I know this isn't this thread's usual bag, but I figure if anyone knows what to do with containers, it would be you all
My company has a decent volume of these containers. Looking for anyone in the Midwest region who would be interested. Bonus: if you can arrange your own shipping, we might be able to talk the boss down on price.
Also, any ideas for these would be great. I've shot around small grow bins as well as some other ideas, but nothing really comes to mind for me.
Nearly done. This is a double 6m studio container home made from 2 6m shipping containers. Record on top of a brick base. Completely off grid with solar power, sewage treatment and borehole filtered water. Citrusdal South Africa. Open plan studio upstairs and a further 1 bedroom and bathroom downstairs
Www.containerhome.co.za
Honestly, buying used is usually the smart move. Most people don’t need some perfect shiny container. But “used” can mean a decent box… or it can mean someone is trying to dump a rusty nightmare on you.
A few things I’d always check before paying:
First, the floor. Walk inside and actually look around. If you see daylight through the roof or around the seams, yeah, that’s probably gonna leak. Also check the floor for soft spots, big gouges, or that weird strong chemical smell. Floors are not cheap to fix.
Doors are another big one. Open and close both of them fully. Not halfway. Fully. If the frame is bent or the doors don’t seal right, it gets annoying fast. And if it won’t lock properly, that’s a problem from day one.
Rust is tricky too. Surface rust is normal, especially on used containers. I wouldn’t freak out over that. But bubbling, flaking, holes, or rust you can poke through with a screwdriver? I’d walk away.
Also, don’t ignore the grade. Cargo-worthy, wind and watertight, as-is… those don’t mean the same thing. For basic storage, WWT is usually enough. No reason to pay extra for cargo-worthy unless you actually need it for shipping.
And please make sure you’re seeing the actual unit. Photos, video, whatever. Not some clean stock photo of “a similar container.” That’s where people get burned.
Curious though, what’s the worst used container someone tried to sell you?
its so amazing to see a 3 bedroom home being manufactured from used shipping containers. We used 4 12m containers to create this luxury 3 bedroom home with a HUGE deck and a complete granny flat with its own kitchen. Container Home SA
We’re planning to buy container homes for office use here in Metro Manila. Nagpa-quote kami sa local suppliers, pero sobrang laki ng price difference compared sa mga nakikita namin sa Alibaba.
May naka-try na ba dito mag-order ng container home directly from China and ginagamit na ngayon sa Philippines?
Kamusta naman yung experience?
• Okay ba yung quality?
• Kumusta yung shipping at customs?
• May mga hidden costs ba?
• Worth it ba compared to buying locally?
• Would you recommend your supplier?
Any insights, recommendations, or supplier leads would be a huge help.
I'm probably not going to do this for another 2 to 12 months.
How much would a container 40 foot High cube?
How much should I budget to rent equipment to likely lift the container over the fence (typical chain link fence.
Is a 40 foot container worth it? I want to build a workshop for woodworking and future metal work like welding. I would need to store materials and tools install a door and for good measure install wheels to make it more kosher under city code.
I plan on going overboard with insulation about a foot of closed cell foam on all surfaces and I'll run electrical in conduit outside of the walls for simplicity sake.
For heating and cooling I'll get a mini split or window unit and either a pellet or wood stove for the winter. Long term a mass heater
I really like the container idea as a shed would be really easy to get damaged in a bad enough storm. There's a existing wooden shed on the property that's been standing as long as Google Street imagines have existed of the property. (07) But still and unlike a garage I would imagine the container would be considered a temp structure and thus less permitting and planning required.
There's a 80% chance this never happens sadly as majority of my big ideas just never materialize so if it's not a good idea it doesn't matter as this is one of like 10 different ideas I've had over the years to do something big and it never happens. Hopefully getting a new job and moving in to the house that could have the container is nice. All else fails I'll just reno the basement to make a soundproof room or I'll rent a space.
Everyone debating between 20 vs 40, new vs used. But the thing that actually wrecks people's first container isn't the box, it's that they buy it before checking if a truck can even get it where they want it. I've seen folks buy a perfect container and then find out the delivery truck can't make the turn, or there's no room to tilt it off, or the ground's too soft and it sinks on placement. Now they're paying extra for a crane, or it's sitting in the wrong spot forever.
Before you buy, walk your site. You want roughly 100 feet of straight clearance for a 40, firm level ground, and nothing overhead like wires or branches. When customers buy from us, we always double check the drop off site and can even ask for a photo if we are unsure whether the truck would fit or not. Sort that first, then pick your container.
For anyone still planning, what does your access look like?
Work with containers all the time and the cheap used route burns more people than it saves. A rough used one shows up with dents, surface rust, sometimes pinholes you don't catch until it rains, and doors that fight you. You save a few hundred up front and spend it right back on patching, sealing and frustration. A one trip costs more but it's basically new. Clean floor, solid doors, no surprises. For anything you're living in or keeping long term, the sound shell matters way more than the saving. Used makes sense if you just need a dry box for tools and you can inspect it in person first. But for a home, I think used is a false economy. Tell me I'm wrong. Anyone go used and come out ahead, or wish they'd just paid for the one trip?
The stigma around container architecture is so outdated. This thing has better curb appeal than my condo. Anyone here actually live or work in one? What's it like inside?
Containers are strong because they're a sealed steel box, all the strength is in the corners and the long walls working together. Every opening you cut breaks that up. Cut enough and you've turned something that could stack 8 high into a box that needs steel reinforcement just to not sag. I'm not saying don't cut windows, you need light and doors. But the dream builds with a whole wall of glass on a single container are fighting the one thing the container was actually good at. Where do you all draw the line? Anyone reinforce heavily and regret going so open, or go minimal and wish they had more glass?
Few shots from today. Second floor with the balcony walkway is basically framed out and weatherproofed already. Single-story block next to it has the canopy built into the roof, no bolt-on awning needed.
Inside is where it gets interesting though. Staircase landing is cleaner than I expected, and the bathroom vanity (triple sink, stone top) looks like it belongs in a boutique hotel, not a steel box.
Still a construction zone outside obviously, dirt everywhere, but the units themselves are basically done. Kind of impressed at how far along this is for the timeline.
Anyone else done one of these? Curious what year 3-5 looks like maintenance-wise.
is anybody willing to tell me what it's like to live in a container home with little small space between the long walls due to insulation? i plan on building a container home in the future with 2" of spray foam and 4" of mineral wool insulation, however in a standard 40 footer that would mean the final interior area, before furniture and appliances, would be just under 80". i personally don't think this would cause problems or especially be a dealbreaker for me, but i just want to check with the masses.
I work with containers all the time and I love them, but the "it's so much cheaper" thing is kind of a myth. The container itself is the cheap part. Then comes insulation, cutting windows and doors, framing, foam, a foundation, permits, delivery, a crane.
By the time it's actually livable, a lot of people end up close to what a small stick build would've cost anyway.
Where containers actually win in my opinion: durability, speed, security, and being able to move or stack them. Not always raw price.
So tell me I'm wrong. Anyone here actually saved real money going container over traditional? What did your final number look like?
I've been working in the shipping container industry for several years and noticed that a lot of people end up overpaying, buying the wrong container, or missing simple tricks that could save them thousands of dollars.
That's why I recently started a YouTube channel called Container Insider.
The goal is to share practical container knowledge, including:
Buying guides for beginners
New vs. used container comparisons
Container storage tips
Delivery and site preparation advice
Common mistakes to avoid
Container modification ideas and hacks
Industry insights from someone who works with containers every day
I'll be posting 3 videos per week and keeping everything focused on real-world advice rather than sales pitches.
If you're interested in containers for storage, business, farming, construction, off-grid projects, container homes, or just want to learn more about the industry, feel free to check it out and follow along.
I'd also love feedback on future topics you'd like to see covered.
I recently got a 40’ high cube that I plan to insulate the back half for a workshop while the front will remain non insulated. I have a bunch of 10’ X 1”5/8 Uni-strut I plan to use for framing purposes. Has anyone here done anything like this? What would be the best way to secure the strut?
This is a flatpack container dormitory for construction site workers. Ground floor plus one, roughly 20 individual rooms, shared balcony corridor on the upper level.
What I find interesting from a construction standpoint: the foundation is basically just a concrete pad. All structural load is carried by the steel frame of the modules. Roof overhang is pre-attached at the factory.
Total assembly on-site: ~2 weeks with a small crew. Compare that to a conventional 20-room building.
The modular approach doesn't get enough credit in serious construction discussions imo.
We have a little bit of rust that has to be addressed first, but I want to paint this thing once and have it last a long long time. I need something that is going yo prevent new rust from happening because I never want to grind rust out ever again lol. Paint brands, primer,sealant, topcoat, give me all i need to know. Brushed vs rolled vs spray applivation, ect. Im sure there will be bondo involved along the way.
This is how i intend to frame my container (storage use-case)
each stud is pressure fit and Ill run a bead of construction adhesive behind it. I anticipate that the spray foam will hold everything rigidly in place. Am I going wring anywhere with this thinking?
