Portable shelter?

[Rotzy]

Is anyone using a portable shelter?

I don't have a garage and have been renting one for the last year. I was thinking of having a cement slab put down on the side of the house and buying a 12'x20' house-style shelter (http://www.alsdiscount.com/Sale.htm#house) to put on top of it. At a minimum of $100/month for a storage unit for the winter and $50/month for a neighbors garage for the summer (lots of begging, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get it this summer), that's around $850/year just for housing. I could probably get the cement poured and buy one of these shelters for about that much.

I'm a bit concerned about wind/moisture penetration and durability. Any one have any input?

[LS1_Disciple]

If it's around the same price as a year's worth of storage, I'd do it. There are several different companies that make these, so make sure you get a good one. I don't have any experience with any of them, so I can't help you there.

A 1 year payback is WAY better than on most business projects. I say do it. :thumbup:

[zombie5011]

first of all its concrete that you would have put down for the foundation. cement is the "glue" that holds everything in concrete togather.

and you should be able to get a cheap metal building made that isnt to expensive. It wont be as cheap as what you are looking at but it would last 10x's longer.

[LS1_Disciple]

Originally posted by zombie5011
first of all its concrete that you would have put down for the foundation. cement is the "glue" that holds everything in concrete togather.


Spoken like a true civil engineer :)

[Tuffass]

I like those... That would be awesome to wash your car in something like that!

[Rotzy]

Originally posted by zombie5011
first of all its concrete that you would have put down for the foundation. cement is the "glue" that holds everything in concrete togather.

and you should be able to get a cheap metal building made that isnt to expensive. It wont be as cheap as what you are looking at but it would last 10x's longer.

Thanks for the clarification about cement/concrete :D What type of metal building did you have in mind? Got any websites/prices for me to browse through?

[zombie5011]

I was just giving you a hard time about the concrete:cool:

You should be able to find a local dealer that sells the metal buildings. I know here like a 2 car garage type building is like $12-1500 installed. You should be able to get a 1 car pretty cheap. search the web and see what you can find.

[JJBrown]

Originally posted by Rotzy
Is anyone using a portable shelter?

I don't have a garage and have been renting one for the last year. I was thinking of having a cement slab put down on the side of the house and buying a 12'x20' house-style shelter (http://www.alsdiscount.com/Sale.htm#house) to put on top of it. At a minimum of $100/month for a storage unit for the winter and $50/month for a neighbors garage for the summer (lots of begging, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get it this summer), that's around $850/year just for housing. I could probably get the cement poured and buy one of these shelters for about that much.

I'm a bit concerned about wind/moisture penetration and durability. Any one have any input?

I did just that two years ago. I poured a 11'x21' concrete slab with rebar. I then fastned the car tent down with concrete rivets. I purchased the car tent at Cosco Wholesale and it has held up very well. Just have to bang the snow build up off the roof once and a while. I use it through the summer as a car port since I don't drive my car until the weekend I park it under the tent out of the sun and weather......works great.

[Rotzy]

Sounds excellent! Got any pictures?

Do you remember what you paid for the concrete and for the "tent". Is it completely water tight? Do you use it nightly (even on the weekend) or is it a bit of a pain in the a$$ to drive it in and out?

Thanks!

[DARK AGE 53]

Rotzy, Just down the road from me there's one of those house-style shelters, he's had it for three years or so and it looks like it's served him well. I take it you get your share of snow, don't go cheap or you might end up with a damaged car. JMO

Al

[JJBrown]

I will take some pics for you. The tent I bought is very water tight, the only areas were water runs in on the floor is around the bottom of the tent. I built the pad a little larger than the tent so it sticks out and collects water and snow. That was my only mistake.
I can't remember exactly how much concrete I ordered.......I think it cost me around $400-450. I picked up a couple loads of 3/4 crusher run with my truck for the sub base for $100. The rebar I got for free from my old boss who happened to be working on a local bridge. Built my form and away I went. Eventually I might put a rigid building over the pad.
Through the summer I leave the front flap rolled up so I can just drive in and out with ease.

[zombie5011]

The concrete will be like $75-100 per cubic yard for the material

check out concrete.com to calculate how much you will need.

[Blk00z28]

I dont know where you live, but check into metal buildings or even a garage from a lumber store.

I draw all the garages for 84 Lumber in the state of Florida, although I do not know the full package price, I can tell you its around the same price of that if not less, depending on the size you get, plus its alot stronger, and will last 10 times as long going with a garage then a plastic tarp type of material. :cool:

[Rotzy]

Hmmm, all good ideas. Starting to sound a bit more expensive than I originally expected (doesn't everything!).