Shipping containers are a fantastic option for people who are looking for an environmentally friendly material to use in the construction of a brand new home. The best part about this is that there are many vendors in Houston, Dallas, and Seattle that happily provide shipping containers to clients who wish to use the containers as a home.
If you are planning to use a shipping container to build a custom home, take note that this will require several shipping container modifications. Fortunately, container vendors understand this, which is why they are happy to perform any modifications on your behalf. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help make sure the modifications go without a hitch:
Reinforce the Walls When Necessary
The design of a shipping container may look very simple, but it is actually very well thought-out to maximize the stability and durability of the entire container. However, this also means that removing an entire wall to create more space for a room throws off the balance of the container. As such, you will need to reinforce the walls with steel beams and weld the sections together to provide enough support for the shipping container.
Plan Ahead for Plumbing Fixtures and Pipes
Just like in any typical home, the plumbing system is one of the most important components of a home. This is especially true in conex box homes. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is forgetting about the need to include a plumbing system since cutting through shipping containers takes a lot of time and effort. Save yourself the trouble by having a floor plan ready for bathrooms and your kitchen so that the modification team can pre-cut the storage containers for you before delivery.
Don’t Forget about Proper Insulation
Metal is a great conductor of heat, which means shipping container homes can easily get incredibly hot during the summer and uncomfortably cold during the winter. The best way to avoid such a situation would be to ensure you have the proper insulation installed in your home. “Proper”, in this case, would mean using the right type of insulation in relation to your climate. For example, those living in an area that sees frequent rain will need insulation that offers a seamless vapor barrier.
Leave Modifications to the Professionals
Lastly, it is best to leave shipping container modifications to the professionals. Aside from being rather difficult to cut away sections of a shipping container, there is also the risk of cutting too much of the steel away. Not only does it become very expensive to replace the excess steel that has been cut away, but it is also dangerous because too much missing steel throws off the structural integrity of the shipping container. Professionals understand this risk and are better prepared to make the modifications while making sure the shipping container retains its integrity and durability.
SOURCES:
5 Mistakes To Avoid When Building A Shipping Container Home, ContainerHomePlans.org
10 Things You Need To Know BEFORE You Buy A Shipping Container, OffgridWorld.com
