Car covers have come a long way from their humble beginnings as simple open sided shelters. Buyers now have numerous options in almost every aspect of car covers from size to functionality. For this reason, it’s important for a buyer to assess several issues prior to making a purchase.

They are:

* Intended use – Car covers are extremely versatile, providing shelter, storage, and other capabilities. They can be used as boat slip covers, as winter shelter for farm animals and additional space for either an office or a home, making it essential to define potential uses. The intended uses will then determine the size, type of structure, and whether any customization work is necessary. Customization work can include insulation, storage shelving, wiring for electricity, etc. Other contingencies should be considered as well, such as local weather conditions. Typically severe conditions, for example, might indicate for an enclosed car cover made of steel as opposed to a lighter material such as aluminum to bear heavy snow loads or to stand up against high winds.

* The budget – Metal car covers are a very cost effective alternative to other options for shelter, storage, and room additions. Budget constraints can determine whether a structure will be made of wood or a less expensive option such as metal. The budget can also determine the amount of customization that can be done on the car cover.

* The need for portability – Portable car covers can serve many purposes including provision of shade at outdoor events, covering walkways, and sheltering livestock. Metal and aluminum car covers are usually easy to take apart and re-assemble but the difference in weights could be a deciding factor. A buyer should be certain that the heavier weight of a metal car cover is manageable; otherwise an aluminum car cover will be the better choice.

* Going it alone – The basic car cover versions offer simple assembly, even with some addition of custom features. Assembly naturally becomes more complicated when features such as electrical wiring, insulation, and temperature controls are added. Many car cover providers offer free installation with the purchase so if the assembly of the structure starts looking complicated going with a company that will do the installation as a part of the deal can save a lot of aggravation and money. Car covers come in a variety of sizes and cover a multiple of uses. By assessing these issues first, buyers can ensure that they’re buying the best solution for their needs.

As our economy continues to struggle, property crime is on the rise, and law enforcement officials in many cities say they’re seeing thieves stake out residential garages, carports and storage buildings during the day, then return to rob them by night. Carport Empire offers several tips on warding off thieves from your property.

Be sure to lock all doors and windows of your enclosed garages and storage buildings. If you have an open unit, such as an open carport, vehicle cover, bus cover or boat cover, keep it well lit. All of our buildings and covers can be outfitted with electricity. Plus, solar or battery operated lights are available at any hardware store. Install lights on the exteriors of your units, or keep interior lights on. Thieves will think someone is inside and pass your property by. Also consider placing small solar path lights along the walkways leading up to your garage, carport or storage building. A well lit path is not one that a robber wants to take. Some also suggest leaving a radio or small television set on inside, making would-be thieves believe that someone is nearby.

Installing a video camera or mock video camera on the exterior of your garage, carport or storage building also helps fend off ne’er do wells. Video footage means evidence.

There are lots of ways to protect your Carport Empire garage, carport or storage building. Check with your local law enforcement authorities for additional tips and any recent news of thefts in your area.

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.

Whether you have a personal travel bus or a fleet of sleek, shining corporate tour buses, these vehicles represent a major financial investment. Protect that investment with a high quality bus canopy, bus cover or bus garage. Parking your bus under a steel bus canopy or bus cover or inside a bus garage from Carport Empire protects it from the affects of the sun, wind, snow and rain, preventing  extensive damage to the rubber and fiberglass components of your vehicle. And, it can help keep your bus’ or motorhome’s interior cooler during the hot summer months by shielding it from the sun.

In choosing the right bus canopy, bus cover or bus garage, be sure to specify your vehicle’s length and height. Don’t forget to calculate clearance of air conditioner units and other items mounted on the roof of your bus. Carport Empire offers open bus canopies and bus covers with widths from 12 feet up to 40 feet. The length of your bus canopy, bus cover or enclosed bus garage is unlimited and can be customized for single port, double port and triple port bus canopies, covers and enclosed garages.

For the best possible protection, your bus canopy, cover or garage can be certified, which means they’re engineered to withstand heavy snow loads and wind speeds of 110 mph, 130 mph and 150 mph. Certification also ensures that your bus cover, canopy or garage will meet any city, county and state regulations specific to your area. Carport Empire operates in all 48 contiguous states and our professional installers know exactly what to look for in local permitting requirements to guarantee that you will be in compliance.

Residential carports aren’t just for cars. Of course, they’re a great way to protect your vehicle from the sun, rain, snow, tree sap and other environmental elements. But many owners find multiple uses for their residential carports.

Larger,  residential carports can be used to cover and protect vehicles and other equipment that typically wouldn’t fit in a smaller, enclosed garage, such as large boats, tractors, RVs or motorhome and tractor trailers. And they’re a great add-on to your current attached garage for extras including jet skis and four-wheelers.

Smaller residential carports can be situated to be used as walkway covers to keep you from getting rain drenched on your way, and for picnic table shades. If you’re planning a party, family reunion or other big get-together, take it outside. A large residential carport is a great way to allow your guests to enjoy the fresh air while being shaded from the sun.

If you have a swimming pool, a residential carport can help keep out leaves and limbs that fall from trees, leaving you with hours of cleaning to do. Livestock and outdoor pets can find shade from the sun and rain beneath them. And an enclosed residential carport can be used to as storage for most anything that doesn’t require climate control.

Carport Empire has carport dealers and carport distributors across the United States. We have dealers that are able to talk to you about any size carport to fit your needs. Our carport dealers offer single carports, double carports, and triple carports, as well as extra wide carports and custom carports. We also offer distribution and installation with our carports, enclosed garages, storage sheds, and metal buildings. Our dealers can also provide you with information about any additional options that may help may your buying experience easier. Options such as adding additional siding to the walls of your carport are a great way to protect the sides of your vehicles form storm and wind damage, as well as shield you from rain on windy days. Other great options for carports are the utility closet additions, which will provide you we extra storage areas for items like, lawn and garden equipment, pool supplies, tools, etc… We also offer multiple color selections that can be applied to your carport, to help your accent your carports surroundings. If you have any questions about our carports, metal garages, or storage buildings contact one of our carport dealers or call us at 1-800-985-7678, and don’t forget to ask your carport dealer about carport financing options.

RV Covers and Motorhome Covers are one of the best ways to protect your investment, when it is not in use. Don’t let the damaging sun rays beat down on your recreational vehicle’s paint job, or let stormy and inclement weather damage and wear on your RV’s exterior. Protect your RV with a Metal RV Cover or Motor Home Cover. Our metal RV covers can protect recreational vehicles of any size from travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers, and pop-up trailers to Class A, Class B, and Class C motorhomes. Your RV is a big investment don’t let endure the harsh weather conditions when it is not in use, protect it with one of our RV carports or Metal Buildings. Carport Empire can build and price a metal RV cover to fit your needs, or call and ask us at 1-800-985-7678 about our RV Cover financing options.

Using Metal Carports are some of the most affordable ways to protect your car, truck, or automobile. Metal Carports are tubular structures that have a metal roof and will sometimes have side panels. Metal carports provide protection for your vehicle from the damaging sun rays, as well as protection for other harsh weather conditions, such as stormy weather, hail, and snow fall. For this reason we also suggest partial or full side panels, to help block any debris that may be blown through the air in a thunderstorm. Most metal carports can also be painted to match or complement it’s surroundings. If you have multiple vehicles you may also be interested in a double carport, a triple carport, or our extra wide carports, that allow ample run for getting in and out of your vehicles.  Carport Empire also offers custom or build-to-suit metal carports, which can fit any of your needs.

As the summer comes to a close and we begin to look ahead through the Fall season, beginning September 1, and into the start of Winter. We realize that now is the best time to begin preparing for the colder weather. We know what you’re thinking “Winter doesn’t come till the end of November”; so why are we talking about preparing for the colder weather? The answer is why not. We all procrastinate and try to hold off as long as possible before doing something. But now is the best time to get a head start in finding a metal structure, canopy, enclosed garage, or other winter shelters. Don’t wait for the severe winter weather to strike before installing a carport, metal shelter, or enclosed garage.

Our affordable carports, steel garages, and metal buildings can provide coverage and security from the harsh conditions of winter weather including, low or sub-zero temperatures, hail storms, blizzards and other winter storms.

News reports that sheriff offices around the nation have seen an increase in burglaries, in the past few months. Law enforcement needs everyone’s help in preventing break-ins and burglaries and in finding those responsible. So we decided to make sure everyone has a few ideas on ways to protect themselves from these types of situations.

When doing yard work you want to make sure not to leave yard or lawn equipment lying outside in sight of passersby’s while not in use. When you have finished using any lawn equipment make sure to store it in an enclosed garage or storage shed, and if possible lock your storage buildings.

If you are using carports or automotive canopies to shelter your vehicles or RV, make sure that you leave your windows rolled up, and the doors locked. You should also make it a good habit to remove any valuable items such as purses, laptops, cell phones, and wallets from the car, and at least move any other items of interest like CDs out of sight.

These are just a few quick ways to help keep your items out of the hands of thieves and burglars.  Check with your local law enforcement for additional ways to keep your property safe. If you are in the need for an steel garage, metal building, or storage shed to help protect your investment contact us at (888) 620-0004.