The Heavy Steel Shipping Container

A shipping container house is a shipping container that is transported by sea or road that you are familiar with. This shipping container travels across the ocean, travels around the world, overcomes rough seas, and is stacked in several layers, clearing many difficulties before being delivered. It would be natural to want to use a shipping container with such strength as a building.

Although the shipping container is structurally strong, it cannot be used as a traditional building as it stands. A cargo shipping container called an ISO container does not meet the Building Standards. In order to use it as a live in building, it is necessary to alter the shipping container with structural changes. Adding doors and windows make that change.

The living and necessary functions are a toilet, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. These four items are essential, but if you have a family, you will need a living room, if you have guests, you will need a guest room, and the living room should be large.

A Container House, As You Know, Is A Lump of Iron.

Since container houses are made of iron, they must be painted to prevent rust. It is possible to extend the life of the container simply by treating it correctly. The beauty is, if you do the job right your container will last.

When it comes to maintenance, in the case of wooden structured buildings, much more can go potentially wrong. Termite infestations are a nightmare and need regular treatment. With brick or concrete buildings movement can cause cracks. On the other hand, maintenance for a container is less complicated structurally.

Typhoons, earthquakes, and natural disasters are common throughout the world today. The attraction of container houses is undoubtedly the corrugated corten steel plate that makes up the exterior of the container, but besides that, it also has the specifications that are required in this era. Sturdiness!

Container Appeal

The “container house” that utilizes large iron boxes and containers for marine transportation is now attracting greater attention in the housing market. More so for its cost effectiveness than is structure sturdiness. A container home can save potential home owners around two thirds of what a traditional home costs today. That is a huge saving when you consider the cost of living today.

However the acceptance of a container style home within local suburbia can be challenging. This seems to be the case in most localities around the globe. Perhaps not in remote localities where the neighborhood is made up of… container homes. The acceptance of a box structure residing amongst well established traditional homes can be a potential eye saw to those uninitiated.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks is local council approval. Councils are run by local residents who quite rightly wish to maintain an attractive neighborhood. If you follow correct build standards then meeting the building code should not be an issue. As far as council approval goes having an Architect back you up with suitable design drawings should not go unnoticed. What we see on paper can turn our notion of unpleasant to beauty.

Stability and Sturdiness

There are two main types of ISO marine shipping containers used for homes, 20-foot size and 40-foot size. When designing a container house, each container is regarded as a module. The size and shape of the entire home is expressed by positioning the modules. Depending on the application, even one container can provide suitable living space.

Shipping containers do not lose durability even if openings are made in the walls. Multiple containers can be placed side by side with wall openings to create a large living space. Shipping containers have a high level of structural strength, so they can be stacked vertically to create two or three story homes.

The strength of a container house design is its uniqueness and presence. The simple box-like shape, the rugged outer walls made of corten corrugated steel, and the overall metal feel create a powerful and profound sense that cannot be easily expressed in a traditional home building.

Appearance is Appealing

Change the atmosphere of the exterior using exterior panels and exterior walls. A shipping container can transform from metal box to home with windows and doors. To change the look of the metal box exterior you can use exterior panels to cover the corten corrugated appearance.

Adding wall structures can alleviate to hidden access by overlapping the walls of the container with outer walls. Or using a facade appearance that turns a metal box into something more pleasant and appealing to admire. You can also make use of the container’s unique metallic feel and weight in the design.

Interior decorating is no different to that of ordinary home design. In a container house, you can create the interior of your choice by combining boarding, flooring, tiles, panels, cloth, painting, etc., just like in traditional homes.

Facilities and Equipment

Since the container house is designed with air-tightness and plumbing in mind, it can be equipped with a kitchen, shower room, toilet, etc. within. There is no reason at all not to have all the facilities of a traditional home.

For the home chef, a practical functional kitchen with all the facilities at hand that a restaurant would enjoy can be incorporated into the home. In fact size is no problem. Joining modules together or a single container can fit the desired form.

Quite simply whatever it is you are desiring can be achieved with some simple planing and manipulation of modules. Something that is not always possible or affordable when constructing a traditional home.

Conclusion

Shipping containers are very versatile. Using them as modules to form what you desire in a home design can be exciting and inspiring. The sturdiness of a sea container offers security and strength to long standing occupancy.

The cost of a traditional home today is becoming out of reach for many. The idea of living in apartment block with it’s known social problems is not appealing. Alternative options do exist and are more affordable.

I hope this article allows you to consider a sea container as a possible place of residence or even a place of business. There have been many small business like cafe’s, eateries and stores that are operating from what we call a metal box. The number of sea container homes around the globe is growing as more and more people realise the benefits. It is no longer a fad.