Since self-storage is on the rise right now, it is one of the best times to pounce on the opportunity. A lot of people are looking to invest in the self-storage industry and hence this is one of the most popular verticals in storage at the moment. However, if you didn’t know, there is a huge demand for climate-controlled self-storage in the market.
For those who don’t understand, climate-controlled self-storage is basically, a storage unit where you can control the temperature to keep the stuff inside safe, or preserved. So if you want to jump into this business, let’s talk about the needful right away.
Layout
The first consideration to be made when you’re trying to make a climate-controlled self-storage unit is a layout. The layout is basically the general design, of where things fall in line. The first design consideration is of making the building at least 40 feet wide, or wider. As you might have noticed, self-storage units usually have long rows of doors, one after the other, making it extremely difficult to properly cool or control.
This is why you need to have enough space to make one wall insulated. This is usually the wall that is connected to the environment. The second design consideration to keep in mind is to, make sure that the customer does not have to walk a long way.
Since people using climate-controlled self-storage units are usually high-paying clients, even one extra step with a heavy object would be discouraging enough to end the lease. Make sure the customer has to walk the smallest possible distance to load the storage unit.
Also since most of the storage items to be stored in climate-controlled storage units are fragile and need preservation, it can be difficult and dangerous to carry them over a long distance.
Insulation
As we mentioned earlier, insulation is one of the most important aspects of building a climate-controlled self-storage unit. This is because, without insulation, the energy will be wasted in major quantities and you would have to payloads in electricity bills. This is why insulation for the roof and the walls are done, to facilitate minimal wastage of energy.
The industry standards concur a temperature range of 50 to 90 degrees. To maintain that, you can either use a 6inch or 4-inch insulation. Most industries use the 6-inch insulation for the roof and the latter for the walls. You can adopt the same. However, make sure, that you have good insulation to prevent energy loss. Also, the international energy conservation council has strictly advised companies to use proper insulation, i.e, R19 and R13, to minimize energy loss in climate-controlled chambers.
Cost
Third and the final most important aspect of building a climate-controlled self-storage unit is cost. If the budget does not fit industry standards, you would have to cut margins and make substantially fewer profits, and even break-even more times than not. You need to gather the knowledge of a mechanical and electrical engineer and also call the architect to foresee the budget of the project.
This is because the engineers will decide the energy requirements based on those calculations and hence approve the project. If you want to make money off this business, then you must adhere to this final consideration. Also, IECC energy codes have a huge impact on budgets, so we highly suggest you reference that before you start making the project.
The insulation, side paneling, roofing, partitioning, and much more cost around $10-$15 per sq feet. Apart from that the climate-controlled turnkey costs around $35-$40 per sq foot. This adds up massively to the total cost and hence is very important to factor in.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned three criteria are the ones that you must cross-check when you get into the climate-controlled self-storage unit business. Since building a climate-controlled storage unit is not a cakewalk, you need to understand these industrial aspects, to make sure that you can make the best out of the situation.
Also, if you’re about to start one, then we’re surely reading the above tips must have been beneficial. If not please reach out to share your opinions. Till then, keep scrolling and spread the word.