By 1. Simplify the plan
The complexity of constructing accommodation container house depends on you. Like any type of construction technology, accommodation building container houses offer a wide range of possibilities. If you don’t have much experience or confidence, you can start from the simple, maybe in the future, you can try a more complicated container construction. The advantage of container houses is that they are easy to upgrade, so once you have accumulated the initial experience, you can add additional rooms, floors, and even a swimming pool at any time!
2. Cut as little as possible
Every cut you make on a container requires time and money, and will complicate the structure (please consider #15 above). Try to stick to a design that requires the least number of cuts.
3. Finish the design and stick to it
This is a follow-up to the previous tip. Each cutting requires a certain cost, but when you cut a part of the container, it takes a lot of cost and time to rebuild it, which can avoid making new decisions. Visit as many container houses as possible to get inspiration for your design, and then try to find the right supplier to build the one you like.
4. Minimize welding requirements
Welding is expensive and time-consuming, so there must be a construction plan to minimize it.
5. The plans are always more than you think
If you want to build a container house on a tight budget, you can at least plan. Give yourself time to calculate your willingness to invest in container house design and various architectural elements to ensure that the budget is not exceeded in the end.
6. Track the cost of every dollar you spent
Keep track of all expenses in accordance with your budget; this will prevent you from overspending at the last minute.
7. New or second-hand containers… the ultimate problem
We know that the cost and environmental protection of houses are directly related to the choice of new and old containers. Buying recycled second-hand containers may be tempting, but it also brings many challenges. You also need to carefully check all the containers you buy and be prepared for defects that may become apparent over time. A good compromise is a “disposable” container, which has only been used once. They are cheaper than brand new, but are much less wear and tear than obsolete containers. When you choose the right supplier, you can consult the other party to make the right choice.
8. Rational choice
Make wise choices in order to save money: Don’t be stingy with things that you can’t easily change, such as the container itself. On the other hand, cheap paint work can be quickly redone at low cost, but please consider the future cost of one-time savings and indulgence. Good paint is relatively expensive, but it can be guaranteed for more than 10 years. It is more cost-effective under. So before making any decision, please make sure that you do not sacrifice security or legal compliance to save money.
9. Choose low maintenance
Another good way to save money is to use building components that require low maintenance. This applies to everything from maintenance fees to cleaning fees.
10. Check the quality of all containers
The bottom container needs to be structured to properly handle the stack. This should be the case for most new containers and disposable containers, but for older containers, it is best to check carefully to ensure reliability.
11. From posts to posts
The containers are designed to be stacked on ships. On the ship, they stacked a container of the same size on top of another, and arranged the corner posts on top of the other corner posts. If you look closely, you will find that the prisms are only a little lower than the bottom of the container and higher than the top of the container. The prisms and floor of the container are designed to bear the weight of the container and the container above it. So you want to do the same with your stack container design. If you want to stack 2×20’containers and 1×40’containers, please make sure that the 20’container is at the bottom so that all four prisms of the 40’container can be set up. If the operation is reversed, the 20′ prism will not have proper support, and the 20′ corner post may fall from the top of the 40′. If your design does not allow this, then just build in brackets for the corner posts.
12. Understand how stacking enhances structure
The design of shipping containers is very sturdy, but limited to certain aspects. When they are stacked, their weight is transferred through the corner posts, thereby obtaining high stability. On the contrary, if the container is to be buried in an underground shelter, this situation is not applicable, and the underground shelter will exert a force (soil weight) on the roof and walls of the container.
13. Lock the containers together securely
To ensure that the stacked containers can safely withstand bad weather conditions (or noisy parties inside!) you should lock them together with twist locks.
If you have reached this point, you may seriously consider the transformation of shipping container houses. So far, this idea seems quite reliable. Before concluding this article, let’s start with the point of view of the “devil advocate”. The following points need to be considered:
14. The Devil in Details
The reuse of containers seems to be a low-cost, low-energy alternative to traditional construction methods. However, only in the construction process can people realize that metal boxes become the carrier needed for houses. Depending on the condition of the container and the expectations of the final house, it may be necessary to sandblast the exposed structure, replace the floor, and cut the opening into metal. All these processes, as well as some other processes, require additional parts and generate waste. However, based on the environmental protection of the use of recycled containers, suppliers can be required to transform waste scraps and cut container boards into household or craft ornaments.
15. Correct size and shape
The size of the common container makes the living space limited, the ceiling is less than 2.44 meters (assuming it is insulated). In order to provide a comfortable space for living, working, dining, etc., it is necessary to combine several containers in the correct way.
16. The economic situation of your city
In many areas, containers may be available in large quantities and are inexpensive because it is too expensive to ship them back to the port of origin. However, in some places, it may be cheaper to build a similar house (cabin) from wood, and with the increasing popularity of 3D printing material technology. However, no matter which form you choose, the prices of containers, light steel structures, cabins, prefabricated modular houses, container houses, and tents are different. Do not blindly compare the cost per square meter. Please choose carefully according to the actual material parameters and compare the prices longitudinally. Make rational decisions!
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