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Building a home from shipping containers not only gives you a unique and distinctive style, but it also offers a range of practical advantages. Here are some key benefits:
- Cost-effective: Shipping container homes are generally more affordable than traditional housing. Using 40-foot containers reduces the need for extensive building materials and labor, making construction more budget-friendly.
- Quick to construct: If you're an experienced contractor or work with one, a shipping container home can be built within one to two months. The simplicity of the design makes it accessible for anyone to work with.
- Modular and adaptable: Shipping container homes are highly customizable. You can mix and match 20-foot and 40-foot containers to suit your needs, or combine multiple containers to create larger spaces, add extra bedrooms, or even build a guest house.
- Durable, low-maintenance, and secure: Made from Corten steel, shipping containers are built to endure harsh weather conditions during overseas transport. When converted into homes, they can be made even more secure by adding doors, windows, and other custom features, offering durability that often surpasses traditional housing.
- Relocatable: If you ever need to move, shipping container homes can be transported with the help of shipping services, making them a mobile living solution.
- Environmentally friendly: Steel is highly recyclable, and up to 90% of its content can be reused. When you build with shipping containers, the steel is fully upcycled, eliminating the need for additional energy to melt it down, making container homes a sustainable housing choice.
If you're ready to turn your dream of a container expandable home into reality, it's essential to follow a structured process that includes planning, preparation, and smart purchasing decisions. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Before starting construction, make sure you're legally allowed to build a shipping container home in your area. Most regions in the U.S. permit container homes, and the simpler designs often make it easier to obtain permits.
It’s critical to follow the rules and regulations regarding building codes and planning permissions. You’ll need to get approval from local authorities to ensure your home complies with local and state policies. Skipping this step could lead to costly delays or fines.
For more complex designs involving multiple containers, it’s wise to hire an architect and a structural engineer. These professionals can help ensure your floor plan is both safe and structurally sound. Ideally, find an architect experienced in working with shipping containers, as building with them differs from traditional wooden, steel, or brick homes. Remember, anything that can go into a custom home can be incorporated into your container home.
Once you have all the necessary permits and are cleared to build, it’s time to buy your shipping container(s). The scale of your design will determine how many and what size containers you’ll need.
Shipping container prices vary depending on factors like size, age, condition, and location, typically ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. Transportation costs can also be significant, often accounting for 50-75% of the container’s total price if you're far from the depot.
The most popular shipping container size used for homes is a 40-foot, high-cube container, which offers about 320 square feet of living space with 9.5-foot ceilings. That’s enough for one to two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a decent-sized kitchen/living room combo space.
Once you've ordered your shipping container, the next step is to prepare the land where your home will be built. This involves grading the ground, trenching for utilities, and deciding on the type of foundation that will keep your container home elevated off the ground. Elevating the home is essential to protect it from moisture, which could cause interior damage or corrosion over time.
Foundation Options:
- Concrete piers or wooden supports: Suitable for a single shipping container, this is a cost-effective and simple method.
- Full concrete foundation or basement: If you’re building with multiple containers, a full foundation may be necessary for structural support.
When selecting a foundation type, consider both structural requirements and budget, as well as personal preferences. For those opting for a poured concrete foundation, it's essential to embed steel plates into the concrete where the container corner blocks will rest. This allows for welding the container to the foundation, ensuring stability.
Regardless of the foundation type, it’s a good idea to place a vapor barrier over the earth to prevent moisture from affecting the underside of the container.
Many builders prefer concrete piers, which leave a crawl space under the container. This allows easy access for plumbing, as well as space for adding insulation beneath the home.
Finally, ensure that there's a clear delivery path for your shipping container.
The simplest way to place your shipping containers on the foundation is by using a delivery truck or a crane. To streamline the process, it's best to complete your foundation before ordering the containers, ensuring everything is ready when they arrive.
If you’ve already ordered the containers while still working on the foundation, using a crane offers the fastest, safest, and most efficient method to position them. If a crane isn't available, you can hire a local builder or rent a rough-terrain forklift for a few hours to help with the placement.
Once the shipping container is positioned on the foundation, any final adjustments can be made using tools like a large crowbar or even a tractor for precise alignment.
To transform your residential container homes into a livable space, you'll need to cut openings for windows, doors, and other features. This can be done using various tools, such as a plasma cutter, cutting torch, angle grinder, or a jigsaw for smaller cuts. For larger sections like removing an entire wall, a plasma cutter or cutting torch is more efficient.
Important: Before cutting, consult with a structural expert. Removing too much metal or cutting in the wrong areas can compromise the container’s structural integrity, leading to safety risks.
Once you've gotten the go-ahead, you can start cutting for your windows, doors, skylights, and other design elements. If you're not confident in your cutting skills, it's a good idea to hire a professional.
Any gaps created by cutting should be sealed to protect the interior from external elements, ensuring your container home remains weatherproof.
At this stage, it's time to install doors, windows, and framing. You can choose from a variety of styles—whether regular, sliding, or French doors, and standard or crank-style windows—depending on your design preferences.
For framing, traditional wood is an option, but many prefer using metal framing that can be welded directly to the container at door and window openings for added durability.
To maximize interior space, consider turning the studs sideways, reducing the framing thickness from 3.5 inches to 1.5 inches. Alternatively, using 1.5-inch steel studs is a good option, especially if you plan to use spray foam insulation. These steel studs are sturdy and bond well with drywall, but in areas where the foam doesn't fully connect with the wall and studs, extra steel reinforcement may be needed.
Regardless of the framing method, it's crucial to include a thermal break between the studs and the container's metal walls. This is particularly important with steel studs, as they are highly efficient at conducting heat, which could impact interior temperatures.
One major cost-saving advantage of building with shipping containers is that you don't need to install a subfloor. The containers come equipped with a robust 1-⅛-inch marine plywood floor, supported by 6-inch steel crossbeams, allowing you to install almost any type of flooring directly on top.
To maintain a comfortable interior temperature in your shipping container home, proper insulation is essential. Insulating the inside will slightly reduce your living space, but you can opt for exterior insulation if maximizing interior space is a priority.
For exterior insulation, materials like cedar, vinyl, or log siding can be added over the insulated container. This approach preserves the full interior space, as long as you don’t mind the look of exposed corrugated steel walls inside.
The choice of insulation—whether spray foam, panels, or another type—depends on your climate and personal preference. Spray foam is popular for its effectiveness but tends to be the most expensive option.
