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.

Are you an up-and-coming professional music producer? Got a teenage future rock star in the house? Or is Dad aching to relive his own garage band glory days? Whether for professional use or just for fun, you can turn your enclosed metal carport, metal garage or metal building into a working music studio with a few simple soundproofing tricks.

If you’re a frazzled parent who just wants the noise kids call “music” these days to go away, you’ll want to make sure that the enclosed carport, garage or utility building where your teen and his friends will practice is soundproofed from the inside, so you can enjoy your home and garden in peace. If your carport, garage or building is being outfitted as a recording studio you want to keep exterior noises from entering your recording space. It’s important to know which soundproofing method does what. Here’s a quick rundown:

•    Sound Isolation creates a sound barrier between your recording space and any adjacent areas. This typically is achieved by using heavy materials to block exterior noise from coming into your studio.

•    Sound Absorption materials improve sound quality by reducing or controlling echo and reverberation.

•    Sound Diffusion materials distribute sound evenly throughout your space and prevent dead spots, allowing for proper mixing of your recordings.

A top sound controlling method with multiple non-noise related benefits is insulating your metal carport, metal garage or metal building. Fiberglass, foam board and reflective insulation all have noise reducing capabilities, particularly if several layers are installed. Cover your insulation with a sound absorbent drywall product like QuietRock, a drywall/fiber-cement sandwich with a sound-absorbing layer of visco-elastic polymer. If your structure has any small gaps, holes or cracks, seal them with foam board insulation, which can be sprayed either across the entire wall or used to fill in gaps where other insulation types can’t cover.

Cover the walls and windows of your enclosed steel carport, steel garage or steel building with heavy soundproofing blankets, made of insulation with a quilted cover. These are the same blankets you often see in furniture moving trucks and on freight elevators and they can absorb up to 60 percent of the noise in any room. Walls and ceilings of your carport also can be covered with acoustic panels or studio foam – that’s the egg carton-like pieces that you often see in images of recording studios and radio station broadcast rooms.

Floors and doors also are a consideration. Carpet the floor of your carport, garage or utility building, adding a sound-reducing carpet underlayment beneath it. This will help reduce the sound of footsteps and falling objects. Add an acoustic panel to your carport’s metal door, or invest in a soundproofing or sound isolation kit for your metal door or garage door.

Insulating your enclosed carport, garage or metal building conserves energy, saves money, reduces pollutant gases and controls noise and condensation. Several types of insulation work beautifully for metal structures. Among the best is fiberglass.

As the name suggests, fiberglass is made of tiny fibers of glass and works by slowing down the flow of heat into or out of your home. For example, during the summer, your air conditioner cools the air inside your home. Nature kicks into gear, trying to balance out temperature levels by sending heat through your roof, walls and window panes.  Fiberglass insulation won’t completely stop the transfer of heat into your home (or out of your home during the winter) but the glass fibers trap and absorb much of the heat, slowing its movement significantly. As a result, your air conditioner doesn’t wear itself out competing with nature to keep your home cool and you don’t get sticker shock when your cooling bill arrives in the mail.

Fiberglass insulation also prevents harmful condensation that causes corrosion and facilitates the growth of mold. It limits transmission of exterior sounds into your structure, plus absorbs reverberating sounds within. And it helps to boost lighting efficiency with reflective, laminated facings that make for attractive wall and ceiling treatments.

Fiberglass comes in sheets and is attached to inner walls and attic ceilings. Drywall can be installed over non-laminated fiberglass layers in your enclosed carport, garage or metal building for a finished look. It’s easy to install, but can be irritating to the skin and harmful if it gets into your eyes or mouth, so be sure to wear long sleeves and pants, safety goggles and mask and follow all safety recommendations.

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.

Carport Empire believes your metal carport, garage, storage building or pump house should be as stylish as your home. That’s why we offer an array of color combinations for you to choose from. Clicking the “Color Charts” tab at the top of the Carport Empire website takes you to an interactive page wherein you can click on one of 13 different color blocks to change the color of the side panels on a photo of a Carport Empire enclosed garage with a pass-thru carport. Do the same on the next row of 13 color blocks to change the color of the trim in the photo. This allows you to see what your new metal utility structure will look like.

However, if you don’t see the colors you want for your new metal carport, garage, storage building or pump house, we’ve got tips for painting it yourself. First, clean your metal building using a pressure washer and hose or scrub with a soft sponge and a solution of mild cleaner and water, such as ¼ cup of phosphate-free laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent per gallon of water to clear away airborne dirt, or ¼ cup of bleach or ammonia per gallon of water to clean organic residue such as pollen. Rinse thoroughly with a water hose, then wipe with a black or dark colored cloth. If you see chalk on the cloth, rewash and rinse that area, as this is a sign of natural degradation of the original paint.

Apply two coats of rust-inhibitive primer, then two coats of acrylic soft gloss house paint in the color of your choice, allowing several hours between each coat for ample drying time. Drying typically takes about two hours in warm, clear weather.

Your new metal carport, garage, storage building or pump house is sure to be a stylish addition to your property, whether you choose one of our custom color combinations or paint it yourself. Our paint jobs are designed to last, but natural wear and tear will happen on any paint job, depending on your area’s climate. And, you may want to update your colors as your personal preferences change over time.

If you have any questions about our existing color options or painting your own Carport Empire carport, enclosed garage, storage building or pump house, contact us via our convenient online email form or call us at 800-985-7678.

Chances are your independent style is evidenced in the choosing of your home and its colors, interior and exterior, and your carport, garage or storage building should be no different. At Carport Empire, we believe there’s no reason that utility structures shouldn’t also be stylish. That’s why we offer an array of color options for you to choose from.

In the taps across the top of our website, you’ll see a link marked “Color Charts.” By clicking this link, you’ll see a photo of one of our enclosed garages with a pass-through covered carport. The side panels, roof and trim all are white, but scroll down and you’ll see two rows of color blocks, one for the side panels and one for trim. Click on a color block and you’ll see the colors in the photo change. This interactive section helps you visualize what your custom colored metal carport, enclosed garage or metal storage building will look like.

Want a traditional barn look? Barn red side panels with white trim evoke a nostalgic, rural feel. Or, choose colors that match the exterior and trim of your home. Unless you plan to insulate your enclosed garage or metal storage building, you may want to consider a lighter color for your side panels, so as to reflect the sun’s rays. Darker colored panels will soak in the sun’s rays, raising the temperatures inside your enclosed garage or storage building.

Don’t see the colors you in mind on our color chart? In our next blog, we’ll give you tips on painting your new carport, enclosed garage or storage building. Please note, however, that the actual colors of your structure may differ slightly from what you see on your computer monitor due to color differences in monitors and graphics processors.

Got a question about color options for your steel carport, enclose garage or steel storage building? Feel free to contact Carport Empire and talk with one of our friendly representatives today. Reach us via our convenient online email form or call us at 888-985-7678.

A Carport Empire metal garage, metal storage building or metal carport is an investment that you can expect to last for many years. Our products are made with only the strongest most durable products and installed by highly trained professionals. So when it comes to cleaning your painted structure, we’ve got some helpful tips.

Painted metal garages, metal storage buildings and metal carports often collect airborne dirt, organic residues (such as pollen), mildew and chalk. Mildew typically shows up in areas that remain moist for extended times, such as north-facing walls and areas that are sheltered by eaves or nearby trees that block the sunlight from drying rain, for instance. Chalk is a natural byproduct of paint degraded by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. What many believe is fading of the paint is actually a buildup of this chalky film that covers the paint, making it appear lighter and less glossy.

Mildew and chalk are most effectively removed by a good pressure washing. Hire a local pressure washing service, or buy a consumer grade pressure washer from most any hardware store. Prices range from about $300 to nearly $2,000.

To clean airborne dirt or organic residues, first rinse the entire surface of your metal garage, metal storage building or metal carport with a water hose. Mix a solution of mild cleaner and water, such as ¼ cup of phosphate-free laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, bleach or ammonia per gallon of water.

When using bleach or ammonia be sure to mix the solution in a well ventilated area. Scrub soiled areas with a soft sponge or cloth. To reach high walls, use a soft bristled brush on pole or a sponge mop. Avoid using harsh items like steel wool or hard-bristled brushes, as they may scratch or dull the paint. Once you’re done, thoroughly rinse the entire area, as some cleaners may leave a residue. Make sure the water sheets off the metal. If you see bubbles or beads, rewash the area with the soap solution and rinse again.

Keep your Carport Empire metal garage, metal storage building or metal carport looking brand new for years to come.