Carport Empire’s full line of metal carports, RV covers, garages, barns, pump houses, and storage units offers the perfect solution for any use. In addition to a huge customizable inventory, each carport and building category offers a variety of sizes to suit any need. As one of the nation’s largest distributors, Carport Empire makes the buying process as simple and painless as possible while offering the best prices per square foot on installed carports or steel buildings.

Carport Empire makes purchasing easy by:

• Having a trained and experienced staff of carport and steel building professionals available to assist on the decision making process. Each professional, after determining the customer’s needs, can provide answers to any questions and provide guidance on making the right decision.
• Carport empire’s professionals can also advise on cost effective upgrades and customization options to ensure that the end product delivers everything required by the customer. In addition to size and style choices, customization options include a variety of colors, panels, trims, roofing add-ons like gables, and trims for the exterior of the structure. Options for customizing an interior include upgrades such as insulation, shelving, and storage.

• Buy now deals – These packages provide additional discounts to Carport Empire’s already low prices. These packages are made available on some of their best tubular steel buildings, utility carports, carport garages, motorhome carports and multi-bay carports for the purpose of making them affordable for any budget.

• Professional installation of certified and non-certified carports – Carport Empire provides, and only deals with, experienced and qualified professional installers for carport or steel building installations. Available in all 48 continental states, installers can build carports, garages, and any other building offered by Carport Empire on a variety of surfaces, to specifications which will deliver the greatest benefit to the customer. When state or local regulations require certification, Carport Empire can provide engineering stamps of approval for wind speed and/or snow load ratings.

• Financing packages – Carport Empire offers a variety of financing options to fit within the budget of any customer. Relationships with a long list of lenders mean that Carport Empire’s customers can arrange lending terms even without a perfect credit score. Financing options start with rates as low as 6.9%, Same as cash options for up to three years, and zero down opportunities on carports across Carport Empire’s inventory.

The combination of customizable inventory with great customer service and flexible financing options make it easy to select and buy a metal carport, RV cover, garage, barn, pump house, or storage unit from Carport Empire. For more information, visit www.carportempire.com or call (800) 985 7678.

Going green is no longer a tagline for the trendsetters, it’s an accepted and expected way of life and it can easily be incorporated into building and outfitting your new metal carport, metal garage or metal utility building.

Simply by choosing a metal structure, you’ve already made a great green choice. Metal construction requires no harmful chemicals such as resin, adhesive, wood treatments or pesticides commonly used in traditional wood frame construction. Metal is highly resistant to water, mold and mildew which can emit harmful toxin into the air you and your family breathe. Metal and steel building elements also are 100% recyclable at the end of a structure’s usable life. And Carport Empire’s metal carports, metal garages and metal utility buildings are built to last – particularly if they’re certified, meaning that they’re engineered to withstand heavy snow loads and high wind speeds.

Metal enclosed carports, enclosed garages and steel utility buildings are easy to insulate, which can help conserve energy, further control moisture and resist pest invasions. Reflective insulation is made with aluminum foil, which is completely nontoxic. Foam board and spray foam insulation contains no HCFCs, VOCs or Formaldehyde and does not settle or give off gasses over time, as do some other sealant products. It completely seals your structure, keeping outdoor pollutants and allergens out, which makes for a healthier hangout space – an important consideration if your enclosed carport, garage or utility building will be used for a children’s playroom, workshop, office or the like.

Lighting your open carport or the exterior of your enclosed garage or metal building can be achieved with solar light fixtures or compact fluorescent bulbs. Motion sensor lights help save energy and money because they’re only on when someone is in or near the structure. If your carport, garage or utility building has a window, use a blackout curtain to help keep out sunlight and heat. And if you’re structure houses your water heater, wrap the heater in an insulating blanket to help contain heat.

To learn more about metal carports, garages and buildings and their eco-friendly attributes, contact Carport Empire at 1-800-985-7678.

At carport Empire we offer much more than your everyday carport. We offer the ability to customize your carport to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for a car cover or car canopy, a pole-barn or pole-building, garages, storage buildings, and pump houses, or if you are just looking for a car-port that fits your style. All of our residential carports and our commercial carports are great for protecting your investments from cars and trucks to boats, RVs and trailers from harsh weather conditions and damaging UV rays. Contact us and ask us about any deals or specials that we are currently running for any of our carports.

If you’re planning to add an open or enclosed metal carport to your property, be sure to do a little legwork before your Carport Empire professional installer arrives, especially when it comes to wiring. Although Carport Empire does not provide electrical wiring services, your new or existing structure can be wired for electricity and phone service. Your best bet is to talk with an electrical contractor or telephone service provider first, as your plans, as well as the locations of your existing underground utilities wiring (including not just electrical and phone, but gas lines too) may affect the placement and orientation of your new carport.

In planning your electrical wiring, a prime consideration is lighting. Wiring likely will come from the same wiring that powers and lights your home or existing attached garage, depending on how close your new detached carport is from your house. If your carport is small, one or two lighting fixtures may be adequate. A larger, double-bay or triple-bay metal carport, metal garage or metal building may require multiple fixtures to provide adequate lighting. And if you plan a corner workshop table, for instance, you’ll need to be sure that an electrical outlet for a plug-in lamp is nearby.

If your carport is enclosed, most any standard lighting fixture should work fine. Open carports, however are subject to moisture conditions, particularly in rainy, snowy or humid coastal climates. If your new carport will have an open or partially open configuration, you’ll need to install appropriate outdoor lighting fixtures that are resistant to moisture. Consider adding floodlights around the corners of your open carport, and pathway or driveway lighting in the ground leading up to your carport to help ward off vandals and thieves.

For open carports, solar-powered lighting costs more than electricity-powered lights initially, but will save you money on energy costs in the long run. A solar light with a motion sensor assures the light will come on only when someone is around, then automatically turn off after a period of non-movement. This avoids wasted energy and money when no one is around, plus helps to alert you if a unwanted prowler – whether a thief or a four-legged visitor such as a rascally raccoon looking for a free meal – has approached your carport.

If you own or are planning to add an enclosed carport, garage or metal building to your property, consider the benefits of adding insulation. If you plan to use your structure as a workshop, art studio, office, play or recreation room you’ll want to make sure it’s comfortable and energy efficient. Quality insulation is a great way to ensure comfort and efficiency – and it may even put a few dollars in your pocket.

In an effort to encourage energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive construction and retrofitting of new and existing structures, the Federal government, many states and municipalities, manufacturers and utility companies are offering a plethora of rebates and tax incentives. These incentives apply to both residential and commercial builders and owners who install or upgrade insulation and purchase energy-efficient appliances. A great source to find out what’s offered in your area is the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association’s Simply Insulate website.

Insulation of your enclosed metal garage, metal carport or metal storage building offers many benefits:

• Reduced heat flow and costs for heating during the winter and cooling during the summer;
• Reduced consumption of fossil fuels which means less pollutant gas emitted;
• Condensation control, which helps to avoid harmful mold buildup and corrosion of metals;
• Noise control.

Three main types of insulation are best for metal or steel garages, carports and buildings: Fiberglass, foam board and reflective insulation (more on each of these in our upcoming blogs). Made from extremely fine fibers of glass, as its name suggests, fiberglass slows down the flow of heat into your house during the summer or out of your house during the winter. Foam board is sprayed onto walls, roofs and foundations, and can be used in crevices and small areas where other types of installation won’t fit. Reflective insulation makes use of foil to resist heat transfer and act as a moisture-resistant barrier against air infiltration.

Our next few blogs will go deeper into each of these types of insulation. Take a look, then call Carport Empire at 1-800-985-7676 if you have any further questions about the type of insulation that’s best for your enclosed carport, garage or metal building.

Many homeowners simply use carports and garages to shield their automobiles and other equipment from the rain, snow and sunshine. But others outfit their enclosed garages, carports and metal storage buildings as offices, workshops, artist studios, recreation rooms or one of a million other uses. If that’s the case for you, you’ll definitely need to have your Carport Empire structure wired for electricity.

While many of our clients and readers may be do-it-yourselfers, we recommend leaving dangerous tasks like electrical wiring to the professionals. However, thinking through and planning your electrical needs will help your electrician determine exactly what you need. Preplanning can avoid over-wiring of your structure, saving you thousands of dollars. And, it will assure that you don’t end up with an under-wired structure that lacks the electrical capacity you need. Retrofitting your structure for added electrical needs could end up costing you even more.

In planning your electrical needs for your enclosed carport, garage or metal building, think through how you will use your structure and identify all of the ways you’ll need power. There are four main categories to consider: lighting, heating, appliances and tools. Make a list of each of the items you’ll use on a regular basis that require power. Check the informational panels or stickers on appliances and other items (or the boxes in which they were purchased) for recommended or required voltage and talk it all over with your electrician. This is important because heavy electrical uses may require installation of multiple circuits of varying voltages and all must be handled according to building and electrical codes and regulations.

For example, several lighting fixtures and receptacles can share the same circuit. If you’re using your enclosed garage, carport or metal storage building for simple storage and minimal work or recreation activity, a 20-amp circuit with 120-volt receptacles may offer plenty of power. However, if you plan to spend many hours in your structure, using it as a workshop or office, for instance, you may need 240-volt capacity or dedicated circuits for larger heaters, appliances such as washing machines and clothes dryers, and some power tools. Many heavier-duty tools and devices such as electrical saws, compressors and any device with a motor larger than ¾ HP work more efficiently and last longer when run on 240 volts rather than 120. And many tools are designed to run on 240, especially automotive tools.

Putting some forethought into your electrical needs will assure that you enjoy maximum power for minimum costs based on your unique usage of your enclosed carport, garage or metal storage building. For more help, including advice on planning for electricity before laying the concrete slab for your new structure or retrofitting your existing structure for wiring, contact Carport Empire at 1-800-985-7678.

As the southern states continue to experience record low temperatures this winter season, everyone is looking for ways to stay warm. If you spend many hours in your enclosed carport, garage or metal building, no doubts you’re bundled up, shivering and thinking about heading back inside your warm home. But if your structure doubles as your workshop or office, don’t let the cold chase you from your work. Invest in a safe, affordable heat source instead.

Two basic choices are available for heating your enclosed metal carport, metal garage or metal building: electric heat or gas heat. The size and BTUH output of your heater, whether electric or gas, should be determined by the size of your enclosed garage, carport or metal building. BTUH stands for “British Thermal Unit per Hour” and refers to the unit of heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Here is a quick guide to determine how many BTUHs of heat your heater will need to emit to effectively and affordably warm your structure:

• A 24,000-BTUH heater for a 1-car structure up to 250 square feet;
• A 36,000-BTUH heater for a 2-car structure up to 350 square feet;
• A 48,000-BTUH heater for a 3-car structure up to 550 square feet;
• A 60,000-BTUH heater for structures up to 650 square feet.

If your carport is wired for electricity (see our next blog on Wiring your Carport, Garage or Metal Building for Electricity), electrical heat is easy and affordable. For a smaller structure, space heaters that work via 120-volt outlets work well, but can be dangerous. Never use a space heater near combustibles and make sure yours has a tip-over feature that will automatically turn the heater off if it’s knocked over. Also, never use a space heater with an extension cord. Most extension cords are not rated for the higher power demands of space heater and could easily overload and catch fire. More powerful heaters needed to warm larger spaces, such as Carport Empire’s triple carports or RV carports, may require a 240-volt receptacle.

Gas heaters run on natural gas, propane, liquid petroleum (LP) or kerosene. Natural gas and LP heaters require gas to be piped into your enclosed carport, garage or metal building, which must be well ventilated to prevent a dangerous carbon monoxide buildup within your structure. Propane and kerosene heaters require storage tanks for the fuel. Note that kerosene emits a strong odor, something to keep in mind if you’ll be tooling away inside your enclosed structure for extended periods of time.

A money-saving factor to consider is whether the electric or gas heater you choose is radiant, infrared, fan-forced or convection. Radiant and infrared heaters heat only nearby people and objects rather than the air, making for a more targeted, economical choice. However, if your structure will be used by multiple people (for instance helpers in your garage workshop or family members if your structure is used as a recreational room), a more effective choice is a convection heater, which is designed to heat air as it rises, warming the entire area. Insulating your enclosed garage, carport or metal building, and using weather stripping on doors will help keep things toasty.

If you have questions about the best methods for heating your structure, call Carport Empire at 1-800-985-7678. 

We’ve all heard the story of the neighbor kid down the street who took out the garage door or the back wall or support beam of the carport with a slight miscalculation and one foot on the gas pedal. Do you have a teen driver just learning the rules of the road? Or a family member who’s simply a clumsy, calamity-prone driver? Make sure your carport or enclosed garage remains intact with a parking guide.

If you’re looking for a parking guide for your carport or enclosed garage and have a knack for electronic gadgets, you’re in luck. Two popular garage guides on the market today are the laser guided parking system and the proximity sensor system. The laser guided parking system is easily mounted onto your garage or carport ceiling. When your car approaches, it triggers a motion sensor and a beam of red light is emitted downward. When you see the tiny red dot appear on your dashboard, that’s where you safely stop and the laser shuts off automatically. Dual laser systems are available for two-car garages and carports.

A proximity sensor system works similarly. Typically wall-mounted, these sensor systems light up when your car reaches a predetermined point in your carport or garage. Most laser guided and proximity sensor parking systems range from $15 to $35 and many require only a Philips head screwdriver and a nearby AC power source for easy installation. Battery operated options exist as well, including one that features a stop sign that waves and blinks when your bumper comes into contact with the pole.

A parking mat is even easier to install. Pull the cover from the anti-skid adhesive strip on the bottom of the pat and place it on the garage or carport floor where your front right or left tire (or rear tire if you back into your garage or carport) will rest when your car is parked in the right spot. These mats feature two raised strips. When you feel your tire go over the first raised strip, that’s where you stop. It’s much like the stop sensors you feel beneath your car when you pull into an automated car wash. And the cost is minimal – $10-$18.

Of course, you’ve still got the old-school methods of placing wood or cinder blocks on your garage or carport floor or hanging a tennis ball from the ceiling with a string. But those swinging tennis balls can get in the way. And once you’ve stubbed your toe on a cinder block a time or two, a more sophisticated parking system will seem well worth the money to even the most frugal among us.

If you’re looking to add a carport or enclosed garage to your property, browse the Carport Empire website or call us at 1-800-985-7678.

We’veall seen the amazing transformations of Regular Joe carports, garages and metal buildings on home improvement shows like the DIY Network’s “Man Caves,” featuring home improvement pros fixing up homes and garages just like yours. Think a beautiful enclosed carport, garage or metal building floor is too much for you to handle? Not at all! Epoxy flooring mixes, available online or at your local hardware store, make a showroom-quality floor easy. If you plan to use your new or renovated Carport Empire structure as a recreational room, kids’ playroom, office, workshop or your very own man cave, follow these steps for a new floor that will be the envy of your neighborhood.

1.    Clean and etch your enclosed carport, garage or metal building concrete floor, beginning with a through sweeping and a garden hose wash. Use a concentrated concrete cleaner with a pressure washer or garden hose nozzle with a tight spray pattern.

2.    Prepare the surface of your concrete floor with an acid etching or mechanical grinder. Many epoxy floor kits come with an etching or acid wash kit. Follow the instructions to help open the pores of the floor and remove all dirt, oil and other residues, allowing for maximum adhesion. If your concrete floor was previously painted or sealed, use a concrete floor grinder to remove all covering.

3.     Thoroughly mix the epoxy paint and epoxy hardener per instructions, then wait about three minutes to allow the mixture to allow the chemicals time to react and fully blend. Use a paint brush to form a border, then a paint roller to apply the epoxy paint to the entire floor.

4.    As you go, sprinkle color chips all across the floor while the epoxy paint is still wet. Allow 12 to 24 hours for drying.

5.    Mix the epoxy hardener and clear top coat, then roll the mixture over the entire floor just as you did the paint mixture. Allow 72 hours for drying before you walk or drive onto the floor.

6.    Invite your friends over and show off your gorgeous new enclosed carport, garage or metal building floor.

It’s that easy! No need to call in the professionals. When you apply epoxy flooring, your enclosed carport, garage or metal building floor will not only look beautiful, but resist common stains such as automotive fluids and paint. Spilled liquids simply bead up and your epoxy floor wipes up as easily as your kitchen counter does. And when you decide to sell your home, your beautifully floored carport, garage or metal building is sure to boost your property’s resale value.

Want to spruce up your enclosed carport, garage or metal building? Adding flooring is a great way to not only give your structure an upgraded look, but add value to your home and protect your floor from mud, oil, paint and auto fluids (depending on the type of flooring you choose).Your Carport Empire enclosed carport, garage or metal building will be installed on a smooth concrete slab. This affords you a solid foundation for your new structure but it’s not exactly an upscale look – yet! Concrete pigment, polish, epoxy or paint can transform a plain slab into a beautiful new floor at a surprisingly affordable cost.

If you’re just now preparing for your new enclosed carport, garage or storage building and haven’t yet poured your concrete slab, you can have a beautiful floor right from the get-go with a little forethought and planning. Ask your concrete slab installer to add a concrete pigment in your color choice to the concrete mix. Concrete pigments are finely ground colored particles that add color to a wet concrete mix. The idea isn’t new – pulverized minerals and charcoal were used in ancient cave paintings that remain vivid for thousands of years. Today, both natural and synthesized pigments are processed with modern techniques that allow for more intense coloring. Pigments come in every imaginable color and many providers can create custom colors that perfectly fit your unique style.

Another option for a gorgeous enclosed carport, garage or metal building floor is concrete polishing. Similar to sanding wood, concrete polishing employs heavy-duty polishing machines that use diamond abrasives in metallic and resin matrixes to gradually grind down the top surface of your concrete floor to remove minor pits, blemishes and stains to produce a stunning shine and smoothness. A final run with a commercial polishing compound will leave a high-gloss, dirt-resistant finish. Polishing of a pigmented concrete slab will create a beautiful floor that your neighbors and guests will envy.

Carport and garage floor epoxy affords you a showroom-like floor that resists typical wear-and tear factors such as automotive fluid stains, hot tire marks and paint stains. It beads water and wipes up as easily as your kitchen counter. It’s available in a range of colors and gloss levels, and can be installed by flooring professionals or by using a do-it-yourself epoxy kit. These kits are available at home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s or via a multitude of specialty flooring providers. Installing epoxy flooring involves cleaning and etching your concrete slab to remove any dirt, dust or residue. Then, you’ll mix the epoxy paint and epoxy hardener and use a paint roller to cover the entire floor with one or two coats. While the epoxy is still wet, you’ll sprinkle color chips, using more chips for deeper coloring. Give the paint 12-24 hours (longer if you’re in a humid climate) to dry, then roll on a mixture of epoxy hardener and clear topcoat. (Look for more on installing epoxy flooring in our next blog).

If you’re on a tight budget, a few coats of a 100% latex paint in your choice of colors is a less expensive option. You’ll want to prepare your carport, garage or metal building floor with a concrete bonding primer (available at your local hardware store) first, and you’ll likely need to tou