Cheap ways to put a roof over equipment?

[shooterdon]

Steel carports seem very cost effective. As you get more $$ they can be sided and you can add doors. They are "instant" builds unless you want a cement pad under them.

Installed price for an 18x31 A-frame 9' sides is under $2500 in MI. 20x26 is under $2300

 

[ruffdog]

Those fabric covered buildings don't last long, depending on the quality of the fabric. Once the fabric tears, install some metal roofing sheets, easy and durable. I now have 3 sheds covered in this manner and have not had a snow load issue. You MUST get all the hoop frames all level and straight as it really helps the process. One building was a old greenhouse and I built wood ends. Once the metal is screwed to the hoops, it REALLY stiffens up the structure.

 

[Robert_Actual]

Steel carports seem very cost effective. As you get more $$ they can be sided and you can add doors. They are "instant" builds unless you want a cement pad under them.

Installed price for an 18x31 A-frame 9' sides is under $2500 in MI. 20x26 is under $2300

I honestly had no idea steel structures were so cost effective. Minus the slab you’re talking $5 a square foot covered!

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I've just priced myself a metal carport from "Alan's Factory Outlet". 20x36, 11' leg height to accommodate my camper, 3' strip down both sides at the top, delivery, install, and taxes at $3900. I don't feel like that's too bad, but I've never priced such things much before. It's for sure cheaper than building with lumber right now. I could have made it a little cheaper, and was going to go 18x36, but I had to spend $3600 to qualify for free delivery and install.

I've also just picked up a 10x17 "portable garage" from Harbor Freight for $180. It's not the most attractive thing, but it's going behind my house inside the privacy fence. It'll be for smaller things. My ATV, some gardening tools, little girl's power wheels.

 

[ruffdog]

The fabric on my 10x10 shed finally gave out after 20+ years so I had to put metal on it last Fall.

 

[ning]

and then there’s a high cube (refrigerated and a lot more expensive) that’s 9’6” high

My high cube isn't refrigerated - separate options possibly.

I got a 1-trip (as new as can be; there are other grades available too but my wife demanded something that didn't look beat up and barely tolerated the concept of a container despite it being out of sight) high cube (no ROPS concerns driving in) with doors at both ends. Obviously both features kicked up the price.

Delivery for me, about 150mi from the port, cost $600 in 2017. *Everything* is expensive in California!

I love having the container. I'm not concerned with security here (it's not locked, I'm here 98% of the time and we've never had anyone check the place out) but it's certainly pest-secure. It's pretty wet here in the winter and spring (usually, but not this year) but preparation can reduce water issues. Mine is on a slight slope front to back with gravel below and it's sitting on RR ties, up about 6" in the front and 12" in the back, so there's plenty of air circulation and I haven't seen any condensation at all, and despite being in 50-70% sun in the summer (95F typical here) it's about the same temp inside and ou; probably mostly due to the light tan paint (strongly recommended) and somewhat due to the air circulation allowed below.

 

[California]

I didn't have much luck with Harbor Freight's 'instant garage'. Over several years I don't think I ever had a tarp last long enough for a third winter. No snow here. Here's a photo after the second winter for this HF tarp that replaced the original one.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

That's not the same thing as what I have bought, but the covering may be the same material. I don't really have winter, just an extended fall . We'll see how it goes! I got the 1 year warranty so I can see if it'll last or not.


View attachment 693642

 

[PILOON]

We are close to Montreal which is a seaport.
Container prices have soared and quality is poor.
Friend ordered a 1st quality @ premium $'s and was delivered a rusted out filthy POS.
They wanted $3500 and added high shipping.
He refused it.
The attitude was 'take it or leave it'.

I read somewhere that China is so short that they have instituted some sort of bonus or discount to obtain as many as they can get.

 

[newbury]

6x6x12' PT= $70ea, 2x6x12' PT = $18ea, 2x8x12' PT = $25ea, 6x6x16' = $85ea

<snip> But no security or rodent control.

What is this "security" you write of?
Unless one builds a thick rebarred concrete wall people who want to break in can.

I can cut a "man door" sized opening in my metal sheds with about 4 or so 4.5" cutting wheels and my battery operated couple of DeWalt 20V Max angle grinder. Wearing proper PPE of course.
For stick frame construction my Sawzall or chainsaw will quickly make a hole.