Container house or shop - Just a random topic

benmack1

benmack1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Location
USA
I am not planning anything but am seeing these container built homes here and there on the innerwebz so it has to be a great idea. Just wondering if anyone has tried this or what the legalities might be for building something as either a residence or as a shop. Seems like a super sturdy building and easy to do especially for a shop. However, for a home, the stacking and whatnot seems pretty cool. Seems a hell of a lot better built than the rotting wood construction we typically use, especially if one puts a steel trussed roof on the thing. Also seems like a great way to justify to my wife that I actually need a damn crane in the fleet. Whatcha all think?

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Biggest thing is understanding the only structural part of them is the corner pillars and subframe. The top and walls are actually really flimsy. Beyond that I agree that they could be a great way to building block your way to a really cool structure.
 
I'd like to know more about it. I'm curious how they make it to code.
 
Youtube 'Andrew Camarata' & 'Life Uncontained'. I think they even make insulation that you can glue on the walls of the conex.
 
They don't save any money in building. You still have to build interior walls and insulate.and when you cut a door and window hole you destroy the shell. For a shop sure they are fine. For a house if rot is what your concerned with go metal studs. And you wanna go all out they make subfloor that is composite and you can get concrete pre-made walls with metal studs and insulation.

That said we are working with some people now that have found a company in China that designs connex "like" containers that show up fully finished.
 
I have a 40ft x 9ft tall container lined with 30" shelves down each side. It's the PERFECT storage shed. Christmas decorations, camping stuff storage, Genny storage, all my landscaping stuff, hell I had my tractor in there when I was building my barndo.
Mine sits on 2 RR timbers at the load points in a 6" gravel base. I love it. Keeps my garage clean.

I debated burying one under the garage for a "fallout shelter" but once I consulted with my structural engineering buddy there was way too much involved in making one crush-proof.

In my 28 years in engineering I've seen a few things and developed relationships with inspections enough to know you'd have a better chance of getting a C.O. for a port-a-jon before you would a con-ex type structure.

I'd chase another venture if it were me
 
CasterTroy said:
I have a 40ft x 9ft tall container lined with 30" shelves down each side. It's the PERFECT storage shed. Christmas decorations, camping stuff storage, Genny storage, all my landscaping stuff, hell I had my tractor in there when I was building my barndo.
Mine sits on 2 RR timbers at the load points in a 6" gravel base. I love it. Keeps my garage clean.

I debated burying one under the garage for a "fallout shelter" but once I consulted with my structural engineering buddy there was way too much involved in making one crush-proof.

In my 28 years in engineering I've seen a few things and developed relationships with inspections enough to know you'd have a better chance of getting a C.O. for a port-a-jon before you would a con-ex type structure.

I'd chase another venture if it were me
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I was going to build a container shop. I had very artistic elaborate plans......I still think I may do it as a big shed Barn reason. Like you said they can make great storage units. I need a forty footer and a engineer to lean on to design me some trusses and I'll do it Johnny Cash style minus the thieving, :D Half of what I work on needs stupid clearance, shade, and a dirt floor floor for reasons. If I get really ambitious the shop add on for at least on portion is gonna reflect those qualities.
 
I snapped this screenshot the other day. Idk how cost effective this would be over a regular building but I would like to have something like this in time to put the truck and such under. Could add one across the back too. For me the value would be that I could do this in stages. The containers are useful from day one.
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WARRIORWELDING said:
I need a forty footer and a engineer to lean on to design me some trusses and I'll do it Johnny Cash style minus the thieving, :D
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I would straight up be a guinea pig for mutual ideas because I'd love a lean-to off the side of mine to park my BIG trailer and dumptruck under.
I'd love some welded "pockets" to support a 2x8 for a header so I'm not bolting wood into the con-ex
 
CasterTroy said:
I would straight up be a guinea pig for mutual ideas because I'd love a lean-to off the side of mine to park my BIG trailer and dumptruck under.
I'd love some welded "pockets" to support a 2x8 for a header so I'm not bolting wood into the con-ex
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Your already on my wave length.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I snapped this screenshot the other day. Idk how cost effective this would be over a regular building but I would like to have something like this in time to put the truck and such under. Could add one across the back too. For me the value would be that I could do this in stages. The containers are useful from day one.View attachment 405878
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They used two dedicated containers decked out for storage with a very large canopy over the open center. The canopy was fabric and prefab. They servic d and repaired highway building equipment on the interchange of 77 and 40 for several years.
A bridge repair outfit near me has several crude all steel arrangements for storage and parking.


Edit: written with too little coffee, you get the idea...
 
77GreenMachine said:
I snapped this screenshot the other day. Idk how cost effective this would be over a regular building but I would like to have something like this in time to put the truck and such under. Could add one across the back too. For me the value would be that I could do this in stages. The containers are useful from day one.View attachment 405878
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I thought of doing something similar with 2 20fters in the back yard and some R&R trusses between them to park trailers under. Gotta be pretty simple.
 
When I was looking at zoning and building regs here I came across this. If I understand this right they banned and do not allow shipping containers here in Kershaw. Or does that look like they don't allow mobile or manufactured homes as accessory structures? It kind of confused me the way its worded and that shipping containers is crossed out. I see them here but wonder if those were in place before 2019 when this was done. Thoughts? Something to check on too.

 
ghost said:
When I was looking at zoning and building regs here I came across this. If I understand this right they banned and do not allow shipping containers here in Kershaw. Or does that look like they don't allow mobile or manufactured homes as accessory structures? It kind of confused me the way its worded and that shipping containers is crossed out. I see them here but wonder if those were in place before 2019 when this was done. Thoughts? Something to check on too.

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to me that reads as shipping containers can be used as an accessory building. it was originally included but struck out. To me that reads as they are trying to not allow ADU ( accessory dwelling units) on a single lot.
 
Loganwayne said:
to me that reads as shipping containers can be used as an accessory building. it was originally included but struck out. To me that reads as they are trying to not allow ADU ( accessory dwelling units) on a single lot.
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Thanks. I had come across that this past year and wasn't sure. That makes sense. This thread made me wonder if other area's have banned them or tried.
 
Loganwayne said:
to me that reads as shipping containers can be used as an accessory building. it was originally included but struck out. To me that reads as they are trying to not allow ADU ( accessory dwelling units) on a single lot.
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I'd have a slightly different interpretation of cause - but same conclusion of effect.

From FEMA definition:
An accessory structure is a structure which is on the same parcel of property as a principal structure and the use of which is incidental to the use of the principal structure. For example a residential structure may have a detached garage or storage shed for garden tools as accessory structures. Other examples of accessory structures include gazebos, picnic pavilions, boathouses, small pole barns, storage sheds, and similar buildings. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations for new construction generally apply to new and substantially improved accessory structures.
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Kershaw County is trying to prevent people from using abandoned mobile homes as storage buildings....or self storage lockers. As @ghost probably knows that was a real thing in KC not long ago and got a lot of attention.
So they are backing off that and saying you can have a connex as a storage building
 
Ron said:
I'd have a slightly different interpretation of cause - but same conclusion of effect.

From FEMA definition:


Kershaw County is trying to prevent people from using abandoned mobile homes as storage buildings....or self storage lockers. As @ghost probably knows that was a real thing in KC not long ago and got a lot of attention.
So they are backing off that and saying you can have a connex as a storage building
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Yea Camden and Kershaw are more strict about things I'm learning. I've been told that Camden city has them banned and mobile homes too. Thanks for the clarification.
 
shawn said:
Sinking a few 6x6 posts in the dirt is pretty simple, too.
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Booooo......must involve sparks. I like the idea of welding them to another structure. Realistically they could probably be through bolted of done right.
 
Ron said:
hard to store and lock shit inside a 6x6 though
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Nothing saying you can't still buy a sea container and set it next to your shed.

Attaching things to the sea container complicates the simplicity and flexibility of the container. Attaching wood to the container is problematic (galvanic corrosion issues, poking a bunch of holes in your weathertight metal box, etc). Zoning rules in a lot of places say the sea container has to be a temporary structure, too. If you start adding shed roof or whatever to it, it's no longer temporary.
 
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