Shipping container Q&A, Thoughts?

[duneslider]

Here is one we installed at work. It is connected to our training room and has a couple small meeting rooms in it. Mostly was added as a way to add something fun to the shop part of the building and a conversation starter.

 

[billconner]

The most amazing use of containers I've seen is ETC, a manufacturer in Middleton WI. Thousands of sq ft of office and lab space for their r&d folks. I especially like the homage to Firefly.

 

[jack stand]

Side access is "a game changer". (Man do I hate that saying )

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Getting access to items stored at the back of a container can be made easier by how it is loaded. I placed most all of the really heavy items down one side tight together with just enough room to work them out on the casters they are on or with a pallet jack. The other side has lighter easier to move items that make clearing a trail to the back relatively easy. I also fabbed up some shelf hooks that give smaller items and lumber a shelf to sit on above the main row of heavies. It's still a bit of a short term catch all for miscellanious things. A high cube is much more advantagous if you can utilize the extra height for aditional storage.

I keep my 40' can sealed tight except when accessing it and never open it on a warm humid day when the contents are colder than outside temps. No moisture forms on the contents and rusts them that way. I did insulate the ceiling and the sides are mostly shaded so super high temps in summer weren't a problem. I do plan to build out the sides and roof a larger footprint down the line. Being elevated I have quite a bit stored under the container as well as in it. As seen in previous posts people are getting really creative these days and making use of sea cans more mainstream.

 

[dcg9381]

There is a big trend in my area to make Container Swimming Pools. My parent neighbors put one in and it is actually really cool. It was fairly affordable, looks great, and installed really fast. It has a section where a big glass window was put in, I should have taken a picture. Its really cool.

I've seen this on the internet. I've searched all over Austin and could only find one ACTUAL implementation, which was done by the owner (with lots of experimentation). Who did neighbors use?

 

[Firebrick43]

You guys thinking about sinking $4000 +/- into a 20' "can", go find someone who has one first. Preferably it's got a few things in it.
They have their uses and sure are easy to buy and are just perfect for some people with limited property space, but take a look at the picture above. That 0 turn with a bagger just fits in. This is the problem, you'll end up with stuff in front of other stuff. They're under 8' wide inside.
I have 3 - 20's all bought for jobsite storage of siding. Build a little rack inside for separating different items and it's a great moveable storage and 20 years ago you could buy them all day long (for years) @ $800-$1200. I packed all 3 of these up after selling the business and we moved 650 miles, another great use!
They make a terrible storage closet for random stuff.
Not trying to talk anyone out of this, it's just that they DO look huge from the outside or on a tractor trailer going down the road but it's not the same as writing a check and waiting for your new shop or warehouse to be delivered.
At least stake out a 8x20' rectangle in the back yard and put some of your desired stuff into that area first before deciding.
Again don't take this the wrong way, 8x20 makes a dandy truck body but unless you want 2 20' walls of shelving, it's difficult to use this space for much storage.

I wholeheartedly agree. Most of the 40 footers are a nightmare due to this.

However there is a solution.

A friend of my dad has two that are set 16' apart from each other and has 40' something trusses for a shed. In the side of the containers towards the center isle he has installed doors commercial steel doors welded into the container. He has one door in one container and two doors in the other which is broken into small rooms which are heated.

It makes things much more accessible even if you have the zero turn parked in one end.

 

[jack stand]

I agree that there's plenty of clever uses of multiple can's with a connecting roof or other highly modified alterations for side wall access. But this then becomes a non traditional construction project that is no longer a "stake out the location and write a check" type of project anymore.
This is my impression of what a lot of those intrested in a container are wanting, an instant shop or storage.

 

[duneslider]

I've seen this on the internet. I've searched all over Austin and could only find one ACTUAL implementation, which was done by the owner (with lots of experimentation). Who did neighbors use?

Not certain who but it think it was local company that is doing it. They craned it in over the house and were using it fairly soon afterwards. Went in way faster than others I know who put in typical concrete pools.

 

[Dig Doug]

I had 2 - 40 footers on 20 acres out in the desert outside of San Diego kept my desert toys and stuff inside and when it got windy we had LED rope lights and ceiling fans, dart board, TV to keep us busy with a frosty beverage or 2!

we had many thanksgiving and New Years hanging in and around the containers even enjoying the shade, after a few years I found some used industrial ladders and we could cocktail hour on top and the view was great.

one if my friends bought his kids a 14 ft trampoline and brought it out and they would jump on to and off the trampoline from the roof of the container, it was a great time.

i tried to keep everything on wheels as a forgotten socket or screwdriver was only about 80 ft away, 40ft in and 40 ft out!

we had generators for power and outside lights to light up camp! It was a great tool so you didn’t have to haul everything out and and back home every trip…..

 

[BruceMc]

It helps if you live in an area of the country that's near a coast that has ports.

Or a military base. I bought a couple of 20' "one-trippers" that were in near new condition. They made one trip from overseas and, after that, it wasn't worth the backhaul to send them anywhere empty.

 

[d300]

Here is one we installed at work. It is connected to our training room and has a couple small meeting rooms in it. Mostly was added as a way to add something fun to the shop part of the building and a conversation starter.

Nice shop...what lights are you using? They look to be doing a good job.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I agree that there's plenty of clever uses of multiple can's with a connecting roof or other highly modified alterations for side wall access. But this then becomes a non traditional construction project that is no longer a "stake out the location and write a check" type of project anymore.
This is my impression of what a lot of those intrested in a container are wanting, an instant shop or storage.

Think of it this way, around here a 40' hi cube goes for 2 - 3k delivered. At 2k that's 6.25$ per sq ft, at 3k it's 9$ you couldn't build a cheap shed for that price. Also with basic skills is easy to join 2 together, but at the very least you can drop one on the ground and it's ready storage.

 

[denis4x4]

I agree that there's plenty of clever uses of multiple can's with a connecting roof or other highly modified alterations for side wall access. But this then becomes a non traditional construction project that is no longer a "stake out the location and write a check" type of project anymore.
This is my impression of what a lot of those intrested in a container are wanting, an instant shop or storage.

These are considered portable buildings in some areas and no permits are required

 

[duneslider]

Nice shop...what lights are you using? They look to be doing a good job.

I don't know the models, they are all LED but the electrician just supplied coverage based on what the architect spec'd for the building. There are more fixtures in the shop area than the warehouse area.

The lights in the warehouse and shop have held up better than what we have in the office though. A number of fixtures in the office have gone bad.

 

[SmackinHondas]

Before I built my garage I considered getting a shipping container. I briefly looked at the Conexwest Car rack too for additional storage/maintenance. I'm glad I didn't go that route! I unload these shipping containers at work, sometimes the condensation is an issue. As mentioned by others, the space also isn't the best with most* containers having less than 8' inside width.

I really like the Intermodal 53' containers though. They are about 98" inside width or so which is a few inches more than your standard shipping container. Amazon and Walmart are using these. It would probably be really difficult to find one though.

 

[cannuck]

I really like the Intermodal 53' containers though. They are about 98" inside width or so which is a few inches more than your standard shipping container. Amazon and Walmart are using these. It would probably be really difficult to find one though.

My biggest regret when I built my storage shelter with a pair of 40' high cubes was that I didn't go for a pair of 53s. The inside width would have been a lot nicer for shelving both sides and an aisle down the middle. Also, my floor space in between would have been a lot nicer.

 

[Pileit]

I sold my shipping container next to my hangar. Everything rusted bad in it. We tried some venting, didnt seem to work. Figured we would have to run a fair size dehumidifier parts of the year. Wasnt willing to do that.

 

[cannuck]

I sold my shipping container next to my hangar. Everything rusted bad in it. We tried some venting, didnt seem to work. Figured we would have to run a fair size dehumidifier parts of the year. Wasnt willing to do that.

If you leave a sea can open to the sun the daily temperture fluctuations can cause a LOT of condensation. I tried bare cans one summer and it was so hot plastic totes that were stacked just collapsed. So my solution was to build a tensioned fabric roof that covers all but the doorways. Works like a damn and nothing hot or wet any more.

 

[Pileit]

Will the tensioned fabric hold up to snow and ice?

 

[Bill T]

Just a note... if someone is planning to use a conex for a starter home (popular), or a workshop- the floors are treated with a pesticide to protect the cargo. For prolonged exposure, replace the floors with new plywood. Protect your lungs.

 

[mike93lx]

Any contractors here be able to tell us what the cost of an 8x20 or 8x40 pole barn would cost? Basically the equivalent sized structure.

If a container is comparable in cost then it’s a good value. (I would say a container is more secure than a stick built anything).

I just built a nice 8x8 shed and was right about $2500 in materials with a wood floor. I have a 16x16 planned for my pool and the material list is about $6k, excluding the concrete slab. Plus a few full weekends working on it almost nonstop.

 

[mike93lx]

Will the tensioned fabric hold up to snow and ice?

You can get them designed for it, but it's expensive

 

[pcmeiners]

Last year I price a 10 ft cube, ridiculous prices over $5000. Just checked, around $1800 delivered now.
As to condensation, I had one in NYC (very humid) for a year and a half before I moved, absolutely no issue with moisture. It did have a vent on the side and was partially shaded for the early morning and late afternoon sun

 

[cannuck]

Will the tensioned fabric hold up to snow and ice?

Very well these days. Started building those structures about 40 years ago and a cover had maybe 10 years max life but today's materials and welding vs. sewing means at the very least double that life. I have had 2 covers on my outer shop over the last 25 years and the second is still older style materials and construction. Would go a lot longer but changing some stuff around and will make new this fall. My farm storage shelter (pic below) has been through 5 winters and a LOT of wind with no signs of distress. 20 x 40 area in between sea cans covered by a DC overhead crane (600Kg capacity) so 1440 sq.ft of covered space plus 640 sq.ft. behind locks. Cost about $10US/sq.ft. to build including containers (cheaper then). I don't expect to replace the cover in my lifetime (73 now). I should add: everything you see below is held onto container by bolting to the corner fittings of the containers. No holes, bolts or welding to the sea cans.