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.