Shipping container homes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people turning to these unique and innovative homes as a viable alternative to traditional stick-built houses. And it's not hard to see why - there are many benefits to owning a shipping container home that make it an attractive option for anyone looking for a unique and affordable living space. Here are five key benefits of building and owning a shipping container home:

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1. Affordability

One of the most significant benefits of a shipping container home is its affordability. Shipping containers are designed to be transported all over the world, which means they are built to be incredibly durable and weather-resistant. As a result, they can often be purchased for a fraction of the cost of traditional building materials, making them an excellent choice for anyone on a tight budget. While Shipping container homes can be more affordable than traditional housing, it ultimately depends on a variety of factors such as location, design, and materials used. 

• Materials: One of the biggest advantages of shipping container houses is that they use recycled shipping containers as the primary building material. These containers can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of traditional building materials such as brick, wood, and concrete. However, the cost of modifying and retrofitting the container to be habitable can offset some of the savings from the container itself.

• Labor: Another factor to consider is the cost of labor. Building a shipping container home typically requires less labor than building a traditional house, which can result in lower overall construction costs. Additionally, performing the work yourself can save money compared to using specialized container home builders.

• Design: The design of the house can also impact its cost. A simple container home design with few modifications will cost less than a more complex design that involves cutting and welding multiple containers together.

• Location: The cost of building a container home can vary depending on the location it's constructed. For instance, having a container placed on a trailer is much less expensive than purchasing a plot of land and pouring a foundation. Shipping container homes built in areas where there is a limited supply of shipping containers may also cost more due to the added transportation costs.

• Site Preparation: Site preparation can also impact the overall cost. In some cases, additional site preparation may be required to ensure the land can support the weight of the containers.

2. Sustainability

Another significant benefit of a shipping container home is its sustainability. With the rise of the green movement, many people are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment, and containers can provide an excellent opportunity to do just that. However, their level of sustainability will depend on various factors, such as the sourcing of materials, energy efficiency, and overall impact on the environment. Here are some ways in which shipping container homes can be sustainable:

Finally, shipping container homes can be incredibly mobile. Instead of having your container on a fixed foundation, you can have them set on a trailer or even a floating base that sits on the water. As a result, if you ever need to move your home to a new location, it can be easily transported to its new site. This makes shipping container homes an excellent option for those who may need to move frequently, such as military families or people who work in remote locations.

In conclusion, a shipping container home is an excellent option for anyone looking for an affordable, sustainable, durable, and customizable living space. With their unique design and versatility, shipping containers offer an exciting and innovative way to create a home that is uniquely yours.

Shipping Container Homes - Pros, Cons & Costs

Container homes are exactly what they sound like; homes made from the steel shipping containers that you see carrying goods everywhere on trains, trucks, and ships. From these giant Lego blocks, people are building homes of all shapes and sizes.

Shipping containers are generally available in 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft. The smallest shipping container can provide about 100 square feet of floor space for a shipping container home. Eight larger containers together can make a two-story house at about square feet. Hundreds of container micro-apartments together can make a huge apartment building.

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Table of Contents

1. Pros of Shipping Container Homes
2. Cons of Shipping Container Homes
3. Are Shipping Container Homes Safe?
4. What Is The Standard Size of a Shipping Container Home?
5. How Do You Insulate a Shipping Container Home?
6. Can You Add a Roof to a Shipping Container Home?
7. What States Allow Shipping Container Homes?
8. How Much Are Shipping Container Homes?
9. How Long Does A Shipping Container Home Last?
10. Do Shipping Container Homes Rust?
11. Do Shipping Container Homes Hold Value?

Why are shipping containers being used to make homes, studios, cabins, and offices? Well, with about 14 million ‘out-of-service’ containers in the world, there are lots of them available. And playing with giant blocks has a definite appeal!

Besides trendiness, interest in container homes is also part of a wider interest in saving money with prefabricated and modular homes. Many potential homeowners are looking for lower construction and maintenance costs. There is also a perception that container homes are contributing to recycling.

Could a container home be a good choice for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros of Shipping Container Homes

Prefab Shipping Container Homes

Many shipping container homes are available as prefabricated modular homes, making construction time shorter. Some companies advertise delivery within 10 weeks! Most of the building code inspections are done at the factory, which makes things simpler and quicker. Or if you are designing a custom home or building a do-it-yourself project, the container gives you a fun prebuilt structure to work with.

Ease of Transport and Finding a Site

A worldwide system exists for moving containers around. Once they reach your site, they are relatively simple to set in place on a prepared foundation.

Shipping Container Homes Have Predictable Costs

Most of the work is completed on a factory floor for a fixed price. Delivery to the site, site preparation, foundation, assembly and utility connections are the only variable costs. That said, container homes are not always less expensive. Estimates vary, and some put the savings at 5-10%, depending on what you’re comparing against.

Recycled Shipping Container Homes

The environmental appeal of a container home is the idea that you are re-using a leftover product of the shipping industry to make a home. This can be a good thing, but as we will see, it’s not always true or the best thing.

Some of the advantages, like short construction time and predictable pricing, are the same for all prefabricated and modular homes, not just those made with shipping containers. But container homes benefit uniquely from the worldwide infrastructure built to move shipping containers. Even container home skeptics admit they can be useful where local building expertise is lacking or for emergency shelters that can be moved easily. In these scenarios, the versatility of container transport is a huge advantage.

Container homes are often marketed as being environmentally friendly because they are said to be made from used containers, thus conserving metal resources. There are lots of old shipping containers out there, no longer in circulation, and repurposing them into homes has a strong appeal. But is a container home really the best use of a container, from a sustainability perspective? Many would disagree.

Cons of Shipping Container Homes

Shipping Container Homes Are Not Always Effective Recycling

Most factory-built container homes are built from ‘one-use’ containers that have only had a single trip. These containers tend to be in good shape, without dents or rust, so they are nice for building with, instead of containers that have gone ‘out-of-service’ and may be damaged from years of use. Taking a box with lots of shipping life out of service after a single use isn’t effective recycling. And there is way more steel in a container than you need to build a house - if recycled as steel, it could make enough steel studs for 14 framed houses the same size.

Shipping Container Homes Could Have Structural Issues

A shipping container is very strong at the corners, but the roof is not that strong, so typically you need to build another roof over it, especially where there will be snow. Also, the corrugated steel walls are essential to the strength of the structure. This means anywhere you cut out a large window, or door opening requires new reinforcement. And when they are stacked together to make larger homes, welded (expensive) reinforcement is needed wherever two containers join at a spot that is not a corner. Any later renovations require significant engineering and welding.

What States Allow Shipping Container Homes?

Suburban and rural areas tend to be more open to shipping container homes; however, some states are visibly more open to alternative living. Texas, California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, and Alaska are among the more progressive states that have, to some level, opened their doors to shipping container homes. Texas already plays host to many container homes. Even though California is known for its red tape, it has been open to container homes and hybrid container homes. Louisana and Tennessee experience some of the most lenient and forward-thinking zoning regulations in the United States. As alternative living options continue to grow, it's only a matter of time before more states in the country begin to allow shipping container homes in designated areas.

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