipment. These structures are also easy to assemble, making them ideal for those looking for a quick fix.
However, you can also opt for a rounded shape, which will provide more room at the bottom of the structure. This is great for motorbikes that aren’t very tall, as you don’t need to worry about crowding the upper half of the shed.
Finally, another popular shape is a completely flat roof. Unlike the other structures, these don’t offer extra space for taller vehicles or equipment. However, many choose to attract this type of portable garage door fixed to their home, as the flat top can be seamlessly placed on the exterior.
What’s the Weather Like?
Before making your purchase, you’ll want to factor the weather conditions in your area into your decision. If you live in a windy, rainy climate, you’ll need a sturdier structure to withstand the weather.
In this instance, investing in a portable metal building might be your best bet. Though they’re cheaper, portable garages made from PVC pipes tend to be more flimsy. Should strong winds occur, they can knock the garage over, possibly damaging your vehicles while leaving them susceptible to the conditions.
You can find more info on a metal shed and use these tips to help you find the one best suited for your needs.
Consider Coverage
When it comes to a portable garage, one of the most important factors to consider is the amount of coverage you’re looking for.
These structures typically come in two coverage options; a roof with open walls or a roof with covered walls.
In general, a roof with open walls will provide little coverage for your car. Though it can help block out some of the elements, your vehicles will likely still receive some sun, wind, rain, and snow exposure. These also tend to lean towards being classified as a carport rather than a garage.
On the other hand, opting for a structure with covered walls will provide the most protection for your vehicles. In general, the covering tends to be a tarp material, meaning they are water-resistant.
In many instances, the sidewall tarps can come installed with windows. These are typically mesh or plastic, and the plastic can be rolled up or unzipped. Windows provide ventilation, which is essential if working with equipment or anything that emits fumes.
Plan Your Budget
You’ll also want to keep your budget in mind when shopping for portable sheds or garages.
As these are significant structures, they can be pricey. You can find cheaper options, but be cautious of the fact that they are less expensive for a reason. They might not be as sturdy or high-quality as some of the higher-end choices available.
Also, the size and material of your garage will play a significant role in determining the price. A thirty-foot wide metal garage will be understandably more expensive than a twelve-foot simple framed option.
Planning your budget before you start shopping is a great way to help you narrow down your options and feel less overwhelmed when looking at your choices.
Where You Will Set It Up
Another factor that many forget when choosing their portable garage is where they plan on erecting the structure. This aspect will impact the size you end up purchasing.
For example, you may want a twenty-four-foot option, but if you don’t have space on your property to fit the structure, you’ll need to consider a different location or size.
You’ll also want to ensure that the ground on your plan on placing the structure is level, as this will keep your portable garage from tipping or falling over, causing potential damage to the items stored inside.
It also is essential to look into the setup process. If it is complicated and involved, it can be overwhelming and frustrating, so ensuring it’s simple to put together is essential.
Read Online Reviews
One of the best tools to use when researching which portable garage suits your needs is online customer reviews. These provide unbiased, real-life insight into the quality of the structure. This includes how well it holds up against weather and sun. You can also find photos of the product, ensuring it looks as advertised.
You can also read customer anecdotes about customer service and shipping. If a customer had an issue with the order or product, they will often comment on whether or not customer support was helpful. They may also discuss any positive or negative experiences surrounding shipping.
Though many assume online reviews aren’t reliable, they are beneficial when read carefully.
Picking the Best Portable Garage for Your Needs
When purchasing the best prefab building for your needs, ensuring you keep these factors in mind can help you make the most informed purchase. If you’re ready to keep your vehicles secure with the help of a portable garage, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you can find more automobile tips and tricks to help you ride in style.
