Shipping Container Home

CajunCubsFan · March 08, 2015, 08:15:55 PM

We are looking really hard a doing a shipping container home. I have plans and I think if I got (2) 53' containers would be great for a 2 bedroom home. Any thoughts?

CajunCubsFan
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trganey · March 10, 2015, 02:17:54 PM

Above ground you should be fine. If you plan to bury or partially bury them do your home work. I've seen some horror stories about lateral loads. jes my .o2

March 10, 2015, 03:26:21 PM

This idea has been kicked around here a lot at times. Myself I have never seen any advantages of such. Framing and trusses are such a minor part of the cost of building both time and money wise. Then there is the refabrication of the container. To me even DIY you still need to charge off your own time. Would it be quicker and better to conventional frame a small house. Or start cutting and welding.

There was a contractor down in Salt Lake that started building out of containers for low income a couple years ago. Would be interesting to see if he is still doing it. I know I could frame and get trusses on cheaper than he was looking at. Then there was the issue of an exterior. Then there is the issue of insulating and basically framing the interior.

But hey that is just me.....

Don_P · March 10, 2015, 05:28:41 PM

Looking at the pic above I came up with 35k in containers, then the rest. They have made the lot basically unsaleable until it is removed when the time comes. I can't see any reason in doing it.

Texas Tornado · March 10, 2015, 10:05:05 PM

Thinking outside the normal can be achieved and it can work and look good.

http://youtu.be/ThGnRpTfNwo

March 12, 2015, 05:27:12 PM

This topic was posted to the wrong forum section (Plan Support) as this is not one of our plans.

Using a shipping container as a residence will involve solving lots of unusual problems that are much easier to do with wood frame construction. Insulation and moisture condensation are two that come to mind.

With enough money and time lots of unusual projects can be built and problems overcome. Living in a shipping container will require a good amount of both and will not be cheap and easy even if the first impression seems like it could be.

suburbancowboy · March 17, 2015, 05:15:02 PM

Another thing to think about is resale. I have heard that they are really hard to sell and if you do, you take a major loss on them, just like mobile homes.

John Raabe · March 17, 2015, 05:18:16 PM

Homeowner insurance and financing may also be harder to get.

rick91351 · March 17, 2015, 05:55:40 PM

Quote from: John Raabe on March 17, 2015, 05:18:16 PM
Homeowner insurance and financing may also be harder to get.

Insurance underwriting is such a fickle thing at times. If your agent or his boss does not want to do the legwork and go the extra mile on a structure that is not within the 'box' and work to sell it to the underwriters. Good luck!!

Financing an owner built container home would be at least in the market here it would be impossible. Not improbable - impossible. They hate owner builder homes anyway - just too much risk that they will not ever get it finished. Then the 'aftermarket' product is crazy. You might like it, but something happens you have to sell. Anything from a death - divorce or ________. Try and sell it. Like an A-frame up here. No lending institution will loan on it. No real foundation, no loan. So they deep discount it. It is now so low that people with the money will not buy it because if you have the money you will not buy anything like that.