Common Mistakes to Avoid while Building with Shipping Containers | LOTUS Containers

 

Ever since the advent of shipping containers, they are vastly being used in the storage and shipment of cargoes. From the past few decades, their application is greatly being seen in the construction industry as well. In contrast to traditional buildings, container built houses, shops, stores, offices, swimming pools are much more in vogue. Every day numbers of shipping boxes are being sold or leased not only for shipment or transportation purposes but also major for constructing buildings.

But what one needs to be cautious of is that not every container is suitable for building. The general misconception that any container can be used for constructing the building is misleading. With arising cost of building and more people becoming environmentally conscious and aware of this innovation, building with shipping containers has become a new trend for green building and also an alternative cost-effective material. If you love shipping container homes and looking to own one for you in the coming future then reading this blog is going to be truly helpful for you. Through this blog, we bring to you the top 7 common mistakes that people often avoid before building a shipping container house.

Let’s check in some do’s and don’ts before heading towards it-

Right Selection Selecting the wrong type of shipping containers is the most common mistake people make when buying them for construction purposes. Since all steel boxes are not the same. They vary in length, breadth, and height and the majority of the people do not know the difference and get a home built out of regular shipping box while there are various sizes available like 20’ and 40’ shipping containers, 45’ high cube containers that can provide enough space. Regular shipping containers are 8’7’’ in height whereas high cube boxes are 9’6’’ tall. The additional foot on high cube containers makes them perfect for putting ceiling insulation without compromising the headroom of the habitable space. However, 40’ or 45’ high cube containers cost slightly more than the regular ones but considering the resultant benefit, it is worth the cost.

Buying very old containers Buying old containers is obviously a good option as they are available at a low price but sometimes it can cost you more to restore and maintain. This is true to the adage ‘cheap can be expensive’. Old containers come with challenges of damages, corrosion, deformed corners, and dented walls and roof panels. Therefore, you must run a thorough inspection of it in person before buying it. Seeing the container is more preferable but if it’s not possible to inspect the container physically, ask for photos of all corners and joints and also underneath and above the containers to ascertain the exact state of the container before paying for them. Homes constructed out from old shipping containers can be a real health concern because of the possibilities of multiple toxic exposures from toxic spillages and contamination from various cargo products. Very old steel boxes multiply the risk even further. That’s why most of the cargotecture companies prefer either new boxes or one way tripped containers to ensure safety. If you cannot afford to buy new and want to go for used old containers then consider sandblasting all internal surfaces down to the bare metal. Then repaint with non-toxic paint to avoid all these problems.

The selection of right insulation For a container to be conducive for human residential, indoor climate control is essential. Shipping containers are manufactured from high quality corrugated steel which is a good conductor of heat and therefore the home needs to be insulated especially in the regions with extreme temperature variation. Without a thoughtful and comprehensive temperature control strategy, your shipping boxes could be absolutely freezing in cold climates or become a hot oven in summer.

Also, the entry of rainwater inside leads to condensation and dampness that can easily form on the interior of walls forming rust which could cost a high amount to get them to remove. The local climate should dictate the type of insulation to use. In a very cold climate, the insulation should provide a seamless vapor barrier while in hot and dry climates the insulation used should be appropriate to keep the heat away. Spray foam insulation is the best to use under normal conditions because of the advantages that come with it. Other types of insulation such as blanket insulation, insulation panels, lightweight concrete plaster, planted roof garden, and recycled eco-friendly materials offer alternatives to use.

Over modifications Incorporating design flairs into a shipping container is not a bad thing. Cutting out excess of steel from each side inferiors with the structural integrity and strength of a shipping container. Cutting out steel for windows and doors is almost negligible but removing the entire or a large portion of the walls or the roofs may need to consult an expert especially multiple story building. Even though the corners of a container module are extremely strong. In fact, they can be stacked up to eight containers high when they are fully loaded, the roof and walls are not that strong. The modules are designed to be stacked off the corners. Loading at any other position or making openings in the roof and walls introduces week points calling for further reinforcement with a steel section. This eventually translates into additional costs and time overruns on the project.

Using inexperienced constructor or builder Shipping containers homes are a relatively new way of building becoming worldwide famous. Finding a building contractor who has experience in building a shipping container home can be one of the hardest things to do when you want to build one. Most people want to build their shipping container homes themselves. However, sometimes, this is not possible either because they don’t have enough time or they don’t have any previous DIY experience. Ensure you get a contractor with experience so they will be able to advise you and guide you throughout the process and deliver the project within budget. Apart from the general contractor, the specialist contract or is necessary for specialized work such as electrical and plumbing works.

Giving less weightage to planning laws and regulations

This certainly can be one of the hardest parts of building a shipping container home. However, this requirement isn’t just unique to the shipping container home. It applies to all new homes which are built in the United States and other countries in the world regardless of their constriction material. Obtaining a building permit can take months and even years and several thousand dollars depending on where you need to build. It is an advisable factor in the time overrun costs that come with building permit delays. However, in some cities, if your land lies outside of the city zoning. This means your land lies outside of the building permit regulations and you can bud there without a permit. Before embarking on any shipping container project, research your local planning laws, and acquire the relevant permits to prevent hitting a brick wall with your project.

Miscellaneous The general assumption that building a shipping container home is cheaper. But it is not necessarily true. Container housing may be a viable alternative accommodation option, but it depends on so many factors such as the location of the house, the size of the house, the type of finish is used, and the cost of contingencies. Container home involves a lot of welding. Welding takes a long time and is expensive. So, try to keep it to a minimum over modifications of containers is another source of the additional cost. Containers loads are wall bearing and bracing, cutting, the opening will need additional steel reinforcements, hence additional costs. The sheer size and the weight of the module generally requires a crane or forklift to place each container on location. This is a costume that would perhaps not incur in conventional build. Insulation is another cost to look at. If you are building in a tropical climate your only challenge is to keep away heat. But this is not the case for a temperate climate. In this case, you need to keep off the cold and conserve heat at the same time. This cost variation is worth exploring. Looking at all the hidden works and extra work that is needed to make these steel boxes habitable.