Author: ravenel

Five Ways to Spruce Up Your Storage Shed for Spring

Just because it is called a shed doesn’t mean that you don’t want it to be pretty

Just because it is called a shed doesn’t mean that you don’t want it to be pretty. Your garden shed likely sits in clear view of your home or patio, and although it is there to house your landscape equipment and things that might not be fun to look at, you want the shed itself to be attractive. Here are five ways to spruce up your portable storage shed to make it more appealing in your great outdoors.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Storage sheds often come in neutral and bland colors. If you have a more whimsical backyard, get a little crazy with the paint. Adding a splash of color that mimics the beautiful flowers of your landscaping is a great way to camouflage the fact that it serves a utilitarian function. Go a little crazy and enjoy doing something out of the ordinary!

Add Flower Boxes

If you want to cheer up the front of your storage shed, you can add window boxes to plant colorful flowers. Even if you don’t technically have windows, that doesn’t mean you can put faux ones on. Flower boxes are great year-round for color in the spring and Christmas lights in the winter. You can really do it up all year long with Halloween colors, St. Patty’s Day green, and Valentine’s Day red. Make it your holiday decor shed!

Landscape Around it

Instead of having just a plain old shed, why not adorn it with landscaping shrubbery and perennials that bloom all year long. If you strategically place flower beds, you will pretty much hide the shed altogether. When you’re planning your flower beds, choose landscaping materials so that something is growing and in bloom throughout the year, and consider things like differing heights to add a little texture and keep things interesting.

Hanging Lights

Sometimes you want to highlight the shed instead of distracting from it. If you use your shed for more than just garden equipment, then add some hanging lights and make it a new “hangout” place. Adding LED lights and some front porch furniture will create an entirely new entertaining space for guests. And why not convert the interior of your shed so that it has a refrigerator full of spirits and a microwave to heat appetizers? You can turn your garden shed into a tiki bar for the summer months.

Privacy Screen

If you want to make your shed all but disappear, consider putting up some privacy screens with flowering vines. Also, you can add some vintage weathered signs over the privacy fence to make it more like a hanging wall of art. The key is to distract – but since it still has to be there, make it interesting on the outside.

Sheds are a great way to house things that you don’t want to see, but that doesn’t mean that you necessarily want them to be ugly. These are just five ways that you can spruce up your shed, make it a new entertaining space, or brighten it up with a new whimsical feel. At Portable Buildings of Ravenel, we offer a variety of portable sheds to suit your needs and we are all about custom, so let us help make your backyard beautiful with one of our buildings!

Is Wood or Metal A Better Choice for Your Garage?

Due to the tepid conditions of the South Carolina region, a garage is not always a must for your vehicle, but there is no denying that adding one is a great way to build equity for your home.

Due to the tepid conditions of the South Carolina region, a garage is not always a must for your vehicle, but there is no denying that adding one is a great way to build equity for your home. According to statistics, the rate of return on adding a garage is somewhere around 65%, which is one of the highest ROIs for home improvements around the nation. There are both advantages and disadvantages to metal garages, which means sometimes it can be hard to know whether metal garage buildings are the way to go. Read this to make an informed choice.

Cost Comparison

When comparing metal garage buildings to wood construction ones, a metal garage is much less expensive than a wood one. Although costs from one area to another might vary, on average, a wood-constructed garage is far more expensive, sometimes three to four times more. Since metal buildings are also easier and faster to construct, you save more money when you choose them. Metal buildings are pre-cut so you don’t have the installation time of cutting and nailing pieces together.

Metal Garages are More Durable and Resistant to Weather

Both metal and wood garages will be affected by outdoor elements, but metal-constructed buildings tend to hold up better. Wood garages are susceptible to things like termites and other pest issues that can feed on and damage the integrity of their structural foundation. Wood buildings also require frequent painting, while metal buildings do not.

Metal Roofs Add Additional Fire Protection

Since metal buildings have metal roofs, they also don’t have issues with roofing shingles, can better withstand harsh outdoor conditions, and are mold- and mildew-resistant. Metal garages hold up better during storms because they are impervious to rain, lightning, and fire. Wood can catch fire. The International Building Code considers metal buildings to be non-combustible.

Customizable Options

Wood offers a variety of options for style and color and is often thought of as a more versatile material, but new metal building options provide owners with several colors, shapes, sizes, and facades. Just like wood, they also come in different sizes like two- and three-car. Where once wood material was the preferred building choice due to its upgraded look, newer metal options are offering the same versatility at a lower price point and without sacrifice.

For homeowners looking to add some space to house their vehicles and other toys, a garage is a great way to build equity. When compared side-by-side, both metal buildings and wood options have their advantages and disadvantages. The right choice for you depends on your budget and overall preference. Metal buildings come at a lower cost, sometimes a fraction of wood, and are available in a variety of options. At Portable Buildings of Ravenel, we are committed to offering the highest-quality exterior buildings in the industry. Whether you are looking to build a wooden or metal garage, we have several choices for you to look through.

The Quality of Your Carport Matters – Four Things to Look for

As we roll into 2022, many will commit to cleaning things up for the new year. If you have been considering the benefits of building a carport, this may be the year to pull the trigger.

As we roll into 2022, many will commit to cleaning things up for the new year. If you have been considering the benefits of building a carport, this may be the year to pull the trigger. A carport is an excellent place for additional storage, entertaining space, or to protect your toys and vehicles. But not all carport builders are the same. Don’t just Google “carports near me” and choose – here are four things to look for!

Materials Used

Carports can be constructed from many materials, depending on the style of your home and your needs. The quality of the materials you choose will affect the overall finished product. Before you hire a company to build a carport, look at all the options you have available to find the one that suits your needs best.

Guarantee

When you hire someone for a service, it is always a good idea to know what their guarantee involves. Sometimes carport dealers will guarantee the materials only; sometimes they will include craftsmanship. If you need a contractor to build it from scratch, it is good to know what they will and won’t cover if something happens. If a company can’t tell you what their guarantee is or whether they offer a warranty, you better just assume they don’t and move along to find someone else.

Permits

Depending on where you live, there may be rules and regulations about building. If you hire a company that doesn’t pull a permit, then you might be opening yourself up to fines and liability. Some contractors will avoid pulling a permit to cut costs, but that is never a good idea. Not only do you want to ensure that someone is overseeing the work to guarantee that it is done correctly; you don’t want to end up getting into trouble once the contractor is gone. The cost to clean things up falls on you!

Delivery

Sometimes it can seem like you are getting a great deal – until you look into the entire picture more thoroughly. When constructing a carport, the materials have to be delivered. If you aren’t sure if a company is paying for the delivery, then that can be a huge expense that you didn’t consider. Make sure to look over your quote or contract to fully understand what a company will and won’t cover financially. Otherwise, what at first looked like a great deal can be a really bad deal!

If you resolved to start 2022 by investing in cleaning things up around the house, then a carport might be the ticket to getting organized and having the additional space for storage. But don’t just Google “carports near me” and choose. The quality of the contractor you choose will significantly affect the finished product, so choose wisely and do the legwork to make sure you are getting the best. Contact Portable Buildings of Ravenel to discuss your carport build today!

Forget the Gym and Build Your Own Workout Facility for 2022!

If there was one thing that really fell by the wayside during the pandemic, it was going to the gym to exercise.

If there was one thing that really fell by the wayside during the pandemic, it was going to the gym to exercise. When things were shut down, many of us put our health goals on pause and quit exercising. As 2022 approaches, many are committing to making a change for the New Year that includes eating better and working out more. If you want to get into shape for the year ahead, then why continue to pay for a gym membership when you can work out from home? That way, if COVID resurfaces, you won’t run the risk of getting off track again. These are just a few good reasons to invest in a mobile building today.

Save Money

When the pandemic hit, many of us were paying for a gym membership that we couldn’t use, which was basically throwing money out the window. That money would have been better spent investing in a mobile building to store workout equipment. If you invest in one for the New Year, you don’t have to throw more money away on something you can’t use. You will have a place to go that will be all yours!

Stay at Home

Even if it weren’t for the pandemic, getting across town to the gym can be a waste of time. If you build a gym at your home, all you have to do is be motivated enough to walk a couple of steps. It is hard to say that you don’t have the time when the building is right in your backyard. Also, if you have little ones, putting them in the nursery can expose them to COVID and other germs. Set up your baby monitor and go next door to work out. That way, it becomes much easier to fit it all in.

Not the Social Kind?

Not everyone likes working out in a facility surrounded by others. If you have put off your weight and health goals because you don’t want to sweat it out with strangers, you don’t have to. If you create a gym in a mobile building on your property, no one can see you. Also, you don’t have to wait in line for someone to finish using the equipment that you want to use!

Return on Your Investment

If you set up a mobile building for working out and buy the equipment, you own it. If you find that you aren’t using it as frequently as you should, or at all, you have something to sell to recoup your investment. You won’t ever get back all the money you threw at a gym membership. It is a much more sound financial decision to build a gym than to rent one!

As we roll into the new year, many of us will resolve to get back into shape. Thanks to the pandemic, a lot of us had to put our weight loss and health goals on hold while things were shut down. Be prepared for the future by investing in a mobile gym on your property. That way, if the pandemic continues, you will be ready to keep on track! Contact Portable Buildings of Ravenel today and let’s begin building your home gym!