Permanent anchors or concrete blocks: securing your car shelter
A few concrete blocks at the bottom of the shelter, and you’re ready for winter? It’s easy to see the appeal: they’re heavy, readily available and don’t require drilling your driveway. But adding weight does not replace fastening the shelter to the ground. Blocks can shift, and they do not guarantee that your shelter will stay put when the wind picks up.
For a compatible driveway, we recommend properly installed permanent anchors connected to the frame with suitable attachments. They provide a more dependable foundation than relying on loose concrete blocks. Here’s why.
A concrete block is heavy. It isn’t attached to the ground.
Lift a block by hand and it may feel heavy enough to hold a shelter. Wind, however, acts across a large fabric surface. It can push the frame and create uplift. A block’s weight alone does not tell you whether the installation can hold your shelter in place.
Québec City’s safety guidance says concrete blocks alone are insufficient. L’Unique Insurance also advises against relying on blocks to secure a shelter exposed to winter winds.
The real question is how the shelter is connected to the ground. A shelter that shifts can damage your vehicle, driveway or a neighbour’s property.
What permanent anchors change
An anchor creates a holding point in the ground or a suitable supporting material. The frame is then connected to it. Instead of relying only on a weight sitting beside the shelter, you have a fastening designed to hold it in place.
CAA-Québec describes systems that grip beneath the driveway surface, with an eyelet used to attach the shelter. The right model depends on the surface and what lies underneath it. An anchor intended for asphalt is not automatically suitable for a concrete slab.
Permanent fixing points can also be reused in later seasons after inspection. You avoid moving and storing blocks every spring and fall. With removable-eyelet systems, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the off-season finish.
Asphalt, pavers or concrete: match the anchor to the driveway
Our permanent anchors are offered for asphalt and interlocking-paver driveways, with or without installation. If your driveway is concrete, gravel or another configuration, send us a photo before choosing. The supporting material and appropriate solution need to be checked.
Already have anchors? That’s a useful starting point, but their condition and location must suit the shelter being installed. Have their layout checked if you’re changing the shelter’s width or length.
The straps matter too
A sound anchor connected through a worn or poorly attached strap is not a dependable setup. Every part of the connection matters: the fixing point, the attachments and the frame.
Québec City recommends ratchet straps to maintain tension between the metal frame and permanent anchors. Our ratchet straps are sold separately. Selection, positioning and tension must follow the instructions for the shelter and anchoring system.
The number of anchors depends on the model, dimensions, ground conditions and manufacturer’s instructions. Four fixing points are not a universal rule for every shelter.
What about stakes, sandbags and wind straps?
Each accessory has its purpose. Weight placed on the cover or an added wind strap does not automatically replace the frame’s required holding points. Temporary anchors may be suitable where the manufacturer specifies them for the ground and exposure. For a compatible driveway used every winter, permanent anchors are our preferred option.
No system can promise that a shelter will never move. Sound attachments, a properly fitted cover, inspections and snow removal remain essential. Check the installation regularly and prepare it before strong winds, following the manufacturer’s manual.
Still using blocks? Let’s look at your driveway.
Send us a driveway photo, the surface type and your shelter dimensions. We can discuss the anchoring solution and installation option for your setup.
View anchors with installationDiscuss my projectNeed the shelter assembled too? See our single-shelter installation and double-shelter installation services. Tell us about your anchoring needs so we can confirm what to add to your order.
Sources
Consulted October 12, 2026. Municipal advice is cited for anchoring safety; local installation rules still depend on your address.