What to Watch for When Building a Container House
- Inspect the actual shipping container
The container is the foundation of your new home (container house), so make sure what you see—online or elsewhere—is exactly what you get. Pay close attention to the precise materials and dimensions.
- A little-known trick to gain some ceiling height
If you are willing to pay a premium for each container (typically about 1.5 times the cost), consider buying high-cube containers. They match standard containers in every way except that they are one foot taller.
That extra foot is worth having—especially once you add floor insulation to your container house.
- Research building codes in your area
Different cities (and even different zones within a city) have different rules and regulations for building container houses.
Before you start construction, make sure you understand the legal constraints and insurance requirements.
- Find the right contractor
Conventional houses have existed for a few hundred years; container houses have not. Having the right contractor—especially one experienced with the kind of container house you envision—goes a long way toward a smooth build and prevents many problems that might otherwise arise.
You may also prefer one person to handle all the work rather than two or three different teams for interiors, exteriors, and so on. To save money, if you have reasonable confidence, you can act as overall supervisor and bring in contractors for individual subtasks such as welding, plumbing, insulation, and the like.
- Take time to choose the right insulation
For container houses, spray foam insulation is the preferred option.
That is because you want to insulate the home and create a moisture barrier that keeps water out of the container.
The only downside of spray foam is that it costs more than rigid insulation boards.
On a tight budget, consider insulation boards: they provide as much thermal performance as possible, but you lose some interior space (about one inch per wall).
- Choose flooring carefully
Do you want carpet or hard flooring? How important is durability? Do you want a container-house floor that is easy to replace every few years for a fresh look, or one you install once and forget forever? Your contractor can help you choose, but the decision must be yours—and carefully considered.
- Consider the available plumbing options
The overall look and feel of a home can be updated easily with paint, furniture, and décor, but plumbing is often done only once.
It is wise to learn all available options and their long-term pros and cons.
- Understand container structure
You do not need to know the details of how physics works, but a basic grasp of structural integrity is essential. For example: the two long walls of a container house are both load-bearing and bracing, so if you cut an opening in one, you must compensate structurally.
- Buy all containers from the same manufacturer
Containers for container houses from different manufacturers can differ slightly in quality and dimensions, and mixing them can erase the ease of using containers to build a modular structure.
So find a manufacturer that fits your region and needs—and stick with them.
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