Shipping containers have become the “in thing” when it comes to building, renovations, and doing something a little different. Long gone are the days when shipping containers are only used for transporting cargo or storage.
Whether you are planning a home extension, want to build an office in the front yard, transform a container into a trendy little cafe, or build a granny flat, shipping containers are the way to go.
So let’s look at 5 best reasons to build with shipping containers.
#1 Much of the Construction Is Already Done
One of the greatest advantages of building with shipping containers is that much of the construction has already been done for you. You already have a floor, ceiling and walls in place. It’s then only a matter of modifying the container to suit your new purpose.
This might involve a major makeover or just some minor adjustments, depending on what you want to transform the container into.
#2 Shipping Containers Are Extremely Strong and Robust
Being constructed from steel, shipping containers are therefore very strong, robust and designed to last many years in the harsh conditions often encountered out at sea.
When you build with shipping containers, you’ll have the confidence of knowing your construction is going to be rock solid. It’s one of the main reasons containers have become such a popular building material for houses and home extensions.
#3 Shipping Containers Are Cheap To Buy
Despite their size and the fact they are made from very solid steel, cargo containers really don’t cost very much, even when they are brand new. Most people opt to purchase a used container that’s in really good condition when repurposing, which means the container is even cheaper again.
The same way people save money by renovating an existing house, when you remodel and rebuild with a shipping container, the entire construction project becomes a lot cheaper.
Compared to building with more traditional and expensive materials such as timber, brick and concrete, using a steel container to form a major part of your construction really does bring the cost down.
#4 Containers Are Super Versatile
Due to the very straight lines and rectangular shape of a shipping container, along with their strength and rigidity, containers are perfect for repurposing and remodelling for so many great ideas.
Apart from building homes and granny flats, shipping containers can be rebuilt as pop-up stores, roadside takeaway kitchens, restaurants, mobile bars and cafes, backyard sheds and workshops, jail cells, emergency accommodation and so much more.
#5 Recycling Shipping Containers Helps the Environment
When people choose to build with used shipping containers, it saves all those hulks of metal from rusting away on docks, in industrial yards or being dumped in landfill. Anything we can do to help save the planet is always a positive, and with millions of disused shipping containers all around the world, the more they are recycled and repurposed, the better.
Rather than ending up as useless junk, used containers can be put to great use in brand new building projects.
