Portable Buildings

Portable buildings are an absolute must for many homeowners. You know the kind – those “collectors” with too much stuff to fit inside their house. My spouse and I fall into this category, so we have not one portable building, but two portable buildings! And both are full. In fact, we’re considering buying building number three.

Why portable buildings?

You can use portable buildings for just about anything. Personally, I’ve used one for a laundry room, a horse feed and tack room, and a general storage shed. Currently, one of our portable buildings is being used for storage and the other is serving as a workshop. In the workshop building, we added insulation, numerous shelves, an air conditioner, and a heater. It’s a great place for getting out of the house.

You’ll be surprised at all the ways you think of to use portable buildings. I’ve already mentioned a few, but I’ve just touched the surface. My dad used his portable building for his reloading hobby. They can also be used for garden sheds, craft shops, art studios, or a playhouse for the kids. Heck, the bigger ones could even be finished on the inside and used as a guest cottage!

Different types of portable buildings

Portable buildings come in all sizes. Most are made of either metal of wood. They might have a flat roof, a pitched roof, or a gambrel barn roof. The roof can be metal, fiberglass, or shingled.

Most of the gambrel-roof portable buildings have a loft in the top for extra storage space. In fact, our portable buildings include this feature. We use the lofts to store those once or twice-a-year items like our artificial Christmas tree, our Christmas ornaments and lights, and our beach paraphernalia.

The wooden portable buildings can be painted to match your house, which makes them very attractive. Plant some shrubbery and flowers around them, and they will add to, instead of detract from, the looks of your house.

If you’re looking for something smaller and less expensive, you’ll probably want to go with a metal building. They don’t look as good as the wooden portable buildings, but they’re not as expensive, and they’re maintenance free. You never have to worry about painting, rotting, or termites.

How are those big portable buildings set up?

When we bought our first portable building, it was delivered on a huge flatbed truck. We told them where we wanted the building, and they set it up and leveled it. We didn’t have to do a thing! In fact, some companies agree to move the building free of charge or for a nominal fee if you ever move and want to take your portable building with you.

How much do portable buildings cost?

The cost of your portable building will depend on its size, its style, and its construction. For example, a small metal storage building will cost around $300, while a large wooden barn-shaped portable building that measures 16 x 20 feet will usually cost around $9,000.

Many companies that make and sell portable buildings offer financing and rent-to-own options.