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.

First, make sure the shelter itself meets your – and your vehicle’s – needs. Consider the weather of your location. Do you experience large amounts of snow or rain in winter? Make sure, then, that the structure is strong enough to hold up to it. At the same time, the portable garage or carport should provide all-around protection against water, moisture, and UV rays, and an enclosed shelter is often ideal in this respect. However, if you presently use a valance carport or portable garage for shelter, modify it with appropriate side walls and front and rear panels.

If, on the other hand, you haven’t even purchased a carport or portable garage, find one that not only meets your physical needs but is also large enough for the vehicle and meets local ordinances. Before even looking at carports and portable garages, measure your vehicle – its width, length, and height. Add any appendages, such as a vent on an RV, into the dimensions as well.

At the same time, many areas have ordinances for portable structures, and they may restrict where you can add your carport or portable garage and how large it can be. Research these before looking at carports and portable garages, as they may end up posing limitations on the type of shelter you can buy. Otherwise, a carport or portable garage that violates these ordinances or building codes may need to be taken down or modified, and your boat or RV won’t be adequately protected as a result.

A recent incident in Rocky Mount, Va. shows the necessity for inquiring about permits beforehand. Reported by the Franklin News-Post, the town requires residents to acquire permits before building carports; all residents planning to erect such portable shelters need to apply for building and zoning permits and have their applications approved.

A resident in Rocky Mount, however, was not aware a permit needed to be obtained before construction. Although he asked his neighbors about the carport, he went ahead and constructed the structure. When the town found out about the carport, the man was required to file an application, which was denied because the structure did not comply with zoning ordinances. After applying for an exception, the man was denied again on the grounds that the carport was considered an “intrusion” and not aesthetically pleasing in the neighborhood. Residents whose shelters do not comply with zoning ordinances need to modify their carports or remove them.

In addition to not looking aesthetically pleasing, a carport may be required to be in a certain location – behind a house and not in front or on the side, for example – or be a specific side. Some areas, as we have seen on here, won’t even allow residents to set up carports. Although carports and portable garages generally don’t require permits, don’t assume your area does, as well. Before going on a site to look at shelters, find out if your area requires permits and if ordinances pose any restrictions on portable shelters.

The largest fair in the Northeast, the Big E is an annual event held from September 16 to October 2 in West Springfield, Mass. The fair starts at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. each day and includes a variety of agricultural attractions, vendors, activities, entertainment, and foods from around the world.

As you’ve read on this blog, Portable Garage Depot is one of the top retailers of carports and other portable shelters. The company carries both powder-coated and galvanized steel shelters, most of which have heavy-duty polyethylene covers. No matter if the shelter is enclosed or has a valance style, the polyethylene keeps out water and UV rays and makes sure any vehicle underneath is protected from the elements. Depending upon construction, a shelter may be designed for temporary or long-term outdoor use.

Although portable garages and carports are typically geared toward sheltering cars, plenty of other items can be placed under. Enclosed portable garages, for instance, can keep a boat or RV dry and sheltered from UV rays in the winter.

More relevant to the activities and shows at the Big E, portable shelters are useful for storing animals and equipment on a farm. Shelters large enough for tractors and other equipment keep out the rain, UV rays, mildew, mold, and dry rot to prevent rust. For temporary shelter, a portable garage is also great as a run-in shed for horses. With two sides open, animals can run in and out during the day. To keep them inside the run-in shed, the portable shelter simply needs to be modified with gates on both ends.

A pop-up canopy is made out of a powder-coated steel frame and a polyester top treated to be waterproof and UV resistant. The shelter, however, should not permanently be kept outdoors. Powder-coated steel will eventually rust, and the lifespan of your canopy will be cut short. Nevertheless, the uses for this simple shelter are many. Set one up in your backyard as shelter for yourself or others, or fold it up and take it to a neighbor’s for a party. A carrying bag accompanies most pop-up canopies, and the folded canopy just needs to be placed in the bag and can be taken to any location.

Once you are finished using the canopy, make sure to fold it back up, place it in the bag, and take it inside or back home. Leaving pop-up canopies behind, however, has become a problem on beaches, especially as these shelters are relatively inexpensive. Nevertheless, canopies left behind become litter, especially if they end up in the ocean. If you plan to take a pop-up canopy to the beach or any other location, never leave it behind and, as soon as you are about to go, fold it up, place it in the carrying bag, and take it with you.

If these shelters were on display, there’s a great likelihood that they were not anchored into the ground. Aside from showing what can happen to a portable shelter in a storm, this news story sends a clear message to carport owners: make sure your shelter is properly anchored during the storm. Although these durable metal structures can handle various conditions, not anchoring them makes them more vulnerable in any weather condition: hurricanes, tornadoes, or snow.

If you want to make sure your shelter ends up in better shape after the storm, what are the options for anchoring it? The most reliable is concrete. The metal poles are set in concrete in the ground; once the concrete hardens, the rest of the shelter can be put together.

While concrete is ideal for those planning to keep a carport outdoors all year long, what about when you only use the shelter seasonally? Anchor kits are an option, allowing you to ground your shelter for part of the year and to take it down when not in use.

Even when anchored, shelters can still be damaged by a storm. If this happens, assess the damage done to your carport during the storm and find the right replacement parts or canopy.

A carport blowing over is the most notable fact of this news story, and for most people, this is insignificant: Carports blow over; repair the one you have or buy a new one.

Yet, for carport owners, this news item about a storm in Quinlan, Tex., indicates the times when carports just are not strong enough to hold up to weather. As the piece explains, winds up to 100 miles per hour hit east Texas, blowing roofs off homes – and inevitably off carports.

You may think to yourself, “Aren’t carports, once properly installed, supposed to hold up to all types of weather, even extreme storms?” Durability for all products – even portable storage shelters – is not absolute. At some point, a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake, may hit your town and your carport is just not strong enough.

As you recall, most carports are strong enough to handle winds up to 95 miles per hour, assuming the shelter is anchored into the ground. The structure is also capable of supporting at least 40 pounds of snow per foot; some designs handle up to 53 pounds per foot. Yet, instances like the storm in Quinlan come along and may damage your carport.

At this point, what do you do? Once you have assessed the damage done to your home, examine the carport. How did the frame hold up? Was the roof the only portion damaged? If the frame is still usable, only the roof may need to be repaired. For typical polyethylene and steel carports, replacement tarps and other replacement parts can be found at many canopy dealers.

Permits in Hudson became required in 2009 for residents for portable structures; the town claims this resident should have obtained one at the time.

As far as putting a portable garage in front of a home is concerned, this resident needs a portable shelter closer to his residence because of health problems.

If you own a portable garage, what does this instance mean for you? On multiple occasions, we have mentioned that, before you purchase a portable shelter, check the ordinances in your area. If a carport or portable garage goes up in the wrong location, the town may start sending notices or fines.

Once you find out where on your property you can place a shelter and how large it can be, decide on the type of structure you can purchase. Combine these aspects with your needs and choose a shelter.

Nevertheless, this instance in Hudson goes a step further than checking zoning rules and ordinances before you buy. Rather, you always need to be up to date on your town’s rules for portable shelters. As we saw a few months ago, towns like Austin, Texas may suddenly change their zoning rules. In these instances, you will need to move or remove your carport or purchase a permit. To avoid these situations, regularly check your community’s ordinances regarding portable shelters.

The Bristol Press reported last week that a carport attached to the Bristol Emergency Shelter collapsed, and the repercussions were more than a caved-in structure. Instead, the carport also snapped a gas line and the building’s electrical system. The carport, as the article mentions, is not the only one in Bristol, Connecticut, to cave in, and snow accumulation on carport roofs all over the city is causing these portable structures to cave in.

The Bristol Press piece also includes statements from the city’s Chief Building Official regarding the collapse of building and carport roofs. In all cases, roofs that are rotting or are not properly put together have a greater chance of collapse. State building codes, as mentioned, require a roof to support 40 pounds of snow and ice per square foot.

If you own a carport in Connecticut or another state, what does this mean for you? Take these three factors into consideration:
• Always anchor your structure. A carport, portable garage, or similar portable storage building cannot support as much snow or hold up to high winds if not anchored into the ground. In many cases, the structure will blow over or collapse.
• Clean off your carport. You likely own a carport so you don’t have to clean off your vehicle every morning. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should let snow accumulate on the roof. No matter if you own a fully steel or metal and polyethylene carport, regularly clean off any snow and ice. If your areas regularly experiences heavy snow, consider a rounded roof carport.
• Check the stability of the structure. Metal rusts and polyethylene becomes worn. As winter approaches, check your shelter’s construction for any rusted or worn parts. If any exist, find the appropriate replacement canopy parts or replacement tarps and fix your shelter ahead of time.

If you go to a retailer, you might see several types of canopies. All, as you can see, have a powder-coated or galvanized steel frame. Most have a polyethylene tarp on top, although some are made entirely of steel. Which one is best for your vehicle?

For everyday storage, go with a valance style. Valance-style canopies, also called carports, offer a standard level of coverage. The steel frame can withstand high winds (usually up to 95 MPH for most models) and heavy snow. The polyethylene tarp or steel top also keeps out UV rays and water. Not only protected from the sun and moisture, your vehicle will be dry nearly every day.

Portable shelters like canopies may be needed for a specific use, such as to cover a boat or RV in colder months. Instead of leaving the vehicle outdoors (this actually damages the surface over time), protect it with an enclosed canopy. With the same steel and polyethylene composition, these canopies have walls on all sides and a zipper or roll-up door. As moisture buildup is another concern, these structures allow air to circulate underneath.

Location and time are two additional factors to consider. Will this portable building be used all year long, or is it only erected in the colder months? If the canopy will be kept permanently outdoors, galvanized steel is better for long-term use; powder-coated steel does not have as long of a lifespan. Location, as well, must be considered. Some towns, cities, and neighborhoods have ordinances for portable shelters, in which location and size are restricted.