Casselberry, Fla., is one of the latest cities to propose such a measure. Called the “public nuisance and property maintenance ordinance,” the proposed measure is part of the city’s overall plan to attract new business and improve its appearance. Essentially, it appears from a piece in the Orlando Sentinel, the city is concerned that a visually-unattractive property could lower the value of the surrounding neighborhood. If the ordinance goes into effect, homeowners must be vigilant about their properties’ appearances: garbage cans cannot be kept outdoors after 9 p.m. and cannot be set out for collection before 7 p.m. the night before; upholstered furniture and children’s play equipment must not be kept in the front of the house; and all portable storage buildings must be placed out of view. Those who do not comply may be issued a warning, fined $200, or have a lien placed against their property.

In reasoning the proposed ordinance, City Commissioner Sandra Solomon told the press:

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure that our neighborhoods look tiptop. We want to lure in new businesses and people. And in this economic climate, young people — and also old people — are not going to come here if we don’t look our best.”

[…]

“Our overall goal is to make sure that one house doesn’t impact the property values of all the surrounding properties. But we want to make sure that it’s not too overbearing …”

In this economy, attracting new business is crucial, but is restricting carports, and the overall appearance of homes, the best strategy?

Applying tarps – specifically over the roofing materials – is one approach to working through the rain or snow. In an “Ask The Builder” column from NorthJersey.com, a writer asking about construction and home improvement projects in the rain is advised that such work is possible – but under specific limitations. While foundation can be installed and pre-fabricated components are additional options, tarps assist with protecting roofing work. Because water, ice, and snow damage a roof, regardless of whether the underlying materials are exposed or not, adding new sheathing or shingles during a storm is not advised. However, to prevent a partial job from becoming damaged, throw a few tarps on top to protect the sheathing. Once the storm has passed, the polyethylene can be removed, and the workers may resume the project.

Temporarily covering a roofing project merges the qualities of baseball and hurricane tarps. The latter, made out of medium-duty polyethylene, is added to prevent further damage after a storm, such as a hurricane or tornado, as mold, mildew, and water can enter from a small crack. Hurricane tarps, however, are a temporary solution, and the roof must be repaired within 90 days.

Baseball tarps, on the other hand, are heavy-duty polyethylene and are rolled out onto a field at the first sign of rain. Although the game stops with the weather, a muddy field often delays a season’s schedule of practices. The baseball tarp, with a weighted perimeter, keeps the ground dry, and practice or a game resumes once the storm passes over.

So, what has happened in Haiti over this time, and are any improvements taking place? An overhaul of the government appears to be one step in a positive direction, but even with a new president and proposed initiatives, neither a housing agency nor a defined strategy has been put in place. Although $2.38 billion has been spent in the country, minimal building has occurred, and because of water and supplies, citizens have gravitated toward camps.

Originally, as the piece detailed, the earthquake was seen as an opportunity for the impoverished nation to start over, and a general plan of new housing and more jobs in Port-au-Prince was proposed. Instead, no plan was enacted, and while some new housing and more classrooms have been erected, the government has left it up to citizens to rebuild their communities and create jobs. Additionally, new housing initiatives just target only five percent of those in need, creating permanent shantytowns in the country.

With this loose strategy, some Port-au-Prince residents have moved into mountainside shantytown Jalousie, creating a new neighborhood and community for the time being. Some residents, as quoted in the Associated Press piece, find the new community a significant upgrade to the post-earthquake camps; because of limited resources in Jalousie, however, other residents consider it more of the same situation.

If Haiti is to truly move forward from the earthquake’s aftermath, including providing housing for all citizens, what type of approach should the government take?

Storage buildings, or sheds, encompass portable garages and carports. No matter the name of the structure, however, a portable storage building has a standard design: a steel frame and a polyethylene cover. For the purpose of winter storage, find a shelter with a galvanized steel frame (powder-coated will not last as long) with a fully-enclosed design. Essentially, polyethylene should cover the top and all sides of a portable storage building.

In terms of protection, portable storage buildings are economical. The galvanized steel frame can hold up to winds and snow and last outdoors for several years, while the polyethylene is treated to be waterproof, UV resistant, rot proof, and mildew resistant. As a result, the cover keeps all water and sun away from your items and prevents dry rot and mildew from forming inside.

For a portable storage building to be fully protective, it must be installed into the ground. Anchor kits are a temporary solution, but the ends of the frame can be set in concrete into the ground. No matter the method used, the structure will hold strong against the elements.

Different sizes and shapes are available for portable storage buildings, so how do you know which one is for you? Measure the amount of space you will need in cubic inches, and then find a structure that is slightly larger. If your area experiences heavy snowfall, consider a rounded shelter rather a peaked or barn-shaped model.

In the past, we talked about solar carports, which can serve as a surface for solar panels or also charge an electric vehicle underneath. Rather than charging vehicles, however, the solar panels added on top of storage facilities and nearby carports make the buildings energy-efficient.

Storage can be at home or in a separate facility. In the National Geographic piece, it’s the latter. But, no matter where you decide to store your items, a few solar panels can fit on the roof.

In the case of the article, an old warehouse was repurposed into a storage facility, which in general requires minimal energy to operate. The roof of the structure was outfitted with solar panels. Carports were additionally added to the area and also support solar panels. The energy being captured and converted by the panels ends up making the facilities self-sufficient.

Such a solution can be replicated at home with the right materials. First off, invest in a storage shed or carport that’s strong enough to support solar panels. Metal carports, which can be up to 30 feet wide, are one option. For full, all-around coverage, consider a garage kit, which includes all wood and metal parts to construct an enclosed shelter. No matter the shelter used, the solar panels can be added to the top.

Of course, carports and portable storage buildings aren’t the only locations for solar panels. When it comes to powering a home, the solar cells can be placed anywhere: on top of the house, on a shed, or in any other location on the property.

Although blue tarps are typically associated with hurricanes and tornadoes, windstorms cause similar damage. Not repairing a roof results in moisture entering a home, causing mold and mildew to build up inside. After such a storm, homeowners should check for cracks on the inside of the roof and be prepared with tarps, as well as boards and nails, to temporarily fix the damaged areas.

When blue tarps are applied properly after a storm, the material keeps UV rays and water out and prevents mildew and dry rot from forming. Polyethylene, no matter if medium- or heavy-duty, is treated to be UV resistant, waterproof, mildew resistant, and rot proof, and these combined properties prevent the interior of the home from further damage.

In terms of applying tarps, do not stand directly on the roof. To prevent slips and falls, use a ladder. To secure the tarp, wrap one side of the material in a two-by-four board, and nail the board to the roof of the house. Do the same to the opposite end. With the remaining two boards, nail down the other two sides of the tarp. Do this to all areas with cracks or holes.

Windstorms damage more than just roofs, and in many cases, windows or lights will be broken. Tarps, as well, can be applied to these areas around your home with a similar method.

Keep in mind that tarps, particularly medium-duty ones, have a limited lifespan. Standard blue tarps last 90 days, and at this point, the material may tear. Some communities, additionally, allow tarps to be put up for a limited amount of time. In either instance, make sure the roof is fully repaired within that timeframe.

One of the quintessential images associated with the Occupy movement has been the tarp tents, covering parks in sea-like expanses of blue. As we mentioned, tarps are practical for outdoor shelter and may even beat traditional tents in terms of protection. Once erected, the polyethylene keeps out water and UV rays and is mildew-resistant and rot-proof. Blue tarps, which are common in temporary roof repairs from hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, are a medium-duty material designed to last outdoors for 90 days.

Tarp tents covering a park, in fact, have been likened to Hoovervilles, shantytowns that lasted 10 years during the Great Depression. About this, one of the protestors wrote on the Occupy Wall Street site:

“We move forward in the grand tradition of the transformative social movements that have defined American history. We stand on the shoulders of those who have struggled before us, and we pick up where others have left off. We are creating a better society for us all.”

In spite of the reinforced rules for Zuccotti Park, protestors still plan to return and camp out in the area. In an article on Manhattan local news site DNAinfo.com, one of the protesters is quoted with saying:

“I’m going to lay down anyway if they come here and arrest me for laying down on the ground, it will only make [the police] look bad. I’m staying because it’s awesome that we’re still here after all the madness.”

Think, first, about the conditions in your area. Does winter bring frequent and high winds? Make sure, in this case, that the steel frame and polyethylene are strong enough to hold up; winds approaching 100 miles per hour can blow over a carport. But, if wind isn’t a concern, what about snow? Snow can pile up on the roof of a carport, and while these structures are often designed to meet building code strength specifications, a shelter that allows snow to roll off is even better.

Thirdly, how long do you plan to use the carport? Will the shelter be exclusively used for winter, or will it turn into a year-round structure? For the latter, opt for a carport that can hold up for many years, if not decades.

Taking these parameters into consideration, what carport is best for storing your vehicle?

• If winds are an issue, find a steel carport that can hold up to winds up to 100 miles per hour.
• If you are concerned about snow, opt for a rounded enclosed carport, as precipitation simply rolls off the surface and down to the ground.
• If you are considering using a carport year-round, go with a galvanized steel model. Such carports can last 15 or more years, with only the polyethylene cover needing to be changed. For your convenience, go with a valance shelter that can be enclosed for the winter.

As we have mentioned several times before on this blog, tarps can be made into tents with the right materials. Rather than purchase a tent that may be only water-resistant, opt for a tarp that is waterproof. No matter if the tarp is medium- or heavy-duty, it keeps out UV rays and is resistant to rot and mildew.

In camping or backpacking, tarps are useful in keeping a campsite and gear dry. However, rather than bringing a pre-made structure, the tarp itself can serve as a tent. Last year, we offered brief directions for setting up a tarp tent. Just to reiterate them, a tarp, to become a tent, needs at least a rope and stakes or rocks to hold the ends down. While rope can be strung between two trees in the woods, a city park may not have such features – or at least trees in such proximity – and two larger stakes may need to be brought. No matter if you drive two large stakes into the ground or attach the rope to two trees, the rope serves at the center point on the material, and the tarp needs to be draped over it. Stakes or rocks should then hold the ends in place. Because the ground may be wet, a second tarp should be placed underneath to keep you and your gear dry.

Realize, though, that not all parks and cities have the same rules, and if you do go to protest, you may need to remove your tarps at some point.

Taking into account the same principles that make a tarp tent useful on a camping trip, Thunderdome consists of blue and brown polyethylene and canvas tarps. Not the sole part of the kitchen, the tarps are attached together with a plywood frame. In concept, the tarps keep out the water and any other elements and keep volunteers and their equipment dry during operation and overnight. Just as with any tarps on a campsite, whether for shelter or protection, those for Thunderdome are tied in place.

Depending upon how long the protest lasts, the tarps may need to be replaced in the future. As you’re aware, medium-tarps, such as the ones pictured, can be used for about 90 days.

Run by two unemployed chefs, Thunderdome is operated by various volunteers supporting the Occupy Wall Street cause. While the volunteer staff cooks a healthful menu each day, the kitchen is supplemented by prepared meals from supporters and donations from local restaurants. Supplying free meals, snacks, and drinks to protestors and the homeless, Thunderdome serves roughly 200 to 400 individuals per day.

Aside from the economical design and support for protestors, Thunderdome creates minimal waste. Onsite are recycling and compost bins, all trash is disposed, and volunteers take dishes home to wash daily.