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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Shipping Container Base
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Ajahn
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2017 19:11
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Just curious if anyone has any experience using containers as the base for constructing a home. Mainly I'm wondering what hurdles there may be. There are plenty of videos of people building incredible spaces from containers but most are just the final product and not the process.

I think what I'm most curious about is what kind of requirements there are for a foundation, if any, and if in Canada it's even a possibility.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2017 19:54
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Check with your local building permit and inspection department.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2017 20:44
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bldg_insp in here mentioned, and I agree with him, building using containers, with cost, shipping and the extra fab work, you will find the cost to be comparable (about ther same) as regular stick construction. I have found that to be true. A container had an advantage in an area of very secure storage, otherwise, the cost savings wont be there I'll bet.

Cowracer
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2017 15:18
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What I always say when shipping containers come up is...

If you don't buy a new container, factor in the cost of replacing the floor. They use some pretty nasty chemicals for pest control on those things and the wood floor soaks it up like a sponge. And you cant just burn the wood, and you shouldn't just throw it in the trash. It needs to go to a facility that can properly handle it. The cost is not insignificant.

Tim

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2017 20:48
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There was one post here long ago about building a house out of two or three containers, and leaving the doors intact to thwart thieves. Where they were there were lots of breakins. You opened the container doors and there were the windows and doors. When they left they locked it up, no exposed windows or doors to break into. That seemed like a good idea if security is a high priority for someone, but the cost to do it is high, as Toyota pointed out.

Containers are best used for what they are made for- secure storage, IMHO. And remember that they are not permanent, they will eventually rust through unless you paint them regularly or build a roof over them. If you are going to build a roof anyway, might as well stick frame.

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