Why You Cannot Do A Car Restoration in a Storage Unit
Storage units make it easy to clean up your home from clutter and create much-needed space for your furniture and household goods. However, the last thing you should do is work on a car restoration project in a self-storage unit. Although it may seem like a practical, out-of-the-way workspace, there are several important reasons why this activity is not a good idea.
Self-storage units are designed for the safekeeping of personal belongings and commercial goods. Many people find them useful for storing vehicles, mainly seasonal or classic cars awaiting restoration. This might lead to the assumption that the storage unit is also a good place to restore a car. However, there are several reasons why this is not allowed, ranging from safety concerns to legal restrictions.
Self-Storage Restrictions
Storage facilities have strict rules about what activities are allowed within units. These rules exist for good reasons, including safety, legal compliance, and customer experience. Typically, storage leases do not allow mechanical work or car restoration because of the risks and liabilities of that line of work.
Safety Concerns
Working on a car usually involves flammable materials such as gasoline, brake cleaner, and paints. These, combined with possible leaks from the transmission, engine, brake lines, coolant, and more, cause great concern for the storage facility. These materials would need to be disposed of properly. Additionally, using power tools and heavy equipment would not be recommended in a confined space.
Legal and Environmental Issues
Some States have Local and state regulations prohibiting car repairs or restoration activities at storage units because of environmental concerns. Hazardous waste, such as used motor oil, paint thinners, and other chemicals, must be disposed of properly to avoid damaging the environment.
Possibility Of Losing Insurance
Car restoration will make your insurance policy void. If an accident during the repairs, like a fire, you would be liable for all damages, medical expenses, and repair costs. This would make you financially liable for any accidents you cause.
Facility Policies and Contracts
Storage unit contracts typically have information on what can and cannot be stored in a storage unit. Usually, there are clauses prohibiting mechanical work, including car restoration. If you are caught violating these terms, storage facilities have the right to evict you from the property.
Noise and Disturbance Issues
The noise and smell of this type of work would also disturb other tenants using the same storage facility. For example, the use of power tools and banging of metals could negatively affect someone's moving experience. Moreover, the smell of gasoline and exhaust gases could linger and reduce someone's experience renting from a storage unit. Storage units are not soundproof. They are made of metal sheet metal that reflects noise.
Potential Damage to Storage Unit
Using tools poses a high risk of damaging the storage unit, including staining floors, damaging walls, and causing structural issues. Any such damage could lead to additional charges for repairs from the storage facility.
While working on a car restoration project in a storage unit may be tempting, the risks far outweigh the benefits. This option is not offered by many storage facilities and comes with risks and penalties, but if you are looking to store your vehicle specifically, check out our Superior Storage facility on 3809 Hwy 64 West, TX, Tyler. We have storage available for all vehicle sizes.
