10 Things to Consider Before Using Shipping Containers For Your Project

Great post. Thanks for the info

How much would you say is the whole process of building a medium-sized storage container home? I’ve seen units being converted into pools. Are you planning to have that as well? What are you’re thoughts on that?

Is the possibility of breaking containers down into the sheets of metal a viable option for making them cheaper to ship? Do they always need to be kept in one piece to use? It seems like, in parts, they could also be integrated more with windows and other wall types, which might reduce the freezer/oven phenomenon as well.

I am a CargoSpace Living designer (www.zigloo.ca) and I am glad someone is making this information public. 90% of the calls I field are from people wanting to build “cheap” – and I end up having to educate them about the real reason to choose containers “adaptive reuse”.
The best way I can justify using containers is obtaining end-of-life quality containers whose next trip is getting loaded (empty) onto a freighter to India, where they can be broken down and recycled into raw steel. The huge carbon-offset by keeping them here, and utilizing their inherent strength, is the best reason to consider container architecture.

Well a few things seem out of whack with this.

First off – Keep the exterior as a container “to prove your using a container”!! HUH! First of all, insulate the OUTSIDE so that you maximize the room on the interior, and then you can clad it with whatever exterior you want – I don’t think you have to keep it looking like a container just to PROVE your greenness.

Second – we have priced containers and pre-shipping you can get a 20ft or a 40ft, High Cube for $1750, $1500 if you buy more than one. This is not including shipping, which, yes, if you don’t live near a port like we do, will cost you.

Third off – we are quoted $300 sq ft for building a house, I Guarantee it will not cost that much to build a container home. A gorgeous one was built in Montreal for $75 US a sq ft…..

I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions, just sharing my two cents worth.

I will preface – if you go out to contract this to a builder, then you will pay a premium to build, its not normal, not easy and it would probably be difficult to even find someone who would build it. If you want a container home you are going to have invest your own sweat equity in it if you want to benefit cost wise at all. Learn how to use a plasma cutter:-)

The collapsible cargoshell idea is being worked. When you cut them up, though, you’re going to lose some beneficial properties.

We have been building something out of 32 20″ containers and where able to get much better prices per container than the ones you quote. We have been using them as an alternative to remodeling a warehouse into offices and it saved us lot’s of money. But that might not be the typical scenario since the existing building shell already provided an foundation, heating and shelter.

We also hat to learn that many of the dreamy container renderings can not be implemented with real containers – unless you are willing to invest a lot into additional load bearing components.

An example is the “Puma Container Store” which is cool but not out of shipping containers. If you check the pictures that beast is made from custom build special shipping container look-alikes. You can detect that by watching out for corner casings in odd places: http://is.gd/8lVFW http://is.gd/8lVK0

You might like “Builders guide to Shipping Containers” at http://blogs.23.nu/c0re/2010/02/builders-guide-to-shipping-containers/ which considers some of the real world problems in container architecture.

“The price for a 20′ shipping container (not including delivery) can range from $2500 to $4000. You can stick build a building with the same amount of square footage, that is just as water tight and structurally sound using traditional construction methods for less than the cost of a shipping container – it just won’t weigh as much.”

In that cost does that include the labour to build the ‘stick building’ or does it refer to material costs? I had always thought that shipping containers are potentially cheap because not much construction is required and the labour costs are the biggest component of the cost of a house

What about acoustical performance? Will insulating prevent echo problems that would otherwise exist in a bare shipping container?

An idea to throw in here (from an OTR trucker): consider buying your containers after you have a lengthy list of building materials to fill them with. Since most ports lie in areas where you can obtain many of the goods you need (especially if you’re going off-grid), fill your containers with materials and then have goods shipped to the site in the containers. Shipping an empty container will run about the same cost as shipping a filled (or partly filled) container. You can empty the containers on-site prior to moving them around. Depending on the length of haul, you can pay up to $2.00 per mile (sometimes more) for shipping a container.

You will also often find that the difference between shipping a 24′ container and a 40′ container long-distance will be about the same. A true, modern-day Sears-like setup would decrease the costs of these homes significantly. In the old days, you could buy a house from Sears in a rail car. Everything you needed was in the rail car. A similar approach would probably be best to reduce overall costs.

I will admit that I’m happy that someone has burst the bubble on this reality. I was just writing something myself on the topic that the so-called affordability factor is often relative. You still have to consider the permits, grid-tie-in costs or off-grid land development costs (water/septic/power), and power system. Well drilling and septic costs can be extremely expensive for those thinking of going completely off-grid.

several excellent points particularly the points about costs however I would also strongly disagree with the point about not covering them up.

As mentioned insulation is a must and the best way to insulate multiple containers in a fixed structure is on the outside of the box with a cladding over the top, the 8 ft wide room size doesn’t lend itself to the further reduction for insulation and drywall

Further this approach helps with permitting approval on cosmetic grounds. More information at http://www.containerhome.info

I wrapped the outside f my house with AD5 aluminum wrapped polystyrene which cooled off the inside by 40% in summer weather. Then I framed over that with alight gauge non-load bearing studs.a. Siding will be hempcrete. I too was concerned with losing square footage to inside walls plus the steel magnetic walls are cool.

I live on the sw Washington coast & purchased my 40′ high cubes for $1625 ($2000 shipped to my home 100 miles nw.). It seems like all prices I see quoted in articles are much inflated. I could actually have gotten similar containers direct from a shipper as low as $900each in the port of Tacoma but would have to have had them shipped without the benefit of q kneeling trailer to offload them.

In my experience using the ad5 cut out much of the noise. The area where it not sufficient despite its companies claims was in reduction of noise from hail and rain.

1. …if you live close to a major port city…it’s much easier and far cheaper to get them.

True – but they are available in almost all cities and in not-so-surprising places – i.e. farmland – where farmers use them for storage.

3. …$2500 to $4000…

This seems about right on… of course there is always someone who will sell it to you cheaper or more…

5. …you need a small crane…

Yes, the crane is expensive! Don’t underestimate…

7. These metal monsters become ovens or freezers depending on the outside temperature, really good insulation and ventilation is a MUST!

The biggest problem in Airstreams is condensation in the middle of winter. Think of the container as an Aistream. You’ve got to insulate the metal and figure out where the dew point will collect your moisture!

9. If you are going to use one for a structure, stay true to the form. Don’t cover the exterior with other building materials – show it for what it is.

Let’s get away with the design rules. Every situation will require it’s own solution and the container selection may or may not be for the purpose of showing the container. Also, if you need insulation (which you will), you ain’t gonna be showing metal on one side. If you need to meet community CC&Rs that won’t allow the container look, then you’ll be covering that side. If you’re just using the container as a shell and it’s economical for you, use it as a shell and cover as you will – not different than a stick frame. You can still be “honest” with you materials and have a “truth hole” similar to straw bale homes.

Check out Ceramic insulation- Bob Vila You tube

Kelley Swinney

Ceramic insulation- spayed on same as 6″ of fiberglass. Bob Vila You tube

definitely some salient points made here. shipping
container modifications make sense for a lot of reasons, but they are still not perfect for every situation so it’s important to consider these factors before investing in one. 

thanks for the tips. i am thinking of using one as a retail outlet. any advice?
regs

LB

Alternatives:
- well drilling = cistern system/rain catchment
- septic = compost toilet

Cost goes way down then

Greetings from Houston!
My family and I are moving to Denver Colorado area in April and if we get a home with a good amount of land, I was thinking of buying and shipping a container then using it for a Man Cave and workshop.  We have typical furnishings for two people.  What I would like to know is what to look for as far as a company to deliver the container to my new place, how large of a container to buy, if the container is dropped at my house by a tilt bed, can the container be easily moved back onto the truck when our furnishings are loaded, and approximate cost to deliver 1100 miles away.

Thanks!

Ryan

Greetings from Houston!
My family and I are moving to Denver Colorado area in April and if we get a home with a good amount of land, I was thinking of buying and shipping a container then using it for a Man Cave and workshop.  We have typical furnishings for two people.  What I would like to know is what to look for as far as a company to deliver the container to my new place, how large of a container to buy, if the container is dropped at my house by a tilt bed, can the container be easily moved back onto the truck when our furnishings are loaded, and approximate cost to deliver 1100 miles away.

Thanks!

Ryan