Shipping container homes?

[dentedvw]

I have had my eye on some shipping container home blogs, websites, and so forth for more than a few years. I think we are still about five to ten years from seriously considering owning property again, since we still own a very nice completely valueless home in Michigan, but it's nice to dream anyway.


Has anyone seen any shipping container homes in Utah? Specifically the SLC area? I am always intrigued by unusual construction, and a shipping container is just conventional enough to be acceptable by my wife. provided it doesn't look much like one when it's finished, of course. :greg:

For example:

 

[O'neal]

interesting,never seen them built as a house....I have a brother in pahrump nev that used three containers-2side's and one behind,pour a cement pad,then are building trusses to connect it all into one big garage.

 

[Badger]

I have been watching them off and on. I went so far as to sketch one up.

Built all the models myself except for the Cobra. I imported that.

From the minute I first saw pictures of one I have liked them. Some people have really done them up to the point they no longer look like shipping containers.

 

[containerhomes]

I have been watching them off and on. I went so far as to sketch one up.

Built all the models myself except for the Cobra. I imported that.

From the minute I first saw pictures of one I have liked them. Some people have really done them up to the point they no longer look like shipping containers.

Hi Badger,

Its great to see your enthusiasm for container homes.

Like many people that become captivated by the idea there is a lot of misinformation about exactly what you can and cant do with containers.

If you remain interested in this space you will eventually discover that many of the "artists impressions" created for container homes never get of the ground and that is because there are some serious "rules" for affordable and practical use.

Criss cross stacking and canterlevering as you are showing can be done but it ends up being so expensive that they are "statement homes for Architects" rather than robust affordable housing.

I have a free video here of stacking and modification, at 30 mins its quite long but its designed for people genuinely interested in the idea, not just looking at some pretty pictures.

Stacking Containers and Modifications

Good luck with your project if you decide to go ahead.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Looks to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. What's cost like?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've bounced around the idea for recreational property. I don't think you could too easily get away with it in a more metropolitan area so far as efficiency standards and building codes but for an out of town 'cabin' I think it would be rad. You could pre-build it at home and have a trucking company transport it to your site. There are a few neat threads I've read on the idea over the years, seems it would be more popular given the relatively low cost of a used container?

 

[Badger]

I'm sure you won't be around long since you are just spamming. I'm sure you will never be back either since you got what you wanted and that is for a few clicks on your web site link.

I have been in construction for half my life and rest assured I understand what it would take to make that building structurally sound. It was more of a exercise to see what a structure would look like. If I were to actually do one it would most likely be a pole barn style structure with several containers placed inside to create rooms.

Some thing like these

 

[joez]

Im really digging that one in the first picture, that would make a fantastic cabin.

 

[dentedvw]

Was it the renaissance ronin guy? He manages to create controversy everywhere he goes, it seems like.

There are ways to insulate, in or out, or both and then clad over. You can use any siding style you like, steel, cement board, wood, just like normal.

What building with the containers gets you is a uniform structure, fast. For some, it's an easy way to start on a larger building, one piece at a time, because you don't have to do much to it right away. With stick construction, you couldn't leave the wood exposed for a year while you tinkered on the inside, or worked on other projects, but with a container, no problem. Just don't expect to live in it while it's baking hot in the Utah sun though, I imagine. Heh!

It's like any other construction method, you have to follow some rules. It's unorthodox, and maybe that's what appeals to me.

 

[Stacey]

Im really digging that one in the first picture, that would make a fantastic cabin.

Ditto

 

[Hybrid Racing]

thats bad ass!!

 

[Wasatch Quad]

I have never considered this, but I think this would be a kick a.. cabin.

 

[rollover]

There is a company that makes 1br units an sells them in Texas along the boarder. One of the national news reporters had a special on them about 2 years ago. IIRC
Cool idea for a backwoods cabin for sure.

 

[jmaxj]

i have never heard or seen of these before, now i'm intrigued so naturally i did a Google search on some more info and the first website it took me too was treehugger.com. thought it was pretty funny since i learned of these off an off-road forum


they are bad a$$, thinking i need to design and build one now. just gotta find a fancy rich area to build it in so i can make sure to upset plenty of people while doing it :greg:

 

[sLcREX]

I read about the comment of making one a garage. I've been wanting to make a seperate garage on the side of my house. I suppose one of these containers would be a good idea for one? I know nothing about these container homes, it just peaked my interest since I've been wanting to build one.

 

[Spork]

Maybe it's just me but wouldn't a Steel shop type building be a better option? You wouldn't be limited to 8' wide, you could insulate/heat easier, and I can't imagine cost being too much more than the containers.

 

[Badger]

The real story behind the trend had to do using green materials for building. There were/are thousands of these things just sitting doing nothing in ports across the nation/world. For some reason a good bit of the time they only travel one way since we really don't ship anything back to China other then our money and last I checked it doesn't take up as much space as the products we consume.

 

[phatfoto]

Its cheaper to build new ones overseas than to ship them back empty. I knew a guy in Nevada that had used a pair side by side behind his house to make a garage/shop for his drag car. I've also seen one used as a machine shop.

I like the idea of stacking them under a pole barn type structure. First saw them online a few years ago. I think they are a good alternative.

http://www.truthistreason.net/10-brilliant-boxy-and-sustainable-shipping-container-homes
http://zigloo.ca/
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599868&highlight=container+house
http://www.globalportablebuildings.com/Essential.html
http://www.permies.com/permaculture...e-building/my-shipping-container-cabinshelter

 

[MattL]

there was a cool thread a while ago about zombiefying (if this is a word) one of these over on ar-15

 

[MattL]

Link