People today are becoming much more aware of how our daily lifestyles have an adverse effect on the environment. This has led to many green movements over the years in an effort to preserve Mother Nature for future generations. One such movement is the construction of green homes out of unused materials. A great example of this would be to build a home out of several custom shipping containers.
Of course, shipping containers are not your typical building material for homes. This entails a few other things you need to think about when designing your new custom home. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you design your new green shipping container home:
Reinforce the Walls When Cutting
If you will be using multiple shipping containers for your home, you will probably need to remove a wall or two at some point to create a larger living space. This, however, poses structural issues since cutting even a small hole for a window can disrupt the balance of weight of the container. Fortunately, professionals who work on custom shipping containers understand this concept very well and are able to reinforce the remaining walls and add support pillars to prevent the container from caving in. In short, make sure you leave any cutting to the pros.
Have Shipping Containers Inspected
Keep in mind that some used shipping containers will be in better condition than others. The best way to make sure that you get your hands on a sturdy container at a great price is to have a professional from the Institute of International Container Lessors perform an inspection of the container. It would also be beneficial to be present during the inspection so you and the inspector can immediately discuss important findings and how to best resolve any issues.
Consider Adding Solar Panels
Solar panels can be a little too heavy for some roofs. This is especially true if you want to install numerous large panels. Thanks to the robust design of shipping containers, your new shipping container home can easily bear the weight of solar panels. This way, you can easily integrate green technology in your home and significantly reduce your monthly energy bills. Solar panels are also a great addition for those who are building a shipping container home for off grid living.
Build with the Future in Mind
Do you plan to have children in the future? Will you have your parents move in with you upon their retirement? If you answered “yes” to either question, it’s best to add the necessary extra rooms right from the start. Not only does this save you the hassle in the future, but it may also come out less expensive. Adding a new shipping container to your home may require new modifications to the existing structures, which can cost you a pretty penny.
Sources:
10 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy a Shipping Container, OffGridWorld.com5 Mistakes To Avoid When Building A Shipping Container Home, ContainerHomePlans.org
