Portable garages

[Prairie Kid]

Just wondering what Canadian cities laws are for erecting portable garages, specifically edmonton, i plan on calling our city information line tomorrow, but wondering if people here have had any negative experiences with bylaw regarding them.

Im looking at what looks to be a nice one, 12x20 and 8 feet high nice walls, sloped roof, soft not solid siding. and i really want it to free up garage space and have a place i dont have to worry about messing up when i work.

[graymond]

I would be worried about the wind. Have seen those things rolling down the street when I was living in Lethbridge.

I think I would only use one as a temp shelter, not for a regular garage.

Ray

[Prairie Kid]

ive got the wind problem solved, i plan on bolting it into the cement, we have the proper drill for the cement at work, we had to set up canopies to do major hail damage repair to the vehicles on the lot. bolted into the cement, the sucker wont even budge

[batman09]

I have one...works great in california....I be most worried about snow in you case......it will not handle any snow weight at all.....probably not even 3 or 4 inches.....

[taz3]

Typically portable, temporary or non permanent structures have no issues with any by-laws, but it's alway good to be sure. I had 2 of them up for a couple years in Ontario, with no issues.

[65novaken]

it will hold snow temporary BUT you definately have to knock the snow off right away!!!
i got a cheap one from princess auto and wont recomend it.
buy a quality one!!!

[taz3]

Costco, and Canadian Tire seem to have higher quality ones, but they do have cheap ones too, so beware.

[pastenseverb]

I have a Costco garage. It's good quality but i'm sure the top (tarp) will rot in a couple of years. I use it for an awning for special occasions in the yard.
D

[fencepost]

Are yall talking about tarp covered carports or the metal covered with metal square tube frame. In this area we call the square tube framed metal one's "portable carports".

[Prairie Kid]

im talking about the tube and tarp ones.

they wont hold snow unless i add reinforcement to the roof, it would need to be knocked off after each snowfall for sure.

i could only find bylaws regarding permanent structures. not temporary ones. a guy across the alley has one, but its in his backyard and he has a cargo gate that opens wide enough for a car, this yard im working in doesnt. it would basically be set up across the driveway from the garage, facing the back alley. current garage is parallel to the alley. so there would be about 10 feet for us to get into the garage. im just hoping there isnt any sort of dumb distances i need to give to the alley or the neighbours land that the main garage isnt already impeding on.

oh well, i will buy one anyways, if i cant set it up at the current location i'll throw it up in a buddies yard instead.

i just want somewhere i dont have to constantly pull the car out to work on, then back into the corners for room to park the driving ones. constantly setting up and tearing down my tools and car location is more than annoying, especially in cold weather.

[Stroker]

Definately needs to be bolted down. Be prepared to replace the tarp every few years. I've seen one collapse on a nice Dodge under snowload. No way you will build anything cheaper using wood.

[65novaken]

Originally Posted by Prairie Kid

i just want somewhere i dont have to constantly pull the car out to work on, then back into the corners for room to park the driving ones. constantly setting up and tearing down my tools and car location is more than annoying, especially in cold weather.

thats exactly why i got mine!
its working out quite well and now that its winter the car is in the garage and the tractor/snowblower is in the tent.things seem to be working out good....for now

[taz3]

Originally Posted by pastenseverb

I have a Costco garage. It's good quality but i'm sure the top (tarp) will rot in a couple of years. I use it for an awning for special occasions in the yard.
D

My Dad has the yellow one and it's on it's 5th year of being up continually all year round. The only damage has been from heavy wet snow with no wind.

[Prairie Kid]

Originally Posted by 65novaken

thats exactly why i got mine!
its working out quite well and now that its winter the car is in the garage and the tractor/snowblower is in the tent.things seem to be working out good....for now

the one im looking into should work well for me, i plan on putting plywood across the roof sections, under the tarp, chances are heavier snow will slide right off rather than sit there, and without the wood, it would sag, which is what the real problem is.

the location also isnt really susceptible to wind. you can tell its a windy day, but by being beside the garage, and with trees around, i could get away with supporting it to the fence it will sit by, enough brackets for a solid 3 point contact will keep it from going anywhere until i bolt it down.

lastly there may be issues. if i read the bylaws right, and depending if it fits under the type of structure. it may need to be too far away from property lines than i can deal with. im going to call the city info line tuesday and get it sorted out once and for all, i really want to do some more work on the car now that school is easing off as it goes into christmas break without having the extra crap work in pulling it out and then cleaning up again.

[arcmark]

Buy one at Costco! They are great and have all the side and end curtains. Just make sure you tie it down and support the roof framing? They don't have a very good snow load. So,, look at your situation and prepare for the worst!!!!