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Many people install a portable building on their property for use as a pump house, garden shed, or equipment barn. It’s an inexpensive yet effective solution to protect tools, machinery, and gardening supplies from the elements. However, once installation is complete, you’ll need an occasional bit of TLC to keep the structure in great condition. Here’s what to plan for before you situate your building as well as in the years ahead.

3 Tips for Maintaining Your Portable Building

1. Clean & Paint Regularly

An equipment shed is exposed to year-round sun as well as wind, rain, and snow. These can wreak havoc on the exterior, so it's important to clean the building regularly and paint it as necessary. To protect the walls, repaint the exterior when the existing coat has faded considerably or begun to peel.

Use a pressure washer to remove dirt, grime, algae, and other debris from the walls and roof at least once a year. For a wood building, use medium pressure, a wide spray, and hold the nozzle at least 2 feet away from the surface. Otherwise, the stream could cause gouges. Metal buildings can take a bit more punishment, but you should still be careful not to dent the siding with the spray.

2. Install a Skirt

The gap beneath the portable building and the ground is like a black hole for debris. It tends to attract fallen leaves, blowing candy wrappers, pet toys, baseballs, rodents, and all manner of detritus.

portable buildingTo keep unwanted wildlife and windblown trash from accumulating beneath your shed, install a skirt guard around the base. It could be as simple as a few inches of chicken wire, as professional as a custom critter guard, or as seamless as a set of aluminum panels that perfectly match the siding. 

3. Place on a Gravel Pad

Wood floors can rot if exposed to moisture over the long term. To prevent this, install a gravel pad beneath the building to facilitate drainage. This allows rainwater to sink immediately and harmlessly into the ground before it can penetrate the floor and prevents grass and weeds from sprouting around the outskirts.

For best results, the pad should be 6 to 12 inches longer on each side than the length and width of the structure. This prevents splash-back onto the walls from raindrops streaming off the roof. In addition to the drainage benefits, gravel is cheaper than a concrete pad, easier to install, and requires no curing time before it can accept weight.

 

If you're in the market for a portable building to store your equipment or supplies, stop by Sentinel Lumber & Hardware in Ashland, MO. They’re locally owned and have served Boone County since 1957, specializing in pole barns, decks, lawn and garden supplies, fences, fence posts, and even pet food. Visit their website to learn more about their inventory of portable buildings or call (573) 657-2164 to ask about pricing, availability, and store hours.

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