Hobbies get more expensive as we get older.  We take up things like boating, camping, touring.  And now that we are older we want the real deal.  We want the big boat, the fancy RV, the fantastic sounding Harley.  As our hobbies get bigger and more expensive, they also develop a little dilemma, how do we protect them?

We certainly don’t want that brand new Harley sitting out in the rain, but there just isn’t room for it between the wife’s car and your SUV.  You need a way to protect your investment.  One way would be to rent a storage space.  But if you go that route, you will end up with monthly bills, and who knows how far away the space would be located form your home. 

A space located off of your property just isn’t a solution that works. A simple yet effective solution to the problem is to purchase a shed to protect our valuables. 

You can use a shelter to enclose anything from lawn equipment to boats, or motorcycle’s, and they are a great way to get extra storage for those things that are cluttering up the house. Storage sheds are great for providing easy access to tools and related items. You can build a shed that includes multiple storage solutions for organizing your clutter, and protecting your valuables.

Portable storage buildings will be the most economical, but a shed can easily be built from wood or plastic.  Storage sheds are usually easy to assemble.  You will need a screwdriver, pliers, gloves, a stepladder, and it will speed up the process if you have a cordless screwdriver with a magnetic tip. 

It is also recommended that you have two people to assemble your shed, and to assemble it on a windless day. Make sure you have an even foundation.  Use a square, level surface.  You can purchase a floor kit, pour your own concrete slab, or build your own wood deck floor.  To prevent wind damage you will want to anchor your building.  You can use heavy ground augers, steel cables, or posts. 

There are also concrete anchor kits that you can purchase. Most sheds will take a full day to assemble if they are large, and if you are going with a standard metal style shed.  The best solution for protecting valuables is going to be a heavier shed that you can lock.  You want a storage shed that will protect your valuables from the elements, as well as the thief down the street.

Hobbies like cycling, boating and camping do not need to be left out in the rain.  They can be fully protected with the genius of an inexpensive storage shed.  Next time you hesitate to purchase that boat because you have no place to store it, think of this simple storage solution.

The first thing to do when planning a greenhouse is to decide upon what to grow. The products that you will produce are the most important factor. If you are planning on making money the easiest answer is to grow what you will be able to sell. Don’t grow something simply because you love it. Do some research and find out what will sell, and find out the products that are making money, so that you position yourself to make money.

One more thing to consider when deciding upon the products you will grow is quality. You will not want to sacrifice quality for quantity. When starting a greenhouse you will stake your reputation on the quality of your products, don’t sacrifice your reputation for a few cents saved. 

One lucrative aspect of a greenhouse can be annual and perennials for landscaping. A grower who is careful and has good weather conditions may be able to produce multiple crops in a single growing season. A spring growing season can start as early as January with proper planning and knowledge, as well as cooperating weather conditions. 

Potted plants are another opportunity for greenhouses to make a profit. These plants offer the opportunity to provide sales and income year round, and so can become a major portion of the income for a greenhouse. There are seasonal opportunities for growers during Christmas and Easter with such potted plants as poinsettias and Easter lilies. 

One struggle for a greenhouse is timing. When it comes to making a profit with potted plants timing is crucial.  Plants can be sold during a very narrow window. The timing for a poinsettia is crucial, they need to bloom for Christmas, and if the grower misses the timing the crop is ruined because they will not be sold.

Greenhouses can also profit from selling house plants and potted foliage plants. These are less risk opportunities for growers because the timing is not as crucial. If the plant is not sold today it will only be bigger and more beautiful in future days or weeks, and thus more attractive and worth more money. 

One more way to produce money for growers is in the cut flower market. The potential for money in this market can be great but the risks here are also higher. Timing once again comes into play and with it the increased need for better marketing and sales. Markets for this product include holidays such as Valentines and Mothers Day as well as the wedding season. 

Greenhouses can be very enjoyable and profitable businesses if you know what to grow and when to grow it.  This type of knowledge can be gained with proper research and instruction. Armed with the right information you too can become a master grower.

Planning large events like weddings and graduation parties can be overwhelming.  It is so expensive to rent a building, and there just isn’t enough space in most houses to hold that many people. One easy solution is to take the event outdoors. 

A party tent can be the perfect answer to your space issue.  A party tent will help keep the elements away from your guests and allow your event to stay outdoors. 

A party canopy can be a great way to provide an extra space for celebrations.  You can easily put up a small shelter or party tent that will provide shade and protection from rain so that you can have plenty of space for that large event. 

Temporary shelters are great for graduation parties, anniversaries, and wedding receptions.  Outdoor celebrations are perfect when you don’t have enough space to host the party indoors and Portable Products offers a great solution. 

You can rent a tent or purchase one online.  The company who rents the shelter will come and set it up for you and take it down for a fee.  There are usually service contracts that can hold you responsible for any damages resulting beginning from the time it was set up until the time the tent is taken down. 

With the costs that you can incur, it may be more feasible to purchase your own party tent, especially if you plan on using it more than once.  I know of several families who have rented party canopies for their children’s graduation parties and weddings and would have saved so much money by purchasing their own party tent. You can always turn around and sell the tent when you are done or start renting it out yourself.

Another option for an event is to purchase a permanent structure or shed that can be used for other things when not being used for celebrations. Portable shelters can be temporary or permanent, but they are a great low cost solution. 

Another popular type of shed is the wooden structure.  They are popular because of their natural look that goes well in gardens and blends in with a home often times much better than other types of sheds.  Because wood is prone to rotting and splitting these sheds tend to be less durable.  If the wood is treated, some of these problems can be prevented.

Whatever your choice of shelter for your event you will be glad you provided your guests with shelter from the weather and at the same time saved some money and wear and tear on your home. For your next big event consider the benefits of a party tent.

You can use a shelter to enclose anything from lawn equipment to boats, and motorcycles, there is a storage solution out there that will be perfect for your needs.  Storage sheds are a great way to get extra storage for those things that are cluttering up the house.

Storage sheds are great for providing easy access to tools and related items. You can build a shed that includes multiple storage solutions for organizing your clutter. If you build your own shed you can customize it inside and out to fit all your storage needs as well as make it look like a beautiful addition to your yard.

Storage buildings made from polyethylene will be the most economical & can easily be built in one day.  Sheds are usually easy to assemble.  You will need a screwdriver, pliers, gloves, a stepladder, and it will speed up the process if you have a cordless screwdriver with a magnetic tip. 

It is also recommended that you have two people to assemble your shed, and to assemble it on a windless day. Make sure you have an even foundation.  Use a square, level surface.  You can purchase a floor kit, pour your own concrete slab, or build your own wood deck floor. 

To prevent wind damage you will want to anchor your building.  You can use heavy ground augers, steel cables, or posts.  There are also concrete anchor kits that you can purchase.

Most sheds will take a full day to assemble if they are large &  If you are going with a standard style shed.  If you are putting up a summer shelter or other similar type shed they will take less time.

Sheds are a fantastic way to make extra space for any number of reasons.  If you need more storage, more tool space, more space for your hobbies, consider a portable storage shed for your needs.

How are your frames made? All of our frames are made of weatherproof Structural Steel tubing. The diameters and thickness vary upon the application.  Our 1-car garages have 1 5/8” diameter main ribs; compared to most competitors that use 1” to 1 3/8” maximum. Our 2-car garages and RV shelters use 2 3/8” Diameter main ribs, the largest in the industry; for strength and durability.

Which style is better for snow, House or Round? The two styles are very similar to each other with respect to their strength in snow prone areas. However, the House or Peak style does have some increased interior space due to the straight sidewalls and is recommended for everyday “garage” type use. Wider garages necessitate the use of the “peaked” roof, to allow for useable height at the sides. Our units use a steep pitch to its roofs to ensure that snow and ice slide off easily. The Round style buildings do allow for the snow to slide off more easily. In heavy snow prone areas we can provide reduced rafter spacing to make the frames stronger. 3’ Rafter spacing vs. standard 4’ Rafter spacing.

What type of material is used? Nova-Thene® Rip stop woven polyolefin is a, UV treated, triple laminate polyethylene. Polyethylene is the same material used in most tarps; this is where the similarity ends. Our fabrics are made of a “triple laminate” design. This means that an outer layer of UV Treated, waterproof material is laminated to a mesh or “Rip-Stop” inner core. On the inside a UV Treated, White inner layer is also laminated to the mesh. This produces a material that is completely impervious to water and wind, is incredibly strong; up to 380lb/ft tear strength, and in the case of the Heavy Duty material will last in the worst weather for years. The Double Stack weave provides unmatched strength to weight ratios. Please take a look at our buyer’s guide for more details.  

What colors are available? See our fabric specifications and color chart. The inner layer is always white to reflect ambient light and make the inside of the unit brighter. Unlike some of our competitors, who use colored interiors, which make it dark and difficult to work in.

What color lasts the longest? All colors are UV Treated to be equally durable, color choice is up to you as a matter of aesthetics. Most popular colors are forest green, gray, and tan respectively.

How difficult is assembly? Most of our residential shelters with either the bolt-together or self-tapping screw design can be installed in just a few hours with basic hand tools and 2-3 people. The unit arrives to you ready to assemble and all hardware is included. The unit arrives to you ready to assemble, no punching, cutting or welding is require. All required hardware is included as well as Step-by-Step instruction. We also have representatives available 7 days a week to provide assistance over the phone with installation or technical questions.
* Some structures require minor drilling or self-tapping screw installation. Detailed instruction manuals are also included with a toll free phone number for assistance. 

Several factors are involved when making the decision as to size. The first thing to consider is the available area for the unit. Measure the area available taking into account any overhead obstructions such as power lines, trees, overhangs etc. Keep in mind that the overall dimensions of the unit needed will be considerably larger than what is being stored. Get accurate dimensions of the vehicle or items to be covered. These dimensions must take into account all accessories such as luggage racks, antenna, air-conditioning units etc. When you have these dimensions contact our sales associates for suggestions on size and style.

 *Note: Height of trailers should be measure while attached to tow vehicle.

Can the shelters handle my weather year round?  The products we provide use only the highest quality materials and are designed for extreme weather conditions year round. From the blazing sun in the southwest to the snow and extreme cold in the Midwest and New England. Our years of experience and field-testing have shown that properly installed; our units can resist all types of weather. As a New England based company we have seen our shelters come through some of the worst weather on record. Our larger trussed shelters have engineering specifications of up to 60 pound per square foot snow loads and 100 MPH wind loads. *Contact our Trussed Building Division for specifications.

Anchor systems are designed to ensure that your shelter is anchored safely and securely. The type of system used with your shelter should be based on the size of your shelter and the type of surface to which you are securing your shelter. We have several anchor systems available to secure your unit in a variety of conditions. Your garage must be anchored securely to keep it in place and to provide structure support. Anchors are available for Dirt, Asphalt, Concrete, and Wood. Please consult with one of our experienced sales associates for the proper anchoring system for your conditions.

Is a building permit required for assembly? In most instances, a permit is not required due to the building’s temporary nature. Because the buildings are not permanent structures and they can be moved easily. However, it is always best to check your local regulations prior to purchase.

 Do I need to pay property tax on my building? Due to the temporary nature of our buildings, you will most likely not need to pay taxes. Check with your local assessor’s office to be sure.

Can I request a material sample before ordering? Depending on the product, samples are often available free of charge.

Will I be able to buy replacement parts? We sell all the individual replacement parts for the units we carry. Please contact one of our sales associates’ with your needs.

Do you offer customer pick up? Yes we do offer customer pick up at our local warehouse on some of our products. Please contact one of one sales representative for more information.

How can we order our building and how long will it take to receive it? Portable Products is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9 pm EST. Our professionally trained sales people can answer any of your questions and take your order by phone. You may also order most of our products online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As long as your building is in stock we ship with in 4 business days. Depending on your location in the U.S., lead time is usually 7-10 business days. On products made to order lead time is usually a bit longer (8 to 15 business days, with 3 to 5 day ship time).

What forms of payment do you accept? Portable Products accepts most forms of payments for your convince, we accept cash, checks, money orders, Pay Pal, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, & Discovery). Your credit card will be charged with in 24 hours, of when you place the order.

What is a “promo” or coupon code? “Promo” or coupon codes are used in conjunction with our special offers. These codes will drive your special discounts and pricing.

What is your Return Policy? The cost of freight and custom nature of some of the products we sell make returns difficult if not impossible. Please make sure you order the correct product.

Please read our: terms and conditions.

What type of warranty is offered? In most cases a 1 to 5 year manufacture defect replacement warranty is offered depending on the product. On the 12.5 ounce units, the manufacture offers a 15 year limited warranty on their cover material. Please contact us for more details.

I am missing parts. What do I do? If you find that you are missing parts or a part has been damaged in shipping, there is no need to return your item for an exchange. Please all our customer service department at 1-800-996-0676 and we will gladly ship a replacement part to you as quickly as possible. Please have the part number that is referenced in the product instructions.  

What are your shipping charges? Shipping charges vary by product and your “ship to“ address. We use a “freight shopping” program to insure the best possible shipping rate. Express or 2-day shipping options are available on some products at a higher price. Please fill out our freight quotes form for more details or contact us.

Can I get a discount if I purchase larger quantities? Some of our products will have price breaks for larger quantities. Those items will have a special pricing table on the product details page.

Why do some of your products have extended lead times or delivery dates? Some of the poly buildings and greenhouses we offer are manufactured items (made to order). In some cases, we may be able to accommodate a rush order.