My name is Nicolette Lammers, and I have been working as a sales associate at Kroftman for over 13 years. Over the years, I have gained considerable knowledge about our storage solutions, including their pros and cons. In this blog, I will share with you more about the average lifespan of our container shelters. Much depends on how carefully you handle the shelter, how you maintain it, and where it's located. Sometimes things can go wrong. In that case, you may still be able to use our warranty. In this blog, I will cover the following topics:

1. The lifespan of the tarp for the container shelter
2. The lifespan of the frame for the container shelter
3. The lifespan of other parts of the container shelter
4. Our warranty policy for container shelters

1. The Lifespan of the Tarp for the Container Shelter

For all our container shelters, you can choose between a PVC tarp with a thickness of 610 g/m² or a PE tarp (also known as polyester or HDPE) with a thickness of 300 g/m². The only exception is our budget model and smallest container shelter, the CT403. The CT403 comes standard with a PE tarp.

The PVC tarp is stronger than PE and therefore more resistant to weather conditions. The lifespan of PVC is longer. If you move your container shelter frequently, it will take its toll on both tarps. Assembling and disassembling, where the tarp is stretched over the structure, affects its quality. A more fragile tarp like PE will tear sooner. We offer a 10-year declining warranty on PVC and a 3-year warranty on PE.

Weather factors that have the most impact on the tarp are wind, snow, and heat:

• Wind: If you see the tarp sagging or forming a dip, tighten it to keep it taut. A slack tarp will flap in the wind, leading to wear and tear. The walls of a container shelter have wind protection in the form of an opening with mesh and a flap that can open slightly to let wind through. During high winds or storms, we advise keeping the roll-up doors closed to prevent the wind from getting under the tarp.
• Snow: We recommend keeping both the PE and PVC tarps as snow-free as possible. Due to the mostly rounded shape of our container shelters, snow often slides off. If not, you can push from the inside, for example, with a soft broom, to prevent the tarp from tearing. Snow that collects on the containers and presses against the tarp is not a problem.
• Heat: Both PVC and PE tarps have a temperature resistance between -30 and +70°C. This means there is no change in the material at temperatures within this range. It might seem like a lot, but on a hot summer day, with the sun directly on the tarp, it can get very hot. Where the tarp lies on the curvature of the frame, the heat can't escape. Continuous direct sunlight on hot days can cause the tarp to wear faster, with a risk of tearing. This happens more quickly with the thinner PE tarp than with the thicker PVC tarp, and more often with a dark-colored tarp than with a white one.

The location also plays a role. A tarp at the coast, exposed to salty sea air, endures more than one in a sheltered inland location.

In summary, the following elements determine the lifespan of the tarp for a container shelter:

• Material of the tarp: PVC is stronger and will last longer than PE.
• Frequency of assembly and disassembly: If you move the shelter often, the tarp endures more than if it stays in one location for years.
• Weather influences: It's crucial to keep the tarp taut and snow-free. If your shelter has a front or back wall, keep the roll-up doors closed in strong winds.
• Color of the tarp: Both dark green and white tarps contain plasticizers to keep them supple. Sunlight causes these to break down over time, making the tarp stiffer and more prone to tearing. A dark green tarp will become stiff sooner than a white one.

If your PVC tarp has tears, we offer a repair kit. This kit contains a piece of PVC about 1 m² and glue developed by Kroftman. This kind of repair is not possible for PE tarp. In case of damage to a PE tarp, it's better to replace it. Generally, you can expect a PVC tarp to last ten years and a PE tarp three years, which aligns with our warranty. By following these tips and maintaining your tarp properly, it will likely last longer. If you're unsure whether to choose PVC or PE tarp, read this blog.

3. The Lifespan of Other Parts of the Container Shelter

In addition to the frame and tarp, a container shelter has other parts with a certain lifespan, such as:

• Kroftman container clamps: These clamps are used to secure the baserail to the container. They are unique and developed by Kroftman. The advantages are that they don't damage the containers, the shelter is set up faster, and it's easy to disassemble. These clamps are made of 10 mm thick galvanized metal and won't rust through. Their lifespan is expected to be over 10 years.
• Ropes and elastics: These are used to attach the tarp to the structure and wear out more quickly. You can order replacement sets from us or buy them at a hardware store.
• Other parts: For example, screws in the structure. If you lose a part or it breaks, you can probably buy replacements at a hardware store. If not, contact us, and you can likely order the part from us.

We hope this information helps you make an informed choice. If you'd like to know exactly how much the container shelter of your choice costs, you can fill out our quotation tool without obligation. This will generate a quotation that will be emailed to you, showing at a glance the transport costs for your container shelter. You can create multiple quotations and check different options to compare them.

Still have questions? We're here to help you.