Portable/Temporary work shelters

rob love · #1 14-02-10, 18:16

I have used modular tentage as temporary structures. The canvas can be had cheaply and if you find whoever buys the scrap metal from the local bases, often repairable modular frames can be salvaged. The key to surviving windstorms with modular is to secure every leg to the ground with stakes, and to tie off the peak of both ends with a guide wire to the ground. plenty of railroad ties on the flaps help keep it all in place too.

I recently bought a batch of mod tentage from the DND and for about $600 I got 40 salvageable centers, numerous fronts and rears, ten of the 10 man arctic tents, and a few other goodies in the pile.

Of course, if you are in an upscale community, the neighbors may frown on such a structure on the front drive. To this, I say, get thee out to the country.

Here is a photo of (one quarter of) another more permanent structure as I dragged it home from the local base a few years ago. Real cheap, and the work kept me busy for a few weeks.

NORTH-SHORE(CANADA) · #2 14-02-10, 19:01

HI

You were allowed on the road with that

rob love · #3 14-02-10, 20:13

Yes and no. I went at the last minute to the highways department to get an oversize permit. I had to go all of about 3 miles on the highway to go from the base to my property. Of course, their answer was no, and in anticipation I had already recce'd a much longer route using only grid roads. I went 8 miles that way, followed by a cross through a ditch and across my neighbor's acreage. I had hydro come check the route for line clearances, and they actually followed me for the first trip. Cost for them was $40. All four trips went without a hitch.

Grid roads don't fall under the Dept of highways authority. The municipal office didn't care, although they initially thought I would have to go to the area planning for a building permit. I informed them that my intention was to use it for agricultural purposes, to which we both knew there were no permits required.

Below are two photos of the last portion of the whole trip. First photo is crossing the ditch over a quick approach I threw in (30 yards of gravel). Second photo was where one wheel went over the edge. A bit of quick shoveling and I was back on my way.

meduffer · #4 14-02-10, 21:23

Here's a great idea for Haiti.

Mike

http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/index.html

derk derin · #5 15-02-10, 00:30

Rob,
They are still talking about that project of yours here.If they ever try and tax you on the building you can honestly say it is a portable building and I can move it whenever I want and I have pictures to prove it! Do you still have that old Ford truck or did it go to pasture?
Derk.

Bob Carriere · #6 15-02-10, 16:03

We now have 7 shelters at the farm.

The early one from Princess Autowhere beige/tan colored and last the longest....3 to 4 seasons or should say years as we do not remove them for the Summer.

Last few years the quality of the silver tarps from PA is plain awful.... one season is all you will get from the siver tarps...... so we buy replacement siver tarps at PA for about $40 when on sale (24x16)....some shelters now have 3 layers of tarp.

We never had one collapse but we do have a snow patrol.... I inspect the accumulation and let out an email for clean up..... easiest has beento push the inside with a traw broom..... on a cold day your hand is too small an area and can actually punch a hole in the roof.....

The other disadvantage is that all the snow you push off the roof falls on each side and will accumulate tot he height of the roof line....... from expereince we now leave just enough room between shelters fro me to back up the 7 foot wide snowblower and clear the area. Failure to remove snow from the side will eventually ice up and push in the side walls to a point of failure.

If I had to buy new temp structure I would favour the better quality Shelter Logic models sold by Canadian tire..... made in New England sate.... tarps are 2 to 3 times heavier..... roof is domed instead of flat pitch.... and are design to withstand snow better...... they are also taller by design. CTC sells them $600 but regualrly on sale at $400.

Don't be too concerned if the model you select is marginally not high enough for a CMP....... to anchor the shelter use old railroad ties..... you gain about 8 inches...... and they give you a place to lag bolt the shelter pads into something the wind will not lift.

For extra protection we usually tie the shelter roof peak with rope to the vehicles stored inside... like wearing suspenders and a belt.

We are hoping to get some sea containers in the future and span the space between them for more storage.......but most likely will still need the flexibility of cheaper shelters......

So far, in the rural areas, temp shelters have not been a by-law issue.

Boob

servicepub (RIP) · #7 15-02-10, 17:07

My (silver) PA shelter at the Hammond Barn has had a tarp added for extra protection but the one at Don Dingwall's back yard didn't and it 'blew apart' last week. I think that I will invest in a Cdn Tire model this summer.