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Question and Answer Session:
Are canopy structures subject to hurricane bldg requirements?
Answer: Absolutely they are. When structurally designing a canopy, we contact the local building department to confirm the design loads
Can you address the economics of multi-level boat storage using hoists (cranes)?
Answer: I have not personally seen an all enclosed stacking B/RV facility. The steel system used for that style of storage is different than our standard. It is a structural system. There is a company in Florida that does that type of storage. Thier name is "Roof & Rack"
Is there an optimal height for these types of storage facilities?
Answer: Absolutely. When discussing Boat/RV storage, the height most commonly used is 16' on an enclosed buildings. That will accommodate a 14' tall door. Which will house any RV on the road today. Canopies are typically 14' clear.
What are the physical constraints to multi-level facilities?
Answer: Construction costs and liability would be the two major constraints.
Can you explain why the unit width is required to be wider in a angled enclosed layout vs 90 degree?
Answer: In an angled enclosed you must allow enough clearance for the roll up door. For example; if you have a 12' wide roll up, your bay width would be +/-15' (pending the door manufacturer.)
Can you speak about building a multi-story building with the RV/Boat at ground level and climate-controlled space above?
Answer: We've done it in the past. YOu get into additional costs because your floor 1 bay width is 14'. Which means you need a 3w 18 gauge decking panel that will require 5" of concrete at the separation floor. It is very doable...feel free to contact me for more information.
Could you condo map a rental project for later sales of the units if the developer wanted to do so?
Answer: Yes, you can.
Do you like skylights or windows in the doors?
Answer: I personally don't. The main reason would be security.
Do you see much of a market for this boat and RV storage in the Midwest or is this only realistic closer to edges of the country?
Answer: I actually do. I suggest contacting a local RV dealer and picking their brains on how man RV's they sell and where they're being stored.
Flat roofs vs. metal?
Answer: Metal roofs are more economical and are classified as non-combustible.
sheetrock walls vs. metal? drains inside?
Answer: Metal for certain. No drains on the inside.
How much of a contigency should a developer include in his projections for a new storage facility?
Answer: In my opinion, with steel construction costs rising, you should allow a 25-30% contingency if you plan on building in the next 18 months.
I am constructing a 60 ft wide RV canopy. I am thinking of constructing a movable barrier in the center of the building to
manaual adjust parking depth to maxamize rentable space. Is there a proven method for doing this?
Answer: I like the idea, but haven't seen a proven method. I am certain that we would be able to lay a base channel down and divide the units with our partition.
I don't see nearly as many RVs out east as I see out west. Is RV storage more of a west coast thing?
Answer: I actually do. I suggest contacting a local RV dealer and picking their brains on how man RV's they sell and where they're being stored.
Is there a rule of thumb for door height to unit length ratio?
Answer: Not in my opinion. The most common door height is 14'.
Is there a rule of thumb for unit mix?
Answer: No, there's not. I can tell you that the most common building width in the Boat/RV market is 80'-100'. This is accessing on both sides and allowing some flexibility with dividing out the units by moving the center partition.
On a hilly site, what is the maximum slope that can be used for RV's?
Answer: Our buildings can be built on a 1% slope without stepping the buildings. We recently did a project on a hilly site. Every 14' we had a roof/slab step.
Prefer angled layout or straight layout for buildings?
Answer: Tough question. I would have to take a look at the site plan to see what would give you more rentable square footage.
RK are you building any RV Condo storage right now?
Answer: No, I have no projects in the pipeline that are moving anything but paper. I am involved in a project in West Palm Beach, but we are sidelining for a zoning issue, will reactivate in probably three months. I am a minor investor in an RV site Rental and Condo Park in Alabama.
Thank you for your informative webinar.
Answer: You're very welcome. We will be hosting another webinar in September and a full-day seminar in San Diego on August 15th. For more information, visit http://www.developingboatrvstorage.com
What about the walk thru doors built in the big roll up door?
Answer: I'm 50/50 on the concept. However, I don't like the cost of that style of door.
What is the advantage to sectional doors?
Answer: One advantage is that they require less head room up top.
What is the smallest population area where these are recommended?
Answer: Population measures funny. For example, Aspen Colorado shows a small, not very wealthy population according to the census bureau because these are second homes, and the census looks at primary residences. A solely destination location like Lake Havasu would not indicate success as a stand alone population base, but we know because of the transient recreational population, Lake Havasu definitely works! I do not have a baseline for minimum population.
What ROI per square foot can be expected from RV storage compared to mini storage?
Answer: I think the percentage is similar. Mid-teens leveraged seems to be acceptable to many investors.
With spiraling fuel costs what is outlook for RV and Boat sales and how does this impact storage demand?
Answer: That's something that we're definitely going to have to keep our eye on. Stay in contact with local RV dealerships to check on how sales are going.
Would a drive thru space let you do smaller aisles? Also, why isn't fully enclosed done on an angle?
Answer: On a straight 90 degree building, having a drive thru unit would not lessen the need for a wider drive aisle. The vehicle would need to turn the same degree. However, we have constructed a fully enclosed Boat/RV facility on a 60 degreen angle. Feel free to contact me for further details and photos.
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