Top of a Sunday morning to y'all. So, I would like to make the carport where I live into a storage area. I'm in a rented house so no permanent structure desired. It is a sturdy structure already with a pretty decent roof, concrete floor, and some uprights keeping the roof up. The roof will need a few cracks mended to keep out water but I think fairly simple with some caulking. The items in storage will be in plastic containers in plastic bags so I think they will be protected from water, dirt, and insects, for the most part. I also have birds and cats that could make problems. I am thinking plastic tarping and perhaps some chicken wire for the sides to keep out rain and animals....with some reinforcing uprights at various intervals to give the tarps some resistance against wind and weather. This seems to my mind to be the easiest and cheapest method and still substantial enough.
The biggest problem I foresee is that in big rains the yard floods and though the carport is raised a bit it can still flood sometimes in big storms as much as 6 inches. How to keep the flood water out? What can I construct around the bottom perimeter of the carport to accomplish this that is not permanent? I could make a foot high barrier with blocks and concrete and it would probably easy enough to remove but I'm sure would still leave some traces behind. Granted, the area is not in perfect condition but if the landlords come by and see that, even if removable, they might be unhappy (they rarely rarely come by but still). I thought sand bags, perhaps? I'm not sure how well they work.
Anyone have input on this? Ideas much appreciated. I'm looking to do it cheap and cheerful so please keep that in mind.
A thousand thanks in advance.