Homes Made from Shipping Containers

Synopsis: Shipping containers are very versatile. They are normally used for shipping and transport, and they can even be used to make your next home!

The uses for these shipping containers can be quite staggering, and since they are made to standard dimensions all around the world, they are easily transported to anywhere that they are required. We can see shipping containers all over the world, no matter where you go. These useful and versatile metal boxes are used to transport a variety of cargo as well as also used to make temporary accommodation and living facilities. Building a home from shipping containers may sound a bit strange, but it can be a great alternative to the more traditional building styles, as well as being very practical.

shipping containers

Container Buildings

There are many styles of modified shipping containers that are available as standard, which can be used for general living purposes. You can find these styles of shipping containers in sites all over the country and are used for many different purposes.

  • Accommodation
  • Canteen Facilities
  • Training Facilities
  • Ablution Blocks

It would be possible to use the joining kits that are available and create a living area using modified shipping containers, which can be equipped with everything that you will need to enjoy a homeowner’s life. You will also find container homes made by PCS that are specifically designed for this growing market. They can be customised to your requirements precisely. The joining kits allow you to connect shipping containers to create a much bigger open space, and each room does not just have to be a rectangle. The sky really is the limit when you come to designing a home from shipping containers.

Keeping the Aesthetics

You might be sat there reading this thinking that it is all well and good to make a house from containers, but it is not going to look very good from the outside! You may just be surprised at how shipping containers can be clad in order to make them look more appealing.

Since the walls are made from solid steel, you can easily install tiles or wood to the sides of the container to dress it up. Another great way to keep the aesthetic value, which can also save you some money is to bury your house! Think about it: if you have a large enough area of land, you can dig into the ground and make yourself a concrete foundation that you can lay the shipping containers on. You then cover the containers with soil and you do not have to worry about what the outside of the walls look like! If you are worried about natural light, then you can partially bury the shipping container and have windows along the top, covering the container with dirt and grass, but leaving spaces for the windows to allow natural light in. This may sound strange when compared to the traditional style of houses, but it is a very practical solution. You will find that in the winter it is going to be easy to heat your home and will also be easy to cool it down during the summer. This can also save you money on heating costs as dirt is a very good insulator.

As Big, or as Small, as You Want

Shipping containers come in a variety of different sizes, and with the joining kits that are available, you do not have to worry about living in small boxes. You can design large open spaces as well as cosy rooms. The inside does not have to be plain as the there is an extensive range of furnishings and appliances to choose from. You can still have your washing machines, ovens, TV’s, and refrigerators, and even built-in furnishings that you can choose from to equip your home will all modern conveniences. Just because you are going to live in a series of metal boxes does not mean that you cannot have a little luxury! So if you are looking for ideas to build your new dream home, take a look at the many different shipping containers on offer that you can use to build your home, and choose to live in something that is unique!

Erin Emanuel