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Nuggethunter | 11-17-2006 08:49 PM
Shipping container housing. What a concept ! I would think that if you dont buy the containers yourself and refit them there may not be much cost savings. I was completely in the blind on this. Major Expense would be renting the crane to place them if ya wana stackem. But for a 16'x40' cabin just cut some openings and boltem together . http://www.dvorak.org/blog/wp-conten.../10/h-haus.jpg http://www.treehugger.com/files/chk_compact.JPG Converting Containers for Construction Steel shipping containers can be used for affordable individual housing units or as building blocks for larger homes or structures. These units are designed to carry everything from vases to Volkswagens all over the world. They are sturdy, manufactured to international standards, easy to transport, readily available, and a great cure for urban blight. David Cross and his associates at Tampa Custom Equipment and Tampa Armature Works (TAW) are blazing a trail in container housing. �We asked ourselves, �How can we take a container and make it usable for a contractor,�� Cross says of their initial approach to designing container housing. Starting in 2003, Cross and TAW began to coordinate the development of a handful of container-built homes in South Carolina, Florida, and California. Prior to their involvement, there was no focus on adapting these containers for easy construction and use as housing units. �No one organization, in my mind, designed and executed a container house for Sally and Joe America before TAW,� Cross says. With one house complete and three others under construction, consumers may well ask why build houses out of rusty steel boxes. Shipping Containers as Building Blocks Containers make structural sense. They are manufactured with heavy-gauge Corten steel to make them strong and fairly impervious to the elements. These ISBUs come in two standardized sizes � 40 x 8 x 8 feet and 20 x 8 x 8 feet. They are ideal building blocks and can be stacked up to nine rows high without compromising their structural integrity. http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif http://www.bobvila.com/images/Articl...Housing_02.jpg http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif This model shows how shipping containers are converted for use as building blocks in a modernist design that is eco-friendly, efficient, durable, and visually exciting. http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif �These are much stronger than anything you�d normally build with,� says Steve Armstrong , a structural engineer with Stratford Company in Barrington, Ill. �They are designed to withstand the violent, pitching deck of a ship at sea.� ISBUs are resistant to fire and insect damage, too. The corrugated-steel look is easily camouflaged inside and out with windows, siding, insulation, and drywall. Reducing Construction Costs and Environmental Waste Container-built homes are popping up in design competitions, urban planning sessions, and university housing discussions worldwide because they are ready-made, consistent, strong, and available. This pre-fab architecture is likely to continue as a trend, helping to house homeless and displaced populations, build up without eating up valuable land, and create easy, modernist expressions for urbanites and nature lovers alike. �Through the use of an ISBU system, we can radically reduce the impact on the amount of trees needed for a home,� says Cross. �By as much as 99 percent.� The system is green, easy, and inexpensive. �It is an advantage that they are factory built. The structure goes up very quickly,� Armstrong says. With manufactured building systems, there is no guesswork or fitting. They are built to specifications and are consistent every time they arrive on site. This reduces time for the building crew and architects as they are working with known and reliable specs. �Pre-manufacture drives the costs down,� says Armstrong. The savings come from reducing the on-site labor and shortening the materials list. �If this type of construction happens in large quantities, you will find significant savings,� Armstrong says. http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif http://www.bobvila.com/images/Articl...Housing_03.jpg http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif This container has been prepared on site for use as a building module. It has been insulated, painted, and fitted with exterior doors prior to delivery. http://www.bobvila.com/images/ArticleImages/spacer.gif Barriers to Container Building The number of container homes in the U.S, is still quite low, but developments like those in Desert Springs, California, Seattle, Washington, London, and Amsterdam are increasing their visibility. Builders themselves can often be a major barrier to new construction methods because it takes time to educate the crews. During that initial period, construction pace is down, which makes it more costly. In the long run, familiarity, ease, and speed will make this type of construction easy and affordable, especially in communities that lack affordable housing. Perhaps the biggest barrier to increased production of container homes is the stigma that is attached to the ugly metal boxes left abandoned in urban shipping yards. Transformative thinking and a willingness to move outside of the box can bring this technology to the forefront of urban planning agendas everywhere. http://www.treehugger.com/files/ship...quik_house.JPG Bob is back in storm-threatened Florida to kick off season 2 of Bob Vila with a unique housing project that brings affordable, storm-resistant housing to a neighborhood that needs it most. Bob joins Askia Aquil of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services (SPNHS), who explains the economic decline and blight that once swallowed this neighborhood built in the 1920s and abandoned by its seasonal property owners. Aquil and SPNHS are helping create opportunities for first-time home ownership in this revitalized neighborhood of single-family homes by joining with Bob, Tampa Armature Works (TAW), and Barrow Construction to build fast, affordable, and storm-ready housing out of abandoned steel shipping containers. David Cross of TAW explains how the 700,000 abandoned shipping containers in U.S. ports represent a stockpile of potential intermodal steel building units (ISBU�s) ready to be converted into strong and affordable housing. Cross shows Bob the structural components of these containers, including the 1 1/8-inch thick marine-grade Apitone flooring that comes standard with each one. Cross reviews how the containers are cut and fitted for windows and doors, and sprayed with SuperTherm insulating ceramic coating to prevent heat transfer through the metal surface. http://www.bobvila.com/images/BVTV/B...01_episode.jpg

gpond | 11-17-2006 08:58 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. One of the cool angles about building with shipping containers, and I'm sure this is not the only one, is that who wants to buy a place made of shipping containers? Now, bear with me. Let's say you wanna settle down in a little out of the way SHTF bugout location. You build a little shipping container cabin or home on some land that you bought just for this purpose. You are happy and don't mind living here, in your little shipping container home. But, your conventionally minded neighbors, or community would NOT be happy living there. What kind of TAX-VALUE assessment do you think you will receive from the state? Hard for them to argue that you have a primo resale-valued home. How can they even run comparables? They can't, honestly. You have a home that would have the conventional buyer reeling in horror. But you are happy and secure in your little home. The point is, your tax-value should be very low, and you are sticking it to the man because your property taxes should reflect that. Yet you are living happy. What a great combo. :rose:

GoldWampum | 11-17-2006 09:29 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. What an interesting concept. Do you have any links for this stuff? Good observation gpond.

Silverstone | 11-17-2006 11:22 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. My husband's grandmother lived in a box car moved to their property during the Great Depression. I sure can envision a really nice barn made out of these, or small home and garage. But I bet they are fairly expensive to buy. Now if you had a yard of them with the owners saying, you move it off the property and it's your---then I can see them being cost effective, just moving alone would be pricey I would suspect. In my opinion, a lot of work left after you get it moved and the cost of moving it (and $$$$ too to make it habitable). But I can envision you could make a pretty nice place out of them with a little creativity and a lot of hard work. I just wonder how expensive it would be to get one on your property, i.e., purchase and move.

Nuggethunter | 11-17-2006 11:36 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Ya here ya go. http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=7360 http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/Bob_Vila/Episode-0201.html Natural disasters leave victims who continue to suffer long after the media turns its focus elsewhere. People who lose their homes and all of their possessions may feel lucky to be alive, but they need a place where to continue to live. Recently, some architects and others interested in providing temporary, emergency housing have begun to make use of a resource that seems plentiful �?" metal shipping containers. The idea started in part due to the overflow of containers that are piling up in harbors along both coasts of the United States. In New York alone, over a million of these empty containers are stored in the harbor and along the Jersey turnpike. There are two main reasons for this excess of containers: 1. We have been importing more than we have been exporting. So the containers come in full of imported goods but then we aren't filling them back up and circulating them back into the world market. 2. Companies don't have much of an incentive to return the containers to their source. For example, in China, it costs about $2,300 to make one of these containers. But for a US company to ship an empty container back to China would cost about $900. So instead of spending the money, US companies have simply begun to store them http://www.holisticjunction.com/disp...le.cfm?ID=5466

electric-amish | 11-18-2006 01:10 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Nuggethunter I have enjoyed you recent posts. Keep up the good work. E-A

Worldmariner | 11-18-2006 01:38 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuggethunter (Post 419859) What a concept ! I would think that if you dont buy the containers yourself and refit them there may not be much cost savings. I was completely in the blind on this. Major Expense would be renting the crane to place them if ya wana stackem. But for a 16'x40' cabin just cut some openings and boltem together .
The ultimate in po people's housing. I guess if I could not afford a trailor, i would investigate these. Better then getting snowed on I guess. I work with TEU's everyday. They are deep, but not wide at all. Once you add an inch or two of wallboard and insulation, it is like trying to live in a bowling alley. I will say this, they are **extremely** durable. I would consider buying one, spraying a coating on it and making a root celler or bunker out of it. They get to about 120 degrees F in the FLorida sun in August, I happen to know, so some kind of internal insulation and preferably some dirt insulation over the top would be needed.

GoldWampum | 11-18-2006 02:03 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Thanks for the nugget, Nuggethunter.

bl96S5eu | 11-18-2006 02:42 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Personally I'd build a log cabin myself for probably the same price (if you have the logs on your property) and you'll have a much better chance of selling if you need to and they're so much prettier (I know, eye of the beholder). Site & 2 Day Workshops http://www.loghomebuilders.org/ Here are some pictures to compare to the containers: http://www.loghomebuilders.org/photo...enthouses.html I know some guys here in my area that are finishing up one and they'll have spent around $15K for around 1400 sq. ft. (that includes plumbing electrical drywall, metal roof, everything).

Nuggethunter | 11-18-2006 10:37 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. What a beauty; My first choice in housing. http://www.loghomebuilders.org/log-h...c-01_small.jpg http://www.loghomebuilders.org/pg-lo...s-01_small.jpg I delivered a container to a port first time and only time and forgot / didnt think to release the pins on the 4 corners and the lift crane tuged and tuged and nearly lifted the truck off the ground. Oh gosh it was funny. I was in my early 20's and didnt know didly squat, but never hurt anyone with my learning curve adventure. All that really matters.

GOLD DUCK | 11-18-2006 11:12 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. QWAK,A local shiper has shiping containers and truck trailors for sale but they are not real cheep and cost about $200.00 to be delivered only 50 miles! I plan to by 2, 20 foot containers for storage and a small work shop addition. My cost is just under 3K each! Expencive but they will not ROT and are water tight and rodent proof and once painted will not look all that bad so are a part of my PLAN for gaining space so I can finely finish the inside of my log cabin. the DUCK

RickW | 11-18-2006 04:32 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. That is an excellent idea http://waltonfeed.com/old/cellar3.html culverts. Never entered my mellon. Thanks People

R MacDonald | 11-18-2006 07:11 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Cool film here: http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/main.html His prices are insane though! :eek: Of course his tribe lives on the "something for nothing for your entire ass" system.

AMforPM | 11-19-2006 08:55 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. I'm considering them as storage buildings or perhaps a group as rural housing. For the heat problem, if I cannot place the house under deciduous trees then I would consider a carport type roof over them to create shade with air flow space. I don't know how much you can cut away and still have sound structure. If just the last 3 feet of a 20 footer will keep it strong then you can have a 14x16 room with 4 3x8 closets at the ends. Deduct a foot for interior finish of the walls and you have 13x15 which is a pleasant enough bedroom or office space. 2 40 footers done similarly could create a kitchen - den space 15x34. With 2 3x8 pantries and closets at the den end. I wonder if you ground the whole thing if it would offer some EMP protection, being metal?

Pragmatist | 11-19-2006 09:29 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. It has been done and I think it's pretty cool. The biggest set back is above ground insulation/losing space. I had not seen the Bob Villa piece before. Thanks. Here are some different SeaCrate projects/links: http://firmitas.org/ Find the location nearest you and get a price quote: http://www.actcontainers.com/ Prag

AMforPM | 11-19-2006 10:21 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Wow. The Bob Vila video was informative. I had been thinking about these strong ready made boxes for at least a year since I learned they were pretty cheap, considering what they were as to solidity and size. And they are made to go right on a truck or train flatcar. So shipping would cost, but not like something that was not designed to be shipped. But the video showed how to coat them with a ceramic insulating kind of paint and that the corners were what had to stay for structural strength. They cared about making them look like they were not 'unusual' which would not matter to me. But the ceramic coating and the windows were great information. I think you could make a very comfortable house, and stronger than most, for much less than standard construction cost. Good thread. :ARMS1:

AMforPM | 11-19-2006 10:42 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Thanks for those links, Prag.

electric-amish | 11-19-2006 11:48 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Could these be insulated with chicken wire and Great Stuff? E-A

NUTS! | 11-22-2006 12:14 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Today I got a piece of fax spam at work from a company selling containers. Less than $9 a square foot including delivery for the more expensive ones. Not bad at all. After some web searching I found a company here in Canada that even does customization, everything from converting them into full out buildings with finished interiors to simple cuts and welds. Both new and used. This looks like a great option for temporary shelter until one builds a more permanent shelter or permanent shelter if properly done, or as outbuildings. It would also work to either bury or berm them completely if one set up proper water proofing or draining. This looks fantastic: http://containercity.com/ http://www.containercity.com/cove-park.html http://www.containercity.com/images/...cove-park1.jpg http://www.containercity.com/images/...cove-park3.jpg http://www.containercity.com/images/...cove-park2.jpg

NUTS! | 11-22-2006 01:40 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. Multi page article on the subject: http://www.escapeartist.com/efam14/Nomadic_Housing.html

NUTS! | 11-22-2006 02:36 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. It definitely does. All the usual housing considerations for a given climate could somehow be compensated for. It could even work in Canadian or North Dakota kind of winters with the proper insulation (or berming or burying). The article above brought up excellent point about the use of propane appliances. They can be had pretty cheaply and propane is a really easy to get and use fuel. I also really like the idea of it staying portable. Simply secure everything inside (you'd build it so it would be securable), put the steel slats over any doors or windows, lock it up and it would ship like any other container. I wonder if you would ever fall under the jurisdiction of housing bylaws because it would just be a storage container sitting in a yard. It's not a building or a trailer or an RV or anything. It's just a big box. Interesting to know that the roofs themselves are not strong or load bearing-- the steal rienforcing at the corners and along the four sides holds up the wait. So if one wanted to use the top of the container or bury it, you'd definitley need to reinforce that. Apparently even walking on the top will cause it to buckle enough that you feel it. I've been looking through some real estate listings for land-- I already have a lot of land in the middle of nowhere in Canada that is outside the jurisdiction of any Rural Municipality (RMs are like a County but with way less people, no law enforcement/sherif-- they'll be an RCMP office somewhere in the RM, usually in it's largest town/village). While this means no property taxes, it also means nothing. No roads, no nothing. It's fun getting there though. I've mostly used it for camping but would eventually like to put down a more permanent structure. There's a mud road/lane but it's only usable about 4 months of the year. Anyway, I saw some land that looked pretty good that was more accessible. Some of them gave me a funny thought-- they say things like "Brand new houses built right next door" or "Across the street from the prestigious Manor Estates." I just thought it would be absolutely hilarious to buy that and start plunking down shipping containers! They'd have a coniption. Imagine McMansion after McMansion and right in the middle of it, a crazy guy with a castle made out of 5-8 shipping containers welded together.:haha:

hoarder | 11-24-2006 09:32 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. I've had 4 of these containers so far, used them as base camps on remote properties. They are excellent for storage; rodent proof, bear proof and generally insect proof. As far as I'm concerned, they are pretty useless for housing. They're cold in the winter and hot in the summer. At 8' outside width, insulating them is not cost effective and robs them of too much space. Putting two together (breezway in between) and building a roof over them makes sense, but here is a pitfall. In some regions frost upheaval will move them around, so if the steel purlins connecting them to each other aren't stong enough to move the other container the same amount, then they'll bend.If you weld them directly to each other there is no problem. I discussed this with an Alaskan and was informed that using these containers on permafrost is quite common. They put 2 or 3 40 footers together (no breezeway in between) and build an A frame on top. The advantage is in avoiding the cost of a foundation. Not much problem to level them occasionally. They have a lip about 7 inches from the ground on the long side where it's easy to put a bottle jack, leaning at an angle. Give it a few pumps and stuff some boards under it, take some readings with a level and do it again. If you store containers where there is more than about 5 feet of snowfall, prop a couple 8 foot 2 by 4's to support the roof.

GOLD DUCK | 11-24-2006 11:34 AM
Re: Shipping container housing. QWAK,NUTS!, I su-GEST:wink: adding some out side speakers to your proposed shiping container abode in McMancion vill with a continuas loop playing THIS: http://www.sorrygottago.com/SoundFil...illbillies.mp3 It would be like throwing ROCKS at a HORNETS NEST ---- shure to RILE them up and drive them CRAZY!:clap2: :coolbeer: the DUCK :cheerful:

bl96S5eu | 11-27-2006 12:23 PM
Re: Shipping container housing. Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatist (Post 420935) Find the location nearest you and get a price quote: http://www.actcontainers.com/
Prag, thanks for the link. Just got off the phone with this guy and he seems very willing to help and get delivery arranged. Going to get me a price to my place and gave recommendations on who to contact for moving it when the time comes.

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