There are containers, discarded and unused, in every port around the world, and these places become scrap yards after they’ve been taken out of commercial maritime journeys. These cargo containers could be repurposed or recycled to build your home with containers.
Turning transport containers into your new home could be the perfect solution. With containers, you can build quickly, they’re eco-friendly, relatively cheap, and they look amazing.
We’re often asked why building a home with containers is so appealing, and I give them these 7 amazing reasons why you should build your home with containers.
1. Cost of Building Your Home with Containers
Because there are so many containers and the demand for them is relatively low, buying one is much cheaper than traditional building materials like brick, steel, and wood. Containers are already structured, extremely durable, and come with floors, so as a homebuilder, you can save money on things like flooring, walls, and ceilings.
At the very least, you can add proper insulation and your new home will be ready to go. The low cost of used containers also allows you to build a larger home than you could traditionally. You could stretch your money up to three times more, depending on where you’re building your container home and how much of the construction you plan to do yourself.
2. Eco-Friendly
With so many containers stacked in shipyards, junkyards, and ports, there’s a vast supply of containers to buy and repurpose into your next home. Recycling them to make your dream house helps clean up our environment, keeps your costs down, and maintains your clear conscience with eco-friendly building materials.
To ensure you’re being as eco-friendly as possible with your container home, you can use other recyclable materials and design your home to allow natural sunlight to power it. Containers can be remodeled, cut, and easily transformed to enhance the environment and take advantage of the surrounding climate.
Many container homes in sunny areas like Costa Rica or California have solar panels installed on their roofs to harness solar energy. Want to make your container home even greener? Read 12 Ways to Make Your Container More Eco-Friendly.
3. Construction Speed
A traditional house typically takes a minimum of six months to build, while a container home can be built in less than a month! To make sure you’re constructing your container home as quickly as possible, have all the permits and licenses from your local government department ready, as these might take several weeks.
Research as much as you can about the work involved and how you want your home to look by planning well. If possible, purchase your container from a local supplier or as close to the construction site as possible to reduce costs and time.
With so many options on how to build a container home, it’s important to have ideas and do research to support your preferences and how you want your new home to be constructed.
4. Off-the-Grid Living
If you’re looking to live off the grid, then container homes can support that. For those unfamiliar with the term, it means living without being connected to electricity.
People who have built their own homes mention how easy it is to go off the grid. Equipping their homes with solar panels and a greywater recycling system.
Living off the grid will save a considerable amount of money due to lower energy costs. You’ll also reduce your carbon footprint and become more self-sufficient!
5. Flexibility
The square style and materials used in containers allow flexibility when constructing your perfect building. The steel shell they’re made from is strong and sturdy. It gives you the option of stacking containers on top of each other.
You probably won’t want an eight-story skyscraper, although to be honest, they’ve already been built! Aside from vertical stacking, you can position them side by side and build horizontally as well. The internal walls of containers are easy to remove, simplifying the construction of a door or arch to connect multiple containers.
This convenience is excellent for homebuilders because it allows them to use multiple containers to construct the exact building they want. Another great thing about container flexibility is that you can decorate them however you want. Many homes have a cabin feel by lining the exterior of the containers with wood.
6. Extremely Resilient
Containers are made to ship cargo, including delicate items, across the ocean. Most of the time, these journeys are from China to various countries around the world. With that long distance in mind, they’re designed specifically to be durable and extremely resilient, so strong winds, swirling water, and bad weather don’t harm the items inside the containers.
Considering they’re made for extreme conditions and to withstand harsh weather, they’re tough enough to settle on land and be your shelter. They can withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour, for those of you living in hurricane-prone areas. They’re more resilient than many other eco-friendly building materials, like earthbags. This gives you peace of mind knowing that the building you’ve constructed will last and keep you safe in extreme weather conditions.
If you want to read more: Is it Safe to Live in a House Made of Shipping Containers?
7. Container Homes Look Great
And finally, apart from being economical, eco-friendly, and easy to build, container homes look amazing! Believe me when I say that your new structure will attract interest and attention! All sorts of incredible buildings have been constructed using shipping containers.
Remember to read our article on how and why to insulate a container home from cold and heat.
Did we miss any surprising reasons why building a container structure is a great idea? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below.
«Tu casa con contenedores» es la única guía paso a paso que existe para construir tu propia casa con containers desde cero. No importa si no tienes conocimientos sobre construcción, si pensar en ello te da dolor de cabeza, si eres constructor o trabajas en una oficina. La guía está escrita para que cualquiera pueda entenderlo. MAS INFORMACIÓN CLIC AQUÍ Construye Tu Casa con Contenedores Paso a PasoHágalo Usted Mismo
