Pros and Cons of Container Buildings: Don't Miss This Article

The invention of the standardized shipping container has been central to global trade in the second half of the twentieth century. Eight feet wide and 8.5 feet high, and either 20 or 40 feet long, steel containers have been the world's standardized transport module since 1956. They contributed greatly to global commerce and sharply lowered the cost of long-distance trade.

Today there are about 5,000,000 containers worldwide; on any given day, five to six million containers are at sea, carrying everything from chips to dishwashers. Roughly 16,666,667 loaded containers move each year, with an estimated value of more than $555.6 billion (based on 2013 figures).

Yet the cost of shipping empty containers back to their origin is high, so containers often sit idle in ports. If you live near a container-rich port, moving a steel container to a local building site costs less than hauling one to an inland site far from the coast. Today, shipping goods in a brand-new container can actually be cheaper than using a second-hand ocean box—especially where trade is imbalanced. In fact, thousands of containers sit idle in yards around the world. Melting them down uses about 8,000 kWh of energy, while converting one container into a building takes only about 400 kWh. That is one reason container architecture has surged in recent years.

Because container architecture has become a heated debate, our company believes it is worth listing the pros and cons of building with containers.

Advantages of Container Buildings

1. Green building

Containers are eco-friendly because they are reused as a building material instead of being melted down. One-way shipping leaves large numbers of ocean containers discarded at ports worldwide. Reusing a single 40-foot container recovers about 3,500 kg of steel and saves about 8,000 kWh—far more resource- and cost-efficient than melting them, since reuse needs only about 400 kWh. Using containers can also cut brick and cement use. Cement production is a major CO2 source, while brick is made from natural materials that are largely inert.

2. Cost-effectiveness

In China, ocean containers typically cost about $3,000-$12,000, depending mainly on size. Because they already provide structure suited to residential redesign, houses built from them cost at least 30% less than brick-and-mortar homes of the same size. Structural work is also lighter, which further lowers cost and can be put to good use.

3. Structural stability

Containers are also "almost indestructible." They are designed to carry heavy loads, withstand harsh weather and rough seas, and stack easily—traits that make multi-story buildings straightforward. That structural stability turns such homes into strongholds against earthquakes and hurricanes, so they perform very safely in disaster-prone regions.

4. Ease and speed of construction

Building a home with containers takes about 2–3 weeks, while brick-and-mortar structures often need about 4 to 6 months. Most structures can be assembled in about a day if all parts are cut—comparable to prefabrication.

5. Off-site construction

Container houses can be built off-site, then delivered to the client's project location and lifted into place at any time. When a project site is unsuitable for on-site building, containers can be finished in a local factory and the completed units sent to the site.

6. Security

A major problem for remote and rural infrastructure is theft. Breaking into a container building typically requires a cutting torch or explosives, and the weight is so great that stealing a container without anyone noticing is nearly impossible. That makes container structures a secure choice for remote areas.

Disadvantages of Container Buildings

1. Insulation and temperature control

Containers are large steel boxes, so they absorb and transfer heat and cold well. That creates challenges for controlling indoor temperature.

Solution: Proper insulation and paint can fix this, though some approaches are less eco-friendly—such as energy-hungry air conditioning. Insulation also further reduces the already limited interior space. To gain space, multiple container structures can be joined on site.

2. Refurbishment

Many used containers are old and near the end of their service life. Used units rust quickly because they were scratched or dented while serving their primary role.

Solution: Condition matters when choosing second-hand boxes as building stock. To ensure longevity, builders generally select units that are about 80–90% new or better, with very few dents and scratches. Those marks must be correctly refurbished by professional container builders, including grinding and repainting. With fluorocarbon paint reapplied about every 10 years, a unit can last at least 20 years or longer. In many European and American countries, container houses are already used as permanent buildings.

3. Ecological footprint

Using discarded containers as building material is an effective form of reuse, but these homes still leave a larger ecological footprint than they first appear to.

Solution: Before they are livable, the whole container must be sandblasted, floors replaced or sealed, and openings cut by welding. There are also carbon emissions from transport and assembly. You must ensure a professional firm handles these steps correctly.

4. Health hazards

Containers were not made for people to live in, so they use materials that are not human-friendly—such as chromate, phosphorus, and lead-based paints on walls, and sometimes arsenic and chromium injected into wooden floors to prevent pests.

Solution: While at sea, containers use pesticides and similar measures to protect cargo from insects. After retirement, harmful residues can remain inside—mainly in the floor. Before second-hand containers are used, they must be fully refurbished by skilled workers with professional methods.

Conclusion

Building a shipping-container structure can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Two of the greatest advantages are cost savings and mobility—and they can be built at remarkable speed. They are not only affordable and fast; they are also kinder to the environment: for every container recycled into construction, we save about 3,500 kg of steel. Still, as with conventional housing, you should gather enough information before you build with containers.

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