This trend of constructing with shipping containers isn’t surprising considering that container homes are Eco-friendly, affordable, and incredibly strong.
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When you look at examples of shipping container homes, you find homes that were built extremely fast and for a small amount of money.
However, there are also examples of container homes that have failed because their owners have made simple mistakes that could have been avoided.
Here are a few common mistakes you can make when constructing a shipping container home.
The biggest mistake people make when building their shipping container home is purchasing the wrong size shipping container. In fact, this was the most common response we received when interviewing dozens of shipping container homeowners.
Most of the people constructed their building using regular height shipping containers, only to find out later that there are high cube containers which are an additional foot in height.
High Cube Container Height Difference
Standard shipping containers are 8 feet 6 inches in height, whereas high cube containers are 9 feet 6 inches tall. An extra foot in the height of your container is perfect for people looking to insulate the ceiling of their container without sacrificing on headroom.
In a standard container, if you insulate the ceiling, the remaining interior ceiling height is only about 7 feet. Using a high cube container, you can install insulation and still have an 8-foot ceiling height.
High cube containers do cost a bit more, but they are quite popular and not too difficult to find. Considering the benefits they offer, it’s usually money well-spent.
Other people are surprised to find out that containers come in lengths other than just 20 and 40ft, including, 10, 45, and 48 ft lengths. There are even some containers that are a few inches wider than most, including 53 ft containers and so-called ‘pallet-wide’ containers.
Check out our Shipping Container Dimensions article to learn about the sizes, weights, and more for all the common (and not so common) container varieties.
Another crucial mistake people make is not accounting for the condition of the containers they purchase. While purchasing used containers is a great way to increase the sustainability of your home, you need to be prepared to do some refurbishing.
At the low end, you’ll often need to some do touch up painting. But more heavily used containers may require cutting out dented or rusted metal and welding in a patch. Containers naturally experience significant rust and corrosion due to their hard lives at sea and in busy ports, and it must be dealt with.
If you’re prepared for this work going in, that’s one thing. But people purchasing their containers online or by without seeing the containers in person may be surprised at the condition of the containers when they arrive.
Even if you have pictures beforehand, a shady dealer could conveniently crop out bad places from the pictures, or make them hard to spot with lower quality images. Seeing the containers in person is preferable, but at least get numerous high-quality images and videos if you can’t physically be there. Ensure all the corner joints are shown, and underneath and above the container is ideal if possible.
We have a ton of great information about choosing the best containers for your project, how and where to buy containers, and also how to handle container delivery that is sure to help you avoid any surprises.
Just about the worst feeling in the world is when you’re told that your already built house doesn’t comply with local planning regulations and that you need to take the house down. You don’t want to end up like this person, who had to take down their $1.5 million home because they didn’t apply for a permit. And even if things don’t get THAT far, you can still face significant delays and cost impacts from regulatory hurdles you didn’t expect.
Always contact your local public works building division, zoning office, and other applicable officials as early as possible in your project before you start construction. Be prepared by having a very good idea of what it is you want to build and where you want to build.
This normally means having scaled architectural drawings and foundation plans drawn up before you meet your local planning department. The planning application can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months and can cost hundreds or potentially even thousands of dollars depending on local fees and other required assessments.
Unfortunately, each area has its own rules and standards, so there is no one standard approach that fits all situations. Note that in the US, there are some areas that fall outside of city zoning. In these areas, a permit is not needed for building. If you are in such an area, consider yourself very lucky! But in most cases in the US you will need permits. Make sure you do your research first.
Luckily, we have a detailed article about zoning and building regulations to help you navigate these issues!
A mistake people make with insulation is not considering their local climate. For instance, in areas with lots of rain, you need to ensure your insulation provides you with a seamless vapor barrier. The best option would be to use spray foam insulation.
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In very warm, dry climates your insulation should focus on keeping your container home cool. Generally, in this case, you wouldn’t want a seamless vapor barrier.
There is no one correct approach when it comes to insulation. It depends on many things like the local climate, your budget, the container’s age, and the style of home you want.
Most people agree that spray foam insulation is the best to use in most circumstances. It certainly isn’t the best choice for every situation. There are many other types of insulation such as insulation panels, blanket insulation, and even Eco-friendly insulation such as recycled newspapers.
Choosing the correct type of insulation to use is crucial. If you are using the wrong type of insulation, or worse yet, don’t have any insulation, you are going to face lots of problems. Your container home will be freezing in winter and too hot during summer. However, your biggest concern is condensation and dampness.
Condensation can cause your containers to rust. This is very expensive to repair and can take a lot of time.
If you aren’t familiar with insulation methods and techniques, read our beginner’s guide to insulating a shipping container home.
Additionally, a common mistake people make is cutting too much steel from their shipping containers.
A key feature of shipping containers is that they are incredibly strong. In fact, they can be stacked up to eight containers high when they are fully loaded! Shipping containers are the perfect building block to use for fast, affordable construction.
Unfortunately, some people over-modify their containers. By cutting out large sections of steel from the container you are reducing its strength and thus the structural integrity of the container. Doing this will also require you to incur additional costs, because you will need to reinforce the containers with steel beams. You will also need to weld the steel beams in place, which can further add to your costs and includes time-consuming preparatory work.
You can remove sections of steel for your windows and doors without much problem, but when you remove entire walls, you will need to use support beams.
The last mistake we are going to look at is people choosing the wrong contractor to construct their shipping container home.
Many people like to build their shipping container home themselves. People without the time or DIY experience will need to hire a contractor to construct the building.
When you choose a contractor, make sure that they have experience building with shipping containers, or, at the very least understand shipping container homes and are enthusiastic to construct one.
The last thing you want is a builder who doesn’t understand shipping containers. This will cost you time, money and certainly won’t be exceptional quality.
Also, make sure you choose a contractor who is able to follow the build all the way through the project. You don’t want to use multiple contractors during the build, if possible.
Let us know in the comments section below any mistakes you made while constructing your shipping container home.
Ever since renovation, home styling and interior design became popular, through shows like The Block or Grand Designs, shipping container homes have been at the forefront of people's minds. Recognised for their potential low cost, associated environmental benefits and quick build time, the idea of building a shipping container home has appealed to many frugal and savvy individuals. For the few that have tried and succeeded, lessons learnt along their construction journey were not readily available, until now.
This article will be your guide through some common questions - and answer more specific details about shipping containers homes in Australia.
There are currently limited 'off-the-plan' options for a container house. There are also no 'ready made' container homes that can be trucked or transported from a depot and dropped into place. Each container is brought to site and carefully placed by a qualified team of builders.
Whilst containers provide a shell, each container needs to be fabricated to fit in with the floorplan and designed to meet the Building Code of Australia (BCA) requirements. This can be done at a container depot, or onsite depending on the project. This is covered further into the guide.
Think of it like a game of Tetris, where each piece is pre-configured off-site, then carefully moved into place before being fixed to a set of footings or foundations designed by your engineer.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 10ft Expandable Container Home.
If you are planning on building a container home in Australia, you will need to check the planning requirements of your local council. Now that the disclaimer is out the way, let’s dive into planning permissions in general.
Most Australian councils treat containers like any other permanent building on your property. Whether it is being used as a permanent backyard shed, or an architecturally designed container home, you will need engineering, plans, inspections and all other associated approvals in place before you start building your home with containers.
This can become more complicated if you intend to modify or fabricate the containers on site to fit your design. The structural integrity of a container is what makes them so popular for shipping and transport. As soon as any modification is made, the structural integrity can be compromised. This can be overcome by having a structurally certified welder complete the work.
Container homes in Australia are treated like any other home. They are a standalone structure and must comply with the same regulations that govern a traditionally built home. These can differ based on location, so you should speak with your architect or local council before you begin your container home journey.
No matter what design you settle on, you will need to convert shipping containers to suit your home design. Whilst they come with walls and end doors (or side doors if you choose), they do not come with windows or internal doors. Your plans will need to clearly detail these conversions.
You will also need to consider footing and foundations, ventilation, insulation, plaster, plumbing, electrical and flooring, as these additions are not included in the container cost and cannot be excluded.
Shipping containers do a fantastic job of keeping goods protected from wind and water. They can also heat up very quickly, if there is nothing to allow the warm air inside to escape. This change in temperature can cause condensation.
Once you settle on plans from an architect and engineer, you will need to have them approved by your local council or shire.
The good thing about containers is that you have a lot of freedom with modifications. This includes sliding doors, windows, insulation and, internal and external doors.
A range of considerations will determine the final cost of your container home.
The pricing below takes into account the cost of containers only. It does not include the associated costs of any of the following, each of which will also need to be considered when building:
All prices below incl. GST. They are accurate as of . If you are after a current indicative price of containers, call our Customer Service Team on 131 132.
The quantity of containers you need will depend on the size of your home. Like any structure, as the size increases so does the cost.
Each container will also need to be modified to fit into a house too. Consider internal doors, windows, the removal of walls to create larger spaces, etc. They will also need to be modified properly, so that the structural integrity is not compromised.
According to a report by Commsec Home Size Trends Report released in , the average size of new build homes in Australia is 235.8m2. This is important to provide context when calculating the cost of a container home.
Depending on your design, you may need a range of container sizes.
According to the Australian Building Code, the minimum internal ceiling height is 2.4m for a habitable room. This rules out general purpose containers, with an internal ceiling height of only 2.39m.
In contrast, the internal height of high cube shipping containers is 2.7m. This provides ample space for insulation, electrical, lighting and plaster.
Another consideration when determining your container size is the design that you choose. In terms of cost, 40ft high cube containers represent better value for money per m2 than 20ft high cube containers. Take a look at our Shipping Containers for Sale and Hire Price List guide that highlights the breakdown in cost of shipping containers. Much of the cost can be attributed to the corner castings and corner posts, which provide the structural integrity for each container.
Thinking of building a tiny home, or something smaller? Using the above pricing, you can calculate the cost of containers only for your own build.
There are numerous factors that contribute to the price of a shipping container. If you want to learn more about container pricing, take a look at our guide, Shipping Containers for Sale & Hire - Price List.
New, used or heavily used? Whilst newer containers are cleaner, show less signs of wear and tear and have often carried or stored less stock, they also cost considerably more.
Used containers are much cheaper, but they may have minor internal or external marks. Or they could have been used to store or transport things that you would not want in your home, such as automotive parts, paints, or junk. Your container supplier should be able to provide an indication of containers that are suitable to use for a house build.
Unfortunately, unless you purchase new containers, there is no way to guarantee what each container has been used for.
Once your containers have been fabricated and you are ready to piece together your dream home, make sure you stick to those original plans. Any updates or changes will incur significant expense, especially if the container requires further modification. This might mean more cutting, welding, or even starting again with another container. Remember, it is much harder to retrofit one or more containers into a build part way through.
Although the interest in container homes is growing, there are currently no off the plan build services available in Australia. Each and every home needs to be designed from the ground up, whether through an architect, builder or hobbyist home owner.
A custom home design can be one of the primary reasons why people decide to build a home like this.
Suitable containers for a home build come in either a long or a very long rectangle. The possibilities with the way they are configured together to form a home are endless. They can be single or double story, include architectural highlights like cantilevered rooms and industrial interior walls, and either blend in with or contrast against their surroundings.
In short, container homes often make a statement.
Built with corten steel, containers are designed to last in the harshest conditions. Think of the exposure to salt on the open ocean, to the heat and UV rays of the Australian sun during summer, and extended rains during winter. Each one of these contribute to corrosion and rust.
The common lifespan of a container used for freight, on rail or road, is 10 or more years.
However, containers for static storage can last much longer because they are lifted and moved much less often. This is when much of the structural damage can occur, from scratches and scrapes that accelerate rusting, to denting and warping that can occur from constant loading and unloading.
When used for onsite storage, containers can last up to 25 years with limited maintenance. Depending on how exposed it is, the locking rods and door seals may deteriorate before this estimate.
Containers used for homes can often last much longer for multiple reasons.
Solid footings keep dampness away from the base, which is usually one of the first parts to show signs of damage if left on soil or dirt.
This extends their life by sealing the unit from water, salt and dirt. The addition of roofing over the structure, which accounts for water runoff, means that water will not pool on top of the container either. This significantly reduces the chances of rust.
Each container that is chosen is often in decent condition. Newer builds, or containers used in protected areas for static storage are the most suitable for home builds because they show less signs of wear and tear, have fewer rust spots and are more structurally sound.
Containers that have done a decade or more on the road or rail are less likely to be suited to container homes. Exposure to the elements, along with the constant loading and unloading into and out of depots means there is often more damage and corrosion. In some instances, there can also be minor warping which won’t affect them in transit, but will cause significant headaches when building a home.
Ongoing maintenance, such as cleaning and painting every 5-7 years, means your container home could last for well over 50 years.
Are shipping containers the best material to build your next house with?
They could be, if you want a house that makes a statement, whilst also reducing the environmental impact of building a new home, then containers could be for you. Your container home will be unique. It will stand up to Australia’s harsh conditions, from scorching hot summers, to cold and wet winters too. Depending on how you fit out the interior, it could also have an industrial edge that will be unmatched with a standard home.
However, if your intention is to build the cheapest house by using recycled shipping containers, then you might be in for a rude shock. Pricing has changed significantly since container homes burst onto the scene around . There will also be a large amount of fabrication work if you intend to build an average sized Australian home. A traditional home built off the plan will likely represent a much more affordable project, with more traditional living space and less headaches throughout construction.
Once you have spoken to an architect or builder and know what you need, contact SCF to discuss your container requirements. SCF currently supplies containers to a range of builders for residential and commercial projects.
If you require many containers, suggest to your architect or builder to contact us early in the process, as it might take a while to secure the number of containers that are best suited to your home build. Our team will be more than happy to help you secure 20ft and 40ft containers for your home.
For more 40ft Expandable Container Houseinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.