From Guest Blogger Lillian Connors: Shipping Container Home–More than Just a Fad

The trend of building a home out of shipping containers is growing in popularity around the world because of their availability, versatility and durability, as well as its eco-friendly and sustainable properties and affordability. While the perquisites are substantial, and the benefits certainly seem to outweigh the costs, it is important to note that every material comes with its advantages and disadvantages, and it’s imperative you learn everything there is to learn about building a shipping container home before starting construction.
Inquire about local rules and regulations

Before ordering your containers and making construction plans with your architect, you need to diligently research the local rules and regulations regarding container homes, as these rules can vary significantly from country to country. That’s why you should never start construction before adhering to these regulations. This also means that you’ll need to gather all of the necessary paperwork before proceeding.

Check out containers’ dimensions and features

Before starting any construction project, you need to research all available options and make a list of the necessary pieces. Containers come in all shapes and sizes, and chances are that you will need different types to accommodate the various features of your future home.

The other major point is understanding the container’s structural integrity. Reconstructing, repurposing, drilling and cutting, can all significantly affect the structure and practicality of the container, and not every type of container is able to withstand harsh reconstruction. For instance, if you were to cut a hole in one of the two load bearing walls, it would have to be compensated in order to avoid further damage.

You need proper insulation

Shipping containers are made of metal, and metal is not a great insulator. If you are living in a cold area, you will have to insulate your new home properly to prevent the cold from penetrating your walls and creating a huge icebox. In contrast, humid and warm environments will greatly affect the materials if not properly insulated, and quickly make the home too hot to live in, with little chances of cooling it off.

Proper insulation is imperative for ensuring healthy living conditions, but also for cutting down upkeep costs which could otherwise accumulate to a staggering degree. Because of the lack insulation, you would have to constantly employ your air conditioning or heating appliances to balance out the elements, which leads to increased energy and water consumption.

Inspect the containers yourself

One of the biggest mistakes is relying on the supplier to deliver you the best possible product and failing to inspect them in person prior to delivery, as this can yield high exchange costs and waste valuable time. While you can emphasize to the supplier that the state of containers needs to be at a certain level of quality, nobody can guarantee that you will get exactly what you asked for, so it’s best to hand pick the one you want to buy. Certain suppliers, as the guys behind Sea Containers, can even guide you through the selection process and advise you on which pieces will work best for your home.

Plan your plumbing beforehand

One of the biggest oversights people make is failing to plan for plumbing work before the containers arrive, and having to deal with the problem when the construction has already started. This leads to a significant waste of time and resources, thus increasing the final cost of the house. You will save yourself from added expenses if you simply create the plumbing blueprint and cut out the necessary pathways before you begin the stacking process.

Wind protection

If you live in a windy area, you’ll need to find solutions that will protect you from the noise generated by gusts of wind hitting the metal container. This means you will need to install external insulation, plant high vegetation to block off the wind or, if you’re feeling particularly proactive, build hard-glass screens to stop the wind dead in its tracks.

Building a sustainable shipping container home is a fun and rewarding project that has numerous benefits if conducted properly, meticulously and diligently. Be sure to plan every miniscule detail well in advance, and you will have no problems building the home of your dreams.