How well do shelter logic hold up in heavy snow areas?

[tcartwri]

I'm on my fifth year with one that was supposed to be a temporary shelter before I built a new shop. They shed snow pretty easily and if there is a buildup you just run along underneath it with a broom to help it along. I just finished patching the roof where it runs over the trusses. Not too bad for a $500 investment. If they're not anchored and braced properly they will wear quickly. I run the snow blower down each side of it as part of my cleanup to keep the side loading to a minimum.

Not familiar with the Quebec city story, but they get a crazy amount of snow there. The whole city is covered in temporary shelters and walkways by mid November. There are a number of contractors who specialise in putting them up and they can be quite elaborate.

 

[OrangeAgain]

We've had a 12' X 24' round top / Quonset shelter for several years. I got the skin with the opaque ceiling and green sides. The seams where the opaque and green were sewn together were a weak point and wind eventually caused the seams to fail so I've had to purchase large tarps to put over the skeleton. The shelter skeleton has been very stable. It is NOT a ShelterLogic, but another quality brand. I only installed the end curtain on one end leaving the other end open.

Some winters we get lots of snow here in Vermont. The snow just slides off and accumulates on the sides which hasn't been an issue.

 

[super55]

Beezfun those are the exact shelters I was looking at. It's good to hear that you've had success with it. I been thinking about special ordering one that is a little heavier duty than the standard 9 oz fabric and reinforce with possibly 1" EMT for perlins or lateral bracing. Theres also a shelter that is Canadian made (forgot the name) but it was actually rated for a snow load.

I figured these have to hold up to some degree. Theres a farm down the road that has at least a 60'x120' type shelter and it has been up for at least 5 years now and as far as I know it never had a cave in. Obviously this is commercial grade (FarmTek I believe) but the concept seems sound.

I'm assuming the smaller a structure the more stout it would be. I could easily fill up a larger unit but I'm afraid the wider I go the less integrity the building will have.

 

[BLUE ME]

I have had 2 10 x20 for 9 years now.
I am replacing them this year with 2 new ones.
the old ones had 4 ribs.
The new ones have 5 ribs.
I keep the snow off of them with a snow rake.
they come on sale for half price all the time for $250.
Cheers

 

[dave1949]

Ditto on backhoes being storage space hogs. Mine takes about 14' in length and a clear area about 10' wide when unmounting/mounting. I'm seriously considering parking it outside this winter and just tarping over the seat and controls area, grease up any exposed hydraulic rams.

 

[Mendonsy]

I have had one of the "Sheltercoat" 12x20 round tops for 5 years. So far I have not had any problems with it.
We get around 200" of snow every year (lake Ontario snow belt) but the snow just slides off of the round top.

 

[BeezFun]

Theres a farm down the road that has at least a 60'x120' type shelter and it has been up for at least 5 years now and as far as I know it never had a cave in. Obviously this is commercial grade (FarmTek I believe) but the concept seems sound.

We have a 50'x160' fabric building, it's made by Britespan which is a Canadian company.

I'm assuming the smaller a structure the more stout it would be. I could easily fill up a larger unit but I'm afraid the wider I go the less integrity the building will have.

Cost goes up really fast as size increases. Partly because of roof loading, but also because of wind uplift. Make sure you put good screw anchors in the ground to hold yours down or it will fly away. On our large building the posts are set in concrete, but that's only to keep the building from flying away in high winds. We got our first shelter logic building about 6 or 7 years ago for $450 at the local big box store. The last one we bought about 3 years ago I think cost $600. They also don't incur a property tax, which is a huge deal around here, because they're temporary structures. Best investments I ever made.

 

[super55]

Anybody have or know somebody that has this brand of shelter?
Cover-Tech Inc. - Portable Garage, Instant Portable Garage, Portable Carports, Shelters, Storage

Looks like it has got some really good reviews from our neighbors to the north. Only thing I'm afraid of is shipping will cost me a fortune or it will take forever to receive due to international shipping.

 

[brokenknee]

I purchased a 12 X 24 round top last year. Worked great all last winter, was consered about the zipper freezing but that was a non issue. We do not get the snow you get I think we average around four feet a year. Most of the snow did not stick to the shelter, some would stick on the top but once the sun came out it would slide off. As already mentioned there would be a lot of snow pressure on the sides of the shelter.

I put mine up late last fall, the ground was already frozen so I was not able to get the ground anchors in. I thought I would be OK since we are pretty well protected from the wind. This spring had a pretty good storm and it took the building and blew it into a tree ripping the shelter in several places. When I checked with Menards for a replacement cover they wanted $400. I paid $500 for the shelter, I called the shelter logic and they wanted $275. they said if the ends were good I could upgrade the main cover for the same cost as the ends are sold separately. I have yet to replace the top as I plan on moving the shelter. Right now I just have a cheap tarp over were the rips are located.

It took me about four hours to assemble. this was working by myself. I think they are good cheap storage, you see them all over around my area. Of course they are "temporary" and a carport type building or shed would be better options, but not always in the budget.

 

[Al 2]

I have a 30' x 48' from L & R Shelters :: Greenhouses, Storage, Garden Sheds, Other Uses | Flamborough, Ontario. I think they are just retailers but not sure. Very happy with it for the last 5 years. These are probably mid range construction but you can get a 12 or 15 year rated cover. I keep most of the snow off it by banging the tarp from the inside as needed. Works best once the sun gets on the building and at various times of the day. I would not want a tarp building if I wasn't able to keep the snow off and away from the sides. I have seen a few of the steel quonset type cave in when the snow builds up at the sides.
Al