Matting a shipping container to a existing building

[fred d]

Going to buy a shipping container for additional storage. Was going to put it in the back yard and store stuff that is currently in my garage.
I need more room to work on a vehicle, and shelving and occasionally used tools take up a large portion of my available space.

Was thinking today, what if I removed the doors and butted it up to my garage wall. That way if I needed to access items in the container, I wouldn't have to go outside to retrieve them.

I could cut a hole in the side of my garage and walk straight into the container.
Idealistically I could put it where my window in my garage is, but that doesn't work so well for the layout of my back yard

Thoughts about how to mate it to the existing building to prevent leaks an access. Any ideas to make it better, please share

And if you think it won't work please share why
Thanks

 

[finn]

Not if you have building codes

 

[L5wolvesf]

Not if you have building codes

Yes, first check codes and your HOA if you have one.

If not directly mate-able build a door where you wanted to place the container. Leave the doors on and place the container so when the doors open they are within inch(es) of the new doorway. Put an awning over the doorway that just happens to extend out over the container a bit.

 

[rburke65]

I like the idea of a porch or canopy from the garage, out and over the door of the container. Sure solves a lot of flashing issues.

 

[John in OH]

Not if you have building codes

Yeah, since you show your location as "Metro Houston Area" the city may have something to say about your plan. Better check out the building codes before you drop any money on a container.

 

[tjdux]

In my town shipping containers on residential lots are consideres temporary structures and have to be removed within 6 months, maybe less of the neihbors complain.

They wouldn't let me use one as a shed painted white to match my home and exhisting garage and with a sloped roof on it. So definitely check if you can get one at all before doing to much.

Codes will catch up eventually but its a slow process. For the money containers are cheap, solid storage buildings much better than most cheap kits sold at home stores and easy to paint and make look decent. Some codes are just pointless.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[fred d]

Was going to build an addition, but the city inspections and fees and permits were more than the cost of the materials of a 20x14 addition

No HOA so I'm good there

The container is considered a temporary unit, so I'm good there. No restrictions on temporary structures

As for a porch, I'm wanting it to be right up next to the building hopefully under the eves. Not sure if it will be too tall to fit

 

[Ray-CA]

Here are some 10-ft containers: http://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/brands/10ft_shipping_container.php

Don't know if this size would work for you.

Ray

 

[matt_i]

I'd put a basic sloped roof over it so it doesn't get 450F in there each time the sun shines on it in the summer.

 

[fred d]

Put a tape measure on it tonight
Won't fit under the Eves
Probably just keep it away from building

 

[Falcon67]

Yeah, since you show your location as "Metro Houston Area" the city may have something to say about your plan. Better check out the building codes before you drop any money on a container.

Houston has almost zero zoning. Which is why most neighborhoods have HOAs - there's no structure in place to police junk builds, etc. They have codes, but outside the city limits (and many cases inside) you will see a house, car shop, biker bar right next to each other.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

All the code and zoning issues aside, if I were doing this, I would place the doors away from my building and locate the container about 4' or so from my existing structure. I would then cut an opening in the container and my existing structure and mate the two by constructing a short, enclosed walkway.

 

[finn]

Houston has almost zero zoning. Which is why most neighborhoods have HOAs - there's no structure in place to police junk builds, etc. They have codes, but outside the city limits (and many cases inside) you will see a house, car shop, biker bar right next to each other.

That's why it looks like........., well,....Texas

 

[ADSR]

It's a great idea to do this. I've been thinking about it for some time now. My idea was using the container for a tool crib and keep everything out of the main shop for maximum floor project space.

 

[rsanter]

If it was me I put the container parallel to the back of the building. I would leave 8-10 ft space that i would cover with a shade cover or awning. Then but a man door into the side of the container.
I would use the container for storage and keep the tools in the shop.

You can use the original doors of the container to load larger things like blocks or whole engines.

I would use the covered area between for parts washer, blaster and other dirty things to keep the shop clean

Bob

 

[rburke65]

I have been to Houston numerous time to visit th in laws and was really surprised to see a heard of cows next to a bank then a house next to a refinery next to a library.....nuts.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have been to Houston numerous time to visit th in laws and was really surprised to see a heard of cows next to a bank then a house next to a refinery next to a library.....nuts.

It's common to stick a few cows on undeveloped land to have it appraised as "agriculture" and save yourself a small fortune, especially if everything is getting developed around it. Even Compaq/HP did that with their excess land out by Tomball...

 

[fred d]

It's a great idea to do this. I've been thinking about it for some time now. My idea was using the container for a tool crib and keep everything out of the main shop for maximum floor project space.

That's my plan
Need the floor space to work on vehicles

 

[fred d]

If it was me I put the container parallel to the back of the building. I would leave 8-10 ft space that i would cover with a shade cover or awning. Then but a man door into the side of the container.
I would use the container for storage and keep the tools in the shop.

You can use the original doors of the container to load larger things like blocks or whole engines.

I would use the covered area between for parts washer, blaster and other dirty things to keep the shop clean

Bob

Like the idea, but getting the container into position would be extremely difficult at best. If I could I'd put 2 side by side and open it up to one big room

Humidity is rough in Houston, keeping much of anything between the container and building would have a devastating effect over time

 

[fred d]

That's why it looks like........., well,....Texas

Yep
Greatest place on earth.

 

[rayra]

Was going to build an addition, but the city inspections and fees and permits were more than the cost of the materials of a 20x14 addition

No HOA so I'm good there

The container is considered a temporary unit, so I'm good there. No restrictions on temporary structures

As for a porch, I'm wanting it to be right up next to the building hopefully under the eves. Not sure if it will be too tall to fit

it's the modifications to a residential structure / attached garage that will run you afoul of building codes. And 'temporary' doesn't mean you can me permanent attachment mods to your house for it. Not inside city limits anyway.

 

[fred d]

it's the modifications to a residential structure / attached garage that will run you afoul of building codes. And 'temporary' doesn't mean you can me permanent attachment mods to your house for it. Not inside city limits anyway.

The plan was to attach to my detached garage. Not residence
Not gonna happen