Is your office running out of space due to all the files and paperwork piling up? Storing documents is a daily challenge for many businesses. SMARTBOX storage offers an affordable solution to traditional document storage methods. Whether it’s old invoices, receipts, work orders, tax records, or any other document storage need, our convenient mobile storage services make your storage solutions easy. SMARTBOX is perfect for storing documents in a safe, secure location.

Our temperature-controlled, secure storage facilities provide the perfect safe and secure environment for file and records storage. We offer the added convenience of mobile capabilities as compared to other storage facilities. Need access to your files? We will bring your storage unit to you. When you are done, we will take it back to the storage facility. Or, if you prefer, just come to one of our secure storage facilities and access them directly.

SMART solutions for your business.

As a small business owner in the contracting industry, one of the challenges is the ability to be able to store your equipment when you need it. As a small contractor or sub-contractor, you may currently store your tools at home in your garage or maybe you rent a little bit of warehouse space somewhere.

While this works for you some of the time, one of the problems that contractors complain about is being on site and needing a piece of equipment that you forgot to bring with you. You wind up losing so much time because you have to stop and drive over to get the equipment. And face it, we all know that time is money.

There is a solution to this dilemma which will save you both time and money. Consider storing your equipment in a portable storage box. You can keep the storage unit on site while you are working and have everything you need at your fingertips. You have eliminated the wasted time of sending workers back and forth gathering up equipment only to realize two hours later that you need something else. The items are locked up and safe in your SMARTBOX when not in use.

You can work smarter, not harder.

At SMARTBOX, our goal is to make your move as smooth as possible. Here are a few tips on safety to keep in mind:

Packing boxes – keep your boxes to 50 pounds or less. Anything heavier could strain your back.  Pack books in small boxes to keep the weight down. Remember the proper way to lift – never bend over to pick up an item. Squat down and lift with your entire lower body.

Rent proper equipment to save back strain and to help move larger, heavier pieces. A dolly or two will save you from carrying boxes too far.  Also, heavier boxes can be stacked and moved more easily. Straps are also helpful for securing boxes and items to the dolly or to assist in lifting larger items.

When moving the boxes from in and out of your SMARTBOX, remove all obstacles that may be in the way. Make sure the path is clear.

Take your time and be careful.  Be SMART about safety.

Let SMARTBOX assist you with your document storage needs.  From legal documents, company records, tax documents, payroll receipts and personnel information, SMARTBOX has the soultion for you.  Use SMARTBOX mobile storage containers for quick on site projects, or for longer term storage, rely on our secure, climate controlled facilities for storage that you can depend on.  Don’t leave your company open to non compliance issues, duplication costs or future law suits.  With SMARTBOX Document Storage, yuo have on demand access to your important documents.  Our document storage services also allow you to maximize your office square footage.  Don’t worry about expanding your workspace when you can simply make more room by storing your documents off site.   Here are some tips to help you prepare to store your documents:

Step 1. Load Label Names

Enter or import the names to be used to help identify file folders. You can optionally assign your own category, such as Customers, Vendors, or Employees, to each label name.

Step 2. Setup Your Document Types

Enter the types of documents to be stored in file folders, along with how long they must be stored. You can also assign your own category, such as Payables or Receivables, to each document type.

Step 3. Create File Folders

Combine lable names and document types to create a file folders. Print labels to put on you file folders in a wide variety of Avery style formats automatically as you create the file folders.

Step 4. Make Storage Boxes

Now you are ready to assign folders to storage boxes. Select the folders that got placed in the same box. The Store Until date will be automatically calculated based on the type of documents you place in the box, and the date the box was placed into storage. Assign a location to each storage box to help find the box when you need a folder in it. 

Why Condensation plays a Large Role

“The roof is leaking and my stuff’s soaked” Unfortunately, this isn’t an uncommon complain in self-storage facilities or with metal portable or mobile containers.  More times than not, roofs aren’t the source the leaks, but condensation is dripping down on the contents below.  Metal has become the industry standard in self-storage due to its durability, attractiveness, low maintenance and ease of use.  However, without taking the proper precautions, metal roofs can have problems with condensation.

What is Condensation?

Condensation is a natural phenomenon in which water vapor in the air is returned to its liquid state.  All air contains water vapor in differing amounts.  When air is cooled, the amount of water vapor it can hold is reduced.  The point when it becomes too cold for the air to hold its moisture level is called the dew point.  If the air is saturated, it will release this moisture in the form of droplets until such point as it is back below the dew point or the temperature goes back up (Refer to “Condensing the Facts”).

For our purposes, condensation depends on three main factors:

·         Temperature inside the building or container

·         Temperature outside the building or container

·         Relative humidity (amount of moisture in the air)

Metal-roofing panels are not good thermal insulators, so as the cold outside air hits the roof panel, it cools.  When the relatively warm moist air inside the building meets the cold panels, the dew point is reached and water condenses on the underside of the roof panel, causing water to drip on the contents in the unit.

Why Worry about it?

You have a well-written rental agreement that excludes water damage, so why worry about condensation at all?  Maintenance issues cost time and money.  They also can lead to unhappy customers, which ends up costing more money.  Even worse, rumors of dissatisfaction can spread fast.  It only takes one time for conditions to be just right for condensation to wreak havoc.

If it is taken into consideration in a self storage building plan, they can minimize headaches with a little preventive medicine.   With most all portable or mobile container there is little being done to prevent the problem even though it is more problematic as it moves around in different climates.

Combating Condensation

The traditional way to deal with condensation is to keep the temperature on the underside of the roof panel from reaching the dew point.  This is done through the use of insulation.  A vapor barrier is added to keep the moisture in the air from reaching the roof panel.  In the building process, a vapor barrier is spread over the purlins, and insulation is rolled on top of that.  The roofing is then attached on top.   Once again this is not practical or commonplace with portable containers.

There is another system that has been used for years in Europe and has been winning favor in the US, particularly for the non-climate-controlled self-storage industry.  This system uses a fleece coating that is adhered directly to the roof panel.  The roof panel with coating provides a medium for trapping this moisture in specially designed pockets.  The fleece holds the moisture until conditions go back below the dew point and releases the moisture back into the air in the form of normal humidity.  Thus, the fleece acts much like a sponge that soaks up the moisture when it appears and releases it as it returns to its humid air state.

This material is self-adhesive and is applied to the panel in the roll-forming process.  As a result, it arrives at the building site already in place and set to be installed with the roofing panels immediately.

The membrane is designed to be resistant to aging, and has an adhesive that keeps moisture from coming into contact with the metal panel, actually providing an additional layer of protection for your metal roof.  It’s a simple idea that cuts cost, time and condensation in the end.

Condensing the Facts

·         Condensation occurs when the humidity conditions inside the building and temperature of the meta-roof panel reach the dew point.

·         Condensation will continue to drip until either the temperature goes back above the dew point, or enough moisture is released in the form of water droplets to alter the dew point.

·         The traditional method for dealing with condensation is to insulate the roof so the temperature on the panel never reaches the dew point.

·         In self-storage it only take once for the vapor barrier to be ripped and contents damaged.

With gas at record high prices and climbing ever higher, people are looking in new directions to find cost savings.  SMARTBOX, the premier provider of portable self storage is now the ultimate solution for moving.  With gas prices hovering over $4.00 a gallon, and well higher for diesel, truck rentals are becoming too expensive for the average customer.  The average 14′ rental truck offers 8 to 10 miles per gallon.  One thing that you don’t account for when counting your options is the hefty fee of re-filling the tank when you return your rental truck, often blowing your budget.

SMARTBOX Portable Self Storage offers you pricing up front with no hidden charges.  There are no fuel charges tacked on after the fact, allowing you to budget your move without fear of extra expense.  Even better, SMARTBOX’s delivery system has the ability to service multiple customers in one trip, saving us gas, and allowing us to provide our service at a savings.  Next time you move, think about filling up your rented or borrowed truck, and then think about letting us do the driving.