Shed Misfortune from Your Barn Shed: 5 Security Tips

If you have a barn or a large plot of land, you know how important it is to keep your shed and its contents secure.  The shed is where you store expensive things like hand tools, power tools, tractors and vehicles, and other things like animal feed, fuel and fertilisers.  All of these things keep your land in good order and your animals happy.

If you have a shed or are thinking about building a shed, there's something important that's probably crossed your mind – security.  Since sheds are usually located a considerable distance away from the home, it's important that they have their own means of protection – from fire, thieves and severe weather.  Use these helpful tips below to safeguard your shed and keep it, and its contents, safe.

Tip #1: Equip with Fire Extinguishers

This is the easiest security measure you can take.  Fire extinguishers are relatively inexpensive, plus they protect your shed against the most threatening thing – fire.  Even if you have a metal shed, the contents within it are flammable.  Having a fire extinguisher located within the barn will decrease your risk of losing valuables.

Also, if you have a relatively large shed, buy more than one.  If your shed is partitioned, buy one for each section.  Keep them close to the entrances and readily available.

Tip #2: Install Security Cameras

These aren't as effective as armed sentries, but they do serve a purpose.  As technology has advanced, security cameras have become less expensive and smaller.  This is good for shed owners like you.  It's now affordable to install a camera at each corner of your shed (if it's larger and has multiple entrances).

After installing cameras, don't feel the need to watch them unless you're expecting a late-night visitor.  Although they do serve as a scare tactic, their main purpose isn't to prevent criminal activity.  Their main purpose is to provide valuable information.  Information you can use to reinforce your shed's security.

Tip #3: Build Partition Walls

If you're storing more than one type of item in your shed, partition walls help organize your shed's contents.  In addition to adding organization value to your shed, these walls also keep highly flammable items like hay away from expensive tools and machinery.

Depending on the size and contents of your shed, one or more partition walls may be needed.

Tip #4: Invest in a Heavy Duty Lock

However simple an idea, this flies right over people's heads.  But don't let it fly over yours!

Investing in a heavy duty lock over a cheap lock can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars saved.  If a small-time criminal comes across a heavy duty lock with a cheap pair of cutters, there's no way he's getting in your shed.  What's separating him from that expensive tool of yours is that heavy duty lock you invested in.

Tip #5: Keep it Insured

This tip is especially important if you're storing valuable items in your shed.  If you're using your shed for tractor storage as well as feed storage, this is an area you need to look into.  Even if you don't have existing insurance on your home, it's important to investigate your options.

If you already have insurance, depending on your plan, your shed may already qualify for insurance.  Finding out is as simple as checking with your provider.

Keep these tips in mind and safeguard your shed today.

Your Car Needs Sunscreen, Just Like You!

When you buy a new car, it's glossy, clean and flawless.  It stays like this for a day, maybe two if you're lucky.  Whether it’s a rainstorm that smudges the shine of your car, a salt-flinging salt truck, or an unseen pile of mud, your car gets dirty soon enough.

But these events that steal your car's original vibrancy are all topical.  The fact is: you can take a smooth rag to your car to rub away the rain smudges, scrub the cloudiness from your fender caused by the salt, and take your car through a quick drive-thru to put the mud back where it belongs – the ground.

However, removing the signs of damage caused by the sun is near impossible.  Unless you have the money to invest in a whole new paint job.  But let's face it – most of us don't.

Lucky for everyone who loves their car and takes pride in preserving its original glamour, there are steps you can take to prevent the sun from damaging your car's coat.

Wax with UV Stabilizers

When car wax came out decades ago, it didn't have all the properties modern car wax has.  It made cars shine, but it didn't add any protection value.  Today, many car waxes are fortified with UV stabilizers.  They complete the original mission of car wax (improve aesthetics) as well as protect the car's exterior from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

Although it's good to keep your car covered while parked, waxing with fortified compounds will protect your car while you're out putting it to good use.  Which brings us to our next point …

Buy a Fitted Car Cover

This is a great solution if you're a city dweller.  Although it seems awkward at first, a fitted car cover works better than any fortified wax to prevent sun damage.  Buying a non-fitted car cover is cheaper, but two problems arise.  First, it looks worse than it has to and, second, it may not protect every piece of your car's exterior.  Spending the extra few bucks to get a custom cover is well worth the money, for aesthetic and protection purposes.

Invest in a Single Garage

And we conclude with the best solution available. Garages.

A single garage is more than a solution, though – it's a sanctuary.  It's a place that takes care of your car when you can't … a place that protects your car from thievery … and, most importantly, a place that gives the sun no earthly business damaging your car's paint job.

The best thing about a single garage is that it's simple and attractive.  It's designed for one occupant and nothing else.  Maintenance is easy and peace of mind is offered.

Steel Garages add Value and Storage Space

Whether they are for homes or for businesses, steel garages are a great way to add additional storage space and value to a property at a low price. Made with durable steel that can be placed almost anywhere, this type of construction is an ideal new addition to an existing property.

By clearing out space within your business, you can build in more shelf space, and add more merchandising and promotional areas to your storefront. Instead of using this valuable customer space to store excess products and supplies, arrange to build a steel garage and get items out of the way, but within easy reach.

Available in a wide range of sizes starting at 3m width and 6m length, steel garages can be custom-built to meet the requirements of your home or business. Wood and brick constructions can cost up to four times as much for the same sized building, so using steel is the most cost-effective way to add extra storage options. Because we build so many of these garages, we are able to offer them at an unbeatable price, as well.

Imagine the possibilities when using a steel garage to meet your extra home storage needs. If there are enough things cluttering up the house, getting rid of some of them by placing them in storage can really bring new life into the rooms. Some of our customers have reclaimed whole rooms from the clutter, which can now be used for more practical purposes.

These steel structures can also be used as traditional single-car or multi-car garages to park your vehicles. We even have workshop models available to give you a space to practise woodworking, welding or any other trade. If your home or business did not come with a garage built-in, you don't have to live with the lack. Constructing a steel garage for your home or business is an inexpensive way to take control of your things and get them organised.