Container houses are trending in most countries, but how do you build a container house? This is a common question as affordable home construction and other architecture have advanced dramatically.
With this in mind, you can see that there are several individuals and companies that can build a container house. But how easy is it to give your new home a green feel and look with shipping containers, a complete 21st century appeal? Also, how hard is it to do it anyways? Like everything else, it depends on what you know, who you know, and how determined you are to achieve your desired green home.
Table of Contents
Zoning Laws and Building a Shipping Container House
Before you begin to build a container house, realize that zoning laws vary from place to place. This is also true from one county to another. Therefore, it’s essential to check with your local building department before you start on or invest in any construction work.
Assuming you want to build a container house in a residential area, then you may need approval from local planning department before you can begin construction. At any rate, notice this is because most municipalities have zoning regulations in place that dictate what types of structures can be built in certain areas.
For this reason, a shipping container house may not be allowed in some residential regions. Or in some cases, they may require additional approvals from the planning department.
In some few instances, container houses are considered commercial buildings. Consequently, they are therefore subject to different rules than those that apply to residential homes. As a matter of fact some municipalities allow them as long as they meet specific requirements. Requirements such as having proper drainage systems and other amenities like air conditioning and electricity service.
At the same time, other municipalities don’t allow container homes due to concerns about their size or appearance. This is true in areas where homes are typically smaller than those found in cities or suburbs. If this is the case for your community, you can do nothing except move somewhere else or build another type of home.
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Weather of The Place
As mentioned earlier, container houses are great for those who want to try something different. However, you should consider the weather of the place you plan to build your container house.
You must ensure that your container house has good ventilation and cooling systems if it is a hot area. If it is cold, you can insulate the container to keep it warm during winter.
The weather also determines how many containers you need for your home’s construction. For instances, if you live in an area with strong winds or hurricanes, you might want to get two containers instead of one. In sum, this will ensure that your house can withstand strong winds and storms.
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Space to Build a Container House
Once you have purchased your shipping container, you must decide how much living space you want to build inside it. Some people prefer small houses that are only big enough for one person. At the same time, others choose large houses with two bedrooms and even an extra bathroom!
The average width of a 20-foot long shipping container is 8 feet, and its average length is 20 feet. Notice that this makes it quite spacious enough for one person if they do not want any additional space. Additional storage that is used for other activities like cooking or sleeping as well as having room for storage space inside the container house itself as well!
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Cost of Shipping Containers
The cost of a shipping container will depend on the size and how new, old, or banged up the shipping container is. A 20′ container can cost as much as $2,000 or more, while a 40′ container may cost anywhere from $3,000 or more. A brand new shipping container are really difficult to get, and would cost you way more.
The quality of the container will also affect its price. If you want your containers to last for years, you should buy a high-quality one. Otherwise, you might want to buy low-quality ones that are less expensive but will not last long.
To build a container house, you must know how much it costs before starting construction. If you do not have enough money, then building with shipping containers might not be feasible for you at this time. Remember that they are not cheap materials to use in constructing houses. One used shipping container would set you back anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000.
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Cost of Installing a Shipping Container
The cost to install a container house varies depending on the size of the house and the materials used. A typical container home built in the U.S. costs about $65 per square foot, which includes materials and labor. However, this figure could be higher in other countries where labor is cheaper. For example, a container home in Australia costs about $35 per square foot due to lower labor costs.
A typical container house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms with an open-plan kitchen, dining room, and living room on one level. The average size of these homes is between 800 square feet (73 square meters) and 1,200 square feet (111 square meters).
The cost to build a container house depends on how much customization you want to add to it. This includes extras such as adding solar panels or insulation layers at different levels inside the walls.
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Different Types of Shipping Containers
There are many different types of shipping containers. Some are more suited to build a shipping container house than others. The most standard type of container is a 20-foot long by 8-foot high steel box. These are the most popular size for shipping, so they’re readily available and relatively inexpensive.
However, if you’re looking for something larger or smaller, you may find it harder to get what you want. By all means, if you want something more significant, such as a high cube 40 feet long by 8 feet high, you may need to special order it from a supplier and pay more for it. Also, if you want something smaller than 20 feet long by 8 feet high, they’re even harder to find and more expensive!
If this is your first time using shipping containers as building materials, we recommend starting small. Always look for high cube containers to build a container house. This is true because high cube containers have a higher head room compared to normal containers.
If you build a container house with a simple design would mean that you have less material to cut out. Complex, multi-container builds would definitely be a challenge. This way, when you’ve finished one project and want to move on to another one, you’ll know how everything works. You won’t have any surprises along the way!
Read More: An Exclusive Look At The Different Types Of Shipping Containers
Local Codes When Building a Container House
If you live in a place with a temperate climate, you might be able to build a container house without much fuss. But for those who live in colder climates, you’ll need to think about how to design your container home to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
The first thing to consider is local building codes. Many places have strict codes that govern what can be built on any plot. You’ll have something to work with if there’s an existing code (or one being written). If not, then your best bet is to talk with your local building inspector or city planner and see what they recommend.
Local codes can also dictate how far apart the containers should be placed on your property if they’re going to be used as housing units.
When considering the cost of a container house, it’s important to remember that these are not cheap homes. They are usually built by professionals and require a lot of material and labor.
Read More: 9 Creative Ideas For Shipping Container Home Design And Décor
Shipping Container Homes are Difficult to Furnish
When building a shipping container house, many factors can make it challenging to furnish. For example, if you want a traditional wood floor or carpeting, you must install it yourself, as containers are not made with these materials in mind.
Another factor is that many containers have been used for transporting goods and may contain chemicals that could cause health problems if inhaled or ingested over time. If you choose to use them as part of your home design, you will need to treat them before doing so.
Read More: How Much Does A Used Shipping Container Cost? Expert Guide
Transportation and Delivery Issues When you Build a Container House
When you build a custom shipping container house, you must consider that the containers will not be delivered to your building site. You will have to arrange for the transportation of your containers from where they are built to your construction site. This can be expensive and significantly add to the cost of building a custom container home.
In addition, you need to consider that once your containers arrive at your construction site, they will need to be unloaded from their transportation trucks. This can be difficult because of the size and weight of the containers, as well as their awkward configuration. You may need heavy machinery or cranes to help you with this task.
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Shipping Container Home Foundation and Utilities
This is the most important step. The foundation is one of the most critical parts of any house, and you want to ensure it is done right. The type of foundation will depend on where you live and how much room you have.
If you are building on a concrete slab, you can just lay some blocks down (or pour concrete) to create a base for your container home. In case you are building a shipping container house in an area with more soil or rock, you will need to hire a contractor to dig out the ground. Digging up the ground is an important step while building your container home foundation.
The next step is setting up utilities. If your shipping container home is going to be hooked up to public utilities, then it’s time to call an electrician and plumber. Getting professionals to help with plumbing and electricity is important while you build your container house.
They will also need access to power sources and water sources near where your container house will be located. In particular, this is so that they can properly install these utilities in your new home before moving on to other tasks like putting up walls or installing doors & windows.
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Conclusion
If you’re curious about how to build a shipping container house, a good place to begin is by asking yourself the following questions. What is your budget? Are there municipal regulations and zoning laws that will restrict where you can build? How do you want the interior to be laid out?
Are you comfortable with such a minimalistic lifestyle? Do you live in an area subject to strong winds and hurricanes? Once you’ve answered those questions, finding a good source for container homes can help make your dream of container homeownership a reality.
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