In today’s world, we can’t imagine what it would be like to not have goods shipped worldwide, but this is a fairly new concept in the history of logistics. The World Shipping Container Council celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.
Over the last sixty years, containers have gone from a novel concept to numbering in the millions. About 1.5 million containers make their way through Port Houston each year. This has led to an excess of inexpensive shipping containers building up in stock yards.
As a result, resourceful and creative people have found many alternative uses for them. Like building sea container homes, offices and shelters. This begs the important question, how long can dwellings made with shipping containers last?
This guide should help provide some answers.
How Long Do Container Dwellings Last?
The short answer is that it depends. Shipping containers are built to withstand the rough environment of open air sea shipping. They face the sun’s harsh UV rays, bad weather, and salt. This is the prime environment for rust and corrosion.
Shipping companies will tell you that they use a container for about ten to twelve years before they take them out of rotation. But this doesn’t mean the container is no longer useful, just that it won’t be used for shipping.
A container that was used in a storage facility can last much longer. These containers aren’t subjected to the same level of abuse as ocean containers and so can easily last 25 to 30 years.
The lifespan for shipping containers that are used to build houses are even longer because these containers are not only in a friendlier environment but have also been treated and clad as part of the building process. Container homes can easily last well over 50 years with no problem.
If you plan to build a container home, the first thing you should do is buy your containers from a reputable source. They will be able to guide you through the process so that you buy the right container(s) for your needs.
You should also work with a reputable container modification service. They will properly clean and treat any rust areas on your container before making the appropiate modifications. This will protect your container from further corrosion. They can also paint your container to protect it even more.
Expert Modification
How your containers get modified will affect their lifespan. While they’re overengineered and can withstand a large number of cutouts, there is a tipping point. It takes an expert modification team to know where that tipping point is, in-order to ensure your modified container retains its structural integrity after customization.
Build a Texas Container Home That Lasts
Now that you understand the answer to how long container homes can last, you’re ready to start planning your container modifications in Houston. By working with an experienced container modification company, you can be confident that you’ll get the most out of project.
Contact our team of container experts today, and let us help you create a container mod that lasts!
