Shipping containers are a very different animal from your average home. They are not just bigger — they are part of the architecture of many cities, so you need to make sure you choose the right shipping container home for your needs.
How should you choose your shipping container home? Should you purchase a used container or spend a little more on a new one? Perhaps one can be easily converted into an office or bedroom during the holidays?
Once you have an idea, consider if there will be any modifications, whether it is a staircase or as simple as windows. You will have to factor in the cost and structural reliability of the container. This article will provide you with all the information you need!
Table of Contents
Difference Between New and Used Shipping Containers
New shipping containers are usually recommended for building container houses due to structural elements playing a huge factor in safety. Additionally, worrying about chemically treated containers and corrosion can be cleared off your mind completely.
New shipping containers keep these issues aside because they have been double-designed specifically for residential construction. Such containers are also known to be safer and the design components lower risks of fire, water damage, and other potential disasters that may occur in these new container homes.
But for those who are on a budget and decided to build their container home without the help of a contractor, you have to make sure size and specifications match your needs otherwise, you may end up having to spend more fixing it or even worst replacing the whole container.
Also, used shipping containers it is not a guarantee that you can always use them as intended. Cheap repairs could result in the reduction of lifespan of these bearings and other components being irretrievably eroded, causing all sorts of damage to your home-to-be.
There are many common problems in used shipping containers that can affect the quality of your home.
One of the most common problems is water damage. If rain or snow gets inside a used shipping container, it can cause extensive damage to the wood and metal surfaces. This can lead to leaks, mold growth, and structural failure.
Used shipping containers can also be susceptible to fire damage if they are not properly sealed or if there is a build-up of combustible materials nearby. This can result in serious property damage and even loss of life.
Finally, used shipping containers can also be a source of hazardous materials if they are not properly cleaned and prepared for use.
It’s best that we don’t take any shortcuts when it comes down to purchasing commercial products, do read up on the CSC certification. These certifications help in providing assurance to customers about the quality, performance, and safety standards of packaging units used by shipping lines or consignors at sea.
I would highly recommend finding a reputable supplier that provides certification for their containers and is willing to assist you by sourcing for the decent condition or cargo-worthy containers.
How to Choose the Right Shipping Containers for Your Home?
Choosing the right container is essential, you have to think about functionality and aesthetics as well. There are so many different sizes and shapes available and choosing the right shipping container size for your home can be quite confusing.
The living space of a shipping container house can be easily extended by joining either a 20ft or 40ft container if you ever need extra space in the future.
If it is worth it for you to buy a new container home, you want one which is durable enough to withstand hard use. You also want a container home that is safe, secure, and can withstand the rigors of long-term use without needing repairs or maintenance every month or two.
The better the insulation, the better it will protect your wallet. Flooring and interior walls need to be made from durable materials and seals that are best protected against leaks need to be in good shape.
The cooler your home will keep the more overall cost for utility bills you may end up saving over time.
Like every house, maintenance should be often done to prevent rust as well as any other issues that may affect the structural integrity of the home.
Here are some tips that can smoothen the process!
NEW CONTAINERS
- Research as much as possible and lay your options out when you decide on the seller and contractor.
- Make sure that the size you are getting can accommodate your needs. * (An average person needs around 200-400 square feet.)
- Decide to modify it yourself or engaging your supplier to handle all construction work. (Prefab or Standard Containers).
- Call up a few of your local suppliers and compare the best deal and services that they are willing to offer.
Make sure all your queries and doubts have been cleared before signing the agreement.
USED CONTAINERS
- I strongly advise seeking a trusted contractor to assist you with selecting used containers as there are too many safety implications that purchasing a new container would be a smarter decision.
- It is very important to make sure that these questions are asked with clear written documentation provided before proceeding, ask questions like: “Where and when was this manufactured?” and “Freight costs and warranty and legalities”.
- Obtaining documents like CSC (Container Safe Convention) and Surveyor Records.
- Ask a trusted contractor who knows what they are doing and has experience with shipping containers to inspect the containers and assess how best to fit your space into your container and determine whether or not it’s going to work for you (and assess how much money it will cost).
Personally head over to their site to view the condition, and be very sure that your contractor is confident in solving those problems before agreeing to purchase.
Final Thoughts:
As you can see, the process of buying a container house is complicated and time-consuming. It’s important to take your time and do your research before committing to anything. If done right, a container house can be an amazing addition to your land and your life while also saving you money on a house. However, you also need to be realistic about what is possible and what your budget can allow. You want to make sure that the process and decision-making will not get in the way of building a container home that fits into your life effectively while still offering some benefits.