Shipping Container Garage

[RBX]

Some call them:
Shipping Containers, or Sea Containers, or Sea Containers, even ISO Containers .... and i think my garage build will be created with the above mentioned.
My Plan....
lay slab foundation with two course of block above the slab....20'x24'
3 Containers 20' long slice and dice them to fit...

In the above image i have cut out the floors to gain height since the standard interior height of a container is less then 8'.
i do plan on installing a roof to create more storage area, as well as making these look less like bunch of containers welded together (windows, paint, doors, trim)
I plan on finishing the interior of the structure with OSB and sheetrock. My compressor will remain in an adjacent building, so this noise will not be an issue.

any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as i am still in the design phase. This process seems to be the cheapest solution i have found so far, mainly because i have a neighbor at the port.

thanks,
RB

 

[jh_m5]

I remember watching a show, might have been on discovery. Some women build her entire home out of these containers. The whole thing was finished nicely with a standard roof. One could never tell from the exterior.

 

[JamieK]

Great idea. Houses are even being made out of these things. Google "shipping container homes" for pics like these...

You could add height by stacking the containers, welding, and then cutting out the floor/ceiling. That should be tall enough for a lift. Oh, make sure you measure the actual container size before building a foundation. They may not be exactly 20' x 24'.

Jamie

 

[Jeepguy]

great idea. there is a place up hear in Yokamtown about 60 miles from you in MD that sells, and rents these. i wish i could remember their name. doesnt matter here is a place right in your back yard. http://www.kkcontainers.com/

Addition; Great job with Sketchup i love that little program for simple concept drawings. The military has been usuing "seatainers" to make office buildings on bases for a while now, just search seatainer office building and it should come up on google

 

[lilredex]

I remember watching a show, might have been on discovery. Some women build her entire home out of these containers. The whole thing was finished nicely with a standard roof. One could never tell from the exterior.

Saw another show that built a whole apartment complex out of them.

Closer to home, there is a guy on a main highway using one of the big ones for some kind of storage/shop and he has it painted sky blue with some kind of nature scene on the side facing the HWY. blends right in with everything else.

 

[litljay]

In all seriousness, check with your local building department as I'm sure those haven't been engineered for the purpose you've intended here, especially after hacking them apart.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6694&highlight=shipping+container+garage


I thought there was another one that showed the inside and all the work, but I couldn't find it here, or on You Tube, so I don't know where I saw it.

EDIT: Found it
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=510228
from
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22480&highlight=shipping+container+garage

 

[RBX]

thanks for the replies!
A container is designed to be stacked, loaded, 9 high without compromise to the structure. ISO standards(redundant?) for these containers must all be within a few millimeters, so all boxes 'fit'.
I live in Maryland, if California (some of the strictest building codes) can build houses with this stuff, i am confident i can build an out-building....but of coarse i need to verify that.

The other few threads, but they don't address my building idea so i started this thread.
this will only be more economical for me if i get these containers from my neighbor......container companies are not that cheap. I will purchase a plasma cutter and a decent used welder to sure up any of the structure that doesn't seem safe.
I am limited to 15' height, so i will not be stacking these...wish i could though.

keep the replies and links coming,
RB

 

[rsanter]

I had a similar thought a while back, however my plan was to use 2 of them and space them apart enough for a 2 car garage between them which would be span with trusses to make the roof and then I would create a lower shed type roof over the 2 containers so the overall look would be like some of the old barns you used to see.
the center part would be the work area, one container would be just storage and the other can be a workshop area for my mill, lathe, boring bar, and headshop stuff.
I would only need to cut doorways between the containers and the central part so the strenth of the container would not be very effected


those things can take thousands of pounds of weight with no trouble, but check the local codes

bob

 

[litljay]

Yeah, they are pretty rigid. I ship somewhere around 10 containers a day (through the Port of Oakland) and have welded on them many times (when they show up with holes in them). I'm sure something could be worked out though with interior bracing (of the cut open container).

I get these photo's all the time from folks trying to sell shipping insurance.

 

[ears]

The shop we had at work in our old location was two kentucky trailers blocked up on either side of a slab. The back wall was a 40 foot sea crate with about five feet past the trailers on either side. Then we put up a metal carport style roof and a front wall with a 14'H x 12'w door.

It was quick, cheap and effective.

Aruond here a 40 footer runs $1200. Three of these, a slab, roof, and front wall and you would have a 40' x 40' shell cheap and quick.

 

[gsport]

I am limited to 15' height, so i will not be stacking these...wish i could though.

keep the replies and links coming,
RB

couldn't you dig down your foundation a couple of feet to allow for stacking two together and be below your limit of 15'?? it would be nice to have the height for a lift in the future..

 

[Jpfreak33]

GREAT IDEA!!!!
I have pondered the idea of doing a container house for my next project, but I think that will be put on hold to create my next home, inspired my a 50s style fire station.

I have seen a few shows on HGTV about container homes and they are cheap! Please do this and post pics of everything!!!

 

[jmack]

Am I the only one wondering why you would do this? I see a lot of people saying "great idea", but what makes it so great? Wouldn't it look hideous?

Are the people who are saying it's great, saying so because this is some kind of "green" building because it recycles used materials?

Maybe I just don't see it, but having a series of ugly metal boxes on my yard just doesn't seem appealing. Why not build something nice?

 

[nate379]

I agree!

The ISOs work ok for a shed, but to cut and weld a bunch up dunno. Seems like it'd be easier to build a reg stick built building.

 

[Jeepguy]

Am I the only one wondering why you would do this? I see a lot of people saying "great idea", but what makes it so great? Wouldn't it look hideous?

Are the people who are saying it's great, saying so because this is some kind of "green" building because it recycles used materials?

Maybe I just don't see it, but having a series of ugly metal boxes on my yard just doesn't seem appealing. Why not build something nice?

It is a great idea for all of the above, "green materials", inexpensive materals, strong, readilly available everywhere. you can put any siding on it you want. the few i have seen have a stucko(sp?) finish on the outside, and either beed board, or drywall on the inside.

 

[Chris Adams]

Can't have them here, unless you are related to city employees etc. But they are sturdy suckers. My BIL has several on his place, way out of town. Some were finished in Teak inside, bought them all for about 800 apiece a few years ago.
Made the cheapest 40x8x8 sheds imaginable.
The finished ones are actually nice enough you could live in them.
He is a pac-rat and keeps all kinds of stuff in them.

If I lived in the country I would have some because they make the best sheds with the best security.

For those concerned about looks, not everyone lives in the city, or in a picturesque hamlet in the pines.

Lots of folks live in real farm country, not gentleman farms, with white picket fences.
Heck, here, just outside of my town they live in raw desert, with the neighbor having perhaps a hundred tons of old mining equipment, or fifteen old cars in his yard. Or six or seven old buildings. Or all of the above.
About 30% of Americans live rural.
And building a big steel building for pocket change is COOL.

 

[cat06]

Am I the only one wondering why you would do this? I see a lot of people saying "great idea", but what makes it so great? Wouldn't it look hideous?

Are the people who are saying it's great, saying so because this is some kind of "green" building because it recycles used materials?

Maybe I just don't see it, but having a series of ugly metal boxes on my yard just doesn't seem appealing. Why not build something nice?

Depending on where you live, the shipping containers could save you a bunch of money in property taxes.

Because they are not a perm structure they aren't taxed (property taxes). They can be painted or sided to make them more decent looking.

 

[hydramatic]

I own 2 50 footers...best investment ive made in years..

 

[tcianci]

I'm thinking a 4 foot block wall to set them on and the 8 feet or so hight of the container would yield a building with a 12 foot ceiling, plenty for a lift.

 

[december45]

when i mentioned to the county where i live, that i wanted to put one on my property for storage.... (ive got 13 acres) they told me that in an attempt to discourage people from using them, they have come up with stringent requirements that are pretty much cost prohibitive.... my thoughts were spread alittle gravel and set it down..... nope.... the county wants engineered footings 6" slab with engineered tie downs with bolt torque testing... and the requirement list goes on and on..... yep be sure to check with your local building dept... yep right

 

[vartz04]

when i mentioned to the county where i live, that i wanted to put one on my property for storage.... (ive got 13 acres) they told me that in an attempt to discourage people from using them, they have come up with stringent requirements that are pretty much cost prohibitive.... my thoughts were spread alittle gravel and set it down..... nope.... the county wants engineered footings 6" slab with engineered tie downs with bolt torque testing... and the requirement list goes on and on..... yep be sure to check with your local building dept... yep right

the OP sounds like he wants to do it the right way anyway with a slab and what not.

I could see if you were looking for a quick structure that this might not work but for an actual garage you would more than likely do that anyway.

 

[toymn6366]

at the feedmill i run we was out of warehouse space so over a couple of years i bought 6 contaners the first 2 i seat on railroad ties don't do that had to go back and pour concrete under them. the next 2 poured concrete footings then unloaded them on footings they ended up to high had to pour a ramp to get forklift in and out pain in **** to use. the next 2 just droped on ground leveled up and poured concrete under them worked out best of all six. we load each with 50 or 60 tons of ingredents no problems.

we cut a man door in one of them and roll up door in the end of another if you look at how they are made the 4 corner posts are what holds weight so imho the floor could be cut out without problems.

as for how they look my brother is useing two of them and building a 40 ft pole barn
between them is going to side with rough cut lumber when he finishes i will post pics

 

[Hapis]

I remember seeing the show on tv that showed them using these. They were using them in Alabama after Katrina. One of the reasons they stated was that it was cheaper to reuse them then to send them back over seas empty.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Out at my brothers farm, he has a pole barn. After seeing how some of his stuff wanders (b-i-l keeps "borrowing"), I thought if/when I build a pole barn, I may use these for the sides, (lower wall half) with a loft on top of them, so I have lockable sections.

I could also make it sectionably heatable. (wrap the whole thing in tin anyway)

 

[makgreens]

neat idea
you could always do what my FD does and use 18 wheeler trailers
but we use em for storage but have em wired up and everything but they arent cut apart or anything...but i bet the shipping containers are more stout

 

[RBX]

Wow, I commit to working on my deck for a solid weekend, and come back to two pages of comments...great!

The exterior of any structure no matter the material used is only limited to your creativity, and dollar amount (taste). I live in a small urban community of 1947(year) Cape Cods, it is important to me that this structure, when completed, blend in. we have all seen hideous structures made with common materials.

This concept WILL sit on a proper foundation, as if it were being stick built, so I should be able to get a ten foot ceiling by using a few block coarse above grade then sitting the container (shell on top). That said, I will need to use proper tie downs according to code, and permitting. While I am trying to do this on the cheap, it must be a proper shop/garage, so NO, this won't be the cheapest container garage.

Actual 18wheeler trailers are not as structurally sound for this application as the sea containers. And my lot is 50' x 215' I would love a 40' garage, but I can neither fit it on my lot, nor afford the foundation.

I will post more details as they come in....drawings and design ideas, reports from the County on code requirements.

Thanks again for your interest and comments.

RB

 

[TexasT]

when i mentioned to the county where i live, that i wanted to put one on my property for storage.... (ive got 13 acres) they told me that in an attempt to discourage people from using them, they have come up with stringent requirements that are pretty much cost prohibitive.... my thoughts were spread alittle gravel and set it down..... nope.... the county wants engineered footings 6" slab with engineered tie downs with bolt torque testing... and the requirement list goes on and on..... yep be sure to check with your local building dept... yep right

I think I'd look into getting these people voted out and some different less restrictive individuals in there to get those type of restrictions on "MY" property. That is ridiculous.

 

[Northstar9126]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/33401-my-container-barn.html

 

[John Timmins]

Don't forget that there's many styles of containers.

You might look into buying a high cube box or maybe even a reefer. If you live near some 3 phase 440V you could plug that baby in and chill it down. You want 3 boxes side by side? Make the end unit the reefer and you could easily cool down all three.

Get creative ! If you don't have the power get rid of the Thermo-King and put a household heatpump or other similiar heat + cooling system on the roof or side.

 

[HOTFR8]

I have two shipping containers here set up for storage and I wish I had room to build a roof between the two as a carport. As they are not fixed they do not need any building permits, so work well here. I have seen many ideas with containers but sadly due to the Chinese crushing them for steel the price of has made them far to expensive.

 

[Vinko]

I own 2 50 footers...best investment ive made in years..

I didn't know they make 50 footers. What year were your containers built, do you know?

 

[Vinko]

Am I the only one wondering why you would do this? I see a lot of people saying "great idea", but what makes it so great? Wouldn't it look hideous?

Are the people who are saying it's great, saying so because this is some kind of "green" building because it recycles used materials?

Maybe I just don't see it, but having a series of ugly metal boxes on my yard just doesn't seem appealing. Why not build something nice?

It is a great idea for all of the above, "green materials", inexpensive materals, strong, readilly available everywhere. you can put any siding on it you want. the few i have seen have a stucko(sp?) finish on the outside, and either beed board, or drywall on the inside.

Yup It's way easier than previous messages would indicate. Transport is easy. No permit needed. YOu can have a bunch up in 1/2 a day with a crane. I think they look hip too. They're urban-industrial chic. Secure, weatherproof, quality, very inexpensive, green. There's a house across the street from me that put up 8 40 fts on the second and third story. The bottom floor is open. You can do all sorts of things like windows, doors, take an end off, or cut out the majority of the side. I'd take this over any crappy built house/McMansion that's popped up across America in the past 20-30 years.

 

[Vinko]

when i mentioned to the county where i live, that i wanted to put one on my property for storage.... (ive got 13 acres) they told me that in an attempt to discourage people from using them, they have come up with stringent requirements that are pretty much cost prohibitive.... my thoughts were spread alittle gravel and set it down..... nope.... the county wants engineered footings 6" slab with engineered tie downs with bolt torque testing... and the requirement list goes on and on..... yep be sure to check with your local building dept... yep right

Care to share the county, or at least the state you live in? Just curious. That regulation sounds horrible

 

[fomocoforrester]

When you cut the walls and floor out, you can leave a bit of material in the form of webs and gussets to retain as much of the structural strength as possible.

Then - if you do your internal layout planning before making the cuts - you can profile these webs and gussets to form the end plates of shelves, cupboards and benches.

And in the case of the floor, they could form the lower shelves themselves.

 

[fomocoforrester]

A couple more idea's......

- Two 4 in. overhead flanges, left when removing two adjacent walls, could be drilled with multiple holes for 1 in. pins to mount a chain hoist.

- If you left part of the floor as a platform with two removable ramps up to it, you could drive one end of a vehicle on to it and - with a jack at the other end of the vehicle - you would have an instant, two block high, level vehicle lift. It would also form a good motorcycle maintenance platform, or a low level welding/fabrication table, etc etc......

 

[RBX]

fomocoforrester, those are great suggestions...i have been thinking about what to do with the cut-out bits....perhaps not everything gets cut out.

 

[denis4x4]

I had a similar thought a while back, however my plan was to use 2 of them and space them apart enough for a 2 car garage between them which would be span with trusses to make the roof and then I would create a lower shed type roof over the 2 containers so the overall look would be like some of the old barns you used to see.
the center part would be the work area, one container would be just storage and the other can be a workshop area for my mill, lathe, boring bar, and headshop stuff.
I would only need to cut doorways between the containers and the central part so the strenth of the container would not be very effected


those things can take thousands of pounds of weight with no trouble, but check the local codes

bob

Been there done that.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

i did something like that made 2 car car port. here is the start of the project l

 

[kbs2244]

The basic container is 8x8x20
Most are 8x8x40
I think the long ones are 8x8x53
There are also half high ones, 8x4x20, for liquids, since they can be heavy.
They put rubber bladders in them.
That is how most of you Scotch get to the States.