| Positives And Negatives Of Building A Shipping | | | | And now to balance things out a bit, the Con side: |
| Container House | | | | The first point against will be: |
| Thinking about building a house out of shipping | | | | Expertise. Building a shipping container house |
| containers? There is a lot of talk about this trend | | | | requires contractors with some specialized |
| these days and the fans of this building method | | | | knowledge. It addition to framers, you may need |
| are increasing in number. A big part of the reason | | | | professional welders/cutters to modify and |
| for the growing interest is that there are a lot of | | | | connect your containers. Not a huge deal, but |
| container houses now that look incredible. This | | | | definitely something that will have to be |
| building style could still be considered somewhat | | | | addressed. It's important to find experienced |
| 'cutting edge' (though it's been around for | | | | contractors who have the expertise to handle the |
| decades), and there are many factors to consider. | | | | quirks of this building system.. |
| I have compiled a list of shipping container pros | | | | The second point against is: |
| and cons as food for thought for anybody | | | | Heat. Or in some cases cold. Insulation is a major |
| learning about this building style. | | | | consideration for any house, but it can be doubly |
| Ready to go? Let's start then. First the positions | | | | so for a shipping container house. You don't want |
| in favor and the reasons supporting: | | | | to live in a giant oven! There are a range of |
| The very first point in support of building a | | | | insulation options that are very effective at |
| shipping container house is: | | | | making a container house very efficient - even |
| Recycling Industrial Waste. The reason that the | | | | more efficient than a traditional house. You just |
| shipping container house idea has gained so much | | | | have to learn what the options are and decide |
| traction is because there are an incredible number | | | | what fits in with your budget and design.. |
| of them gathering dust. These things are piling up | | | | The 3rd point against will be: |
| in our ports thanks to our country's massive | | | | Price. Wait, wasn't price one of the pros? Yes. |
| trade imbalance. Many people are attracted to this | | | | While it is true that a container house can be a |
| building style because it's an opportunity to reuse | | | | very affordable plan, certain factors can have a |
| a languishing byproduct of international trade. | | | | big impact on your total cost. It's important to do |
| The second supporting point is: | | | | your research. For instance, if you have to |
| Strength. Shipping containers are designed to | | | | transport the containers a very long way, the |
| withstand the abuse of sea transport. These | | | | that can significantly add to your cost per square |
| things are ideal for building in areas that are prone | | | | foot.. |
| to things like hurricanes and earthquakes. They | | | | A fourth negative point can be: |
| can be literally anchored to the foundation. | | | | Resistance. When you tell people you're going to |
| Shipping containers generally far exceed building | | | | build a shipping container house, some will |
| codes for strength requirements. A container | | | | inevitably think there is something wrong with |
| home isn't going anywhere.. | | | | you. The first thing that a lot of people think of is |
| A 3rd favorable point is: | | | | living in a metal box. Which technically you will be, |
| Price. The cost per square foot is often bellow | | | | but you know your design is not some |
| that of regular stick house construction. Depending | | | | claustrophobic shanty. You'll have to be prepared |
| on other factors building a container house can be | | | | to defend your decision on a fairly regular basis.. |
| pretty comparable to building a conventional | | | | The 5th and last point in contra is: |
| house, and in some cases significantly less | | | | Building Codes. In reality this is not normally a |
| expensive.. | | | | problem for most residential construction projects. |
| A fourth big benefit is: | | | | But, in some cases you will have to get approval |
| Speed. Due to the modular nature of the | | | | to build a steel building from your local regulatory |
| structure, container houses can be built relatively | | | | bodies, or your neighborhood board. You definitely |
| quickly. Some companies specialize in fitting out | | | | need to address this. This is actually one of the |
| the containers before sending them to the job | | | | very first things you need to deal with once |
| site. This means a crane gingerly lowers a | | | | you've decided to take the plunge.. |
| container onto your site and boom... instant | | | | So there we have some of the arguments for |
| kitchen. That's an over simplification, but you see | | | | each side. Clearly, none of the 'cons' are |
| what I'm getting at.. | | | | unsurmountable barriers to building a shipping |
| Last but not least, the 5th point is | | | | container house. Is container house a good idea? |
| Coolness Factor. Let's face it. You'll be building | | | | or a bad idea? Of course the answer to that is |
| something pretty unique and head turning. Of | | | | what you're trying to decide! Building a shipping |
| course you can clad your house such that it's | | | | container house is an adventure. You, dear reader, |
| hard to tell it's a container home, but most of the | | | | must choose whether the pros outweigh the |
| stunning examples you see have a somewhat | | | | cons, or put a different way, whether the cons |
| sculptural look to them. You'll be the coolest kid on | | | | are things you feel you up to dealing with. |
| the block in your indestructible house.. | | | | |