10 Questions You Should to Know about Container Folding Homes

More and more people prefer using shipping containers to build houses, offices, gyms, hostels, and more. This is because shipping containers are affordable, energy-efficient, durable, and very flexible.

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If you are thinking about building or purchasing a container home, it is important that you have the right information to avoid any serious problems during the process. You can learn about the basics, such as the costs and what you need to do in this guide for shipping container homes.

But, if you are looking for specific answers, then you can browse through our FAQs. We have compiled the most commonly asked questions regarding shipping container houses.

Contents

1. What is the difference between container houses and regular tiny houses?

Both container houses and tiny houses are growing in popularity today. These houses offer personalized living, affordability, and are ideal for those who follow a minimalist lifestyle. But, they also have their differences:

Space Comparison

While both the regular tiny house and container house can be designed according to your taste, a container house does not need to be tiny. It can be extended, such as by connecting two shipping containers, to make them more spacious. Meanwhile, a tiny house can be designed in different ways but will still have limited space.

A standard tiny home is about 8.5’ x 24’ in size, although some are smaller or bigger depending on the number of occupants and the budget. A shipping container is typically 20 ft. to 40 ft. long but can become bigger and longer by joining another container to build a home with a size ideal for the occupants.

Cost Comparison

For both container and tiny houses, the starting cost is about $40,000 USD. The price will increase with additional specifications, bedrooms, and spaces.

If you are planning to build a house of your own design, the costs will depend on various factors. These include the materials you will use and the design of your home. A single shipping container costs around $2,500 USD. You should consider the consents, design, materials, engineering, and labor costs on top of the estimated cost.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Using a shipping container for your home is a great way to live sustainably. The level of sustainability of both a container home and a tiny home will depend on the materials used to build them. A smaller space will require fewer materials and will have lesser energy costs. Both of these homes can be assembled on-site, which decreases the travel time required and ultimately, reduces your carbon footprint.

Renovation

When it comes to renovation, both types of homes have their own advantages and disadvantages. A container home can be extended due to its modularity, allowing you to achieve the ideal space for you and the other occupants. However, roofing work, specialized building processes, and insulation can be complicated.

In container homes, recycling can be hard work, such as removing toxins and rust. However, after all the work is done, it will definitely be worth it. A container home is durable, can withstand severe weather conditions, and can last for a very long time.

In comparison, a tiny home cannot be expanded but still has a lot of benefits. You can choose a wide selection of materials and designs. According to your budget, you can design your home in a way that makes it more spacious.

2. How long do container homes last?

You can expect a container home to last at least 25 years without any issues. If you maintain it properly and keep watch of rust attentively, it can last even longer. Also, if you cover it with an external layer, such as wood, it can last for a really long time.

3. How much does it cost to build a container house?

The exact cost to build a container house will vary. In general, a house made from a shipping container costs between $1,400 USD to $4,000 USD, depending on the age, condition, and size of the container. Here are some of the prices for commonly used shipping containers when building a home:

• 20-ft. Standard new shipping container—$3,000 USD
• 20-ft. Standard used shipping container—$2,100 USD
• 20-ft. High cube new shipping container—$3,200 USD
• 20-ft. High cube used shipping container—$2,200 USD
• 40-ft. Standard new shipping container—$5,600 USD
• 40-ft. Standard used shipping container—$2,850 USD
• 40-ft. High cube new shipping container—$5,800 USD

The more customization you add to your house project, the more money will be involved. Features such as plumbing, electricity, flooring, and windows will cost around $50 USD to $150 USD per hour in contractor fees.

Other factors that affect cost:

A large house made from shipping containers can cost from $150,000 USD to $175,000 USD. If you have experience in construction and plan to build it yourself, it could cost you as low as $10,000 USD.

• Availability— Most shipping containers are shipped directly from China, so the availability of stock will impact the price.
• Permits— The cost will depend on your area and the types of permits needed to build your home.
• Site Preparation— A foundation that is uneven, rocky, or susceptible to flooding will cost more.
• Delivery— The delivery costs will vary based on the distance traveled and the number of containers to be transported.

To learn more about the costs involved in shipping container houses, you can check this post that gives in-depth information about shipping container home costs.

4. Are shipping containers waterproof?

No, shipping containers are not waterproof. However, they are water-resistant, which means they can resist water to some degree. They can keep precipitation, rain, and snow out of the home.

5. Are shipping container houses safe?

If you are buying a new shipping container house directly from a manufacturer, you can be assured that it is safe. You simply have to inform the manufacturing company to not coat and treat the floors with hazardous paint.

However, if you purchase a second-hand shipping container home, there is a chance it might have been treated with chemicals. If that is the case, there are two ways to address this situation. First, you can put a non-breathable flooring underlayment over the flooring directly. Second, you can remove the original flooring entirely and replace it with a new one, like marine plywood.

6. Are shipping container houses hurricane-proof?

Shipping container houses are built to be strong and durable so they can endure storms and high winds up to 100 mph. They can be even safer and more secure if they are attached to a solid foundation, which allows them to withstand winds up to 175 mph.

If you are considering getting a shipping container home and live in an area with extreme weather conditions, such as tornadoes or hurricanes, you can be assured that your container house is completely safe.

7. Do shipping container homes need a foundation?

Yes, shipping container homes need a foundation to have a stable and solid platform. Despite often going unnoticed, the ground moves to a certain degree. This movement can be slow and irregular but can cause the ground to slide, sink, or rise. Having a solid foundation can prevent your container home from separating or splitting.

8. How much does a 2-story prefab home cost?

The overall cost of building a 2-story prefab home will depend on several factors, including the materials to be used, the building location, and the customizations you want to add. To give you an estimate, the starting cost of an average 2-story prefab home is about $145,000. It will cover 1,500 to 4,000 square feet and will take an average of 14 to 24 weeks to complete.

9. Can I build a house under $50K?

Yes, it is possible to build a tiny home within a $50K budget, but it will require you to do most of the work, particularly in finding materials and building the house itself. Also, the materials you use must be at discounted prices directly purchased from building supply companies.

10. How can I get started?

The first thing you need to do is to check whether your area allows the construction of container homes. Building permits are required so you can comply with the building codes of both local and state authorities. On average, people spend about $398 to $1,561 for building permits. Before anything else, make sure to contact your local zoning board to learn what is allowed and what is not.

When it’s confirmed that you can build a container home in your area, it's time to look and purchase the container itself. When doing this, make sure to consider your needs and resources, so you can pick the right type and size of the shipping container. Also, it’s imperative that you inspect the container firsthand before buying. Know everything about what you are buying to avoid unnecessary problems and costs in the future.

11. How to design a container house?

It takes careful planning and brainstorming when designing a container house. The most important things to consider are your needs and who will live in the house. There are a lot of container home designs that you can choose from. Think about what you like and need and find a design that suits your criteria.

12. What are great container house designs?

When designing your container home, it’s best to consider the style that is most practical. For example, if you are living in an area prone to floods, then it’s an excellent idea to build your home on Asian-style stilts. Meanwhile, if your area is consistently hot, then it’s good to have a subterranean home.

Here are some great designs to inspire you:

• Container Home With Modern Design

A shipping container home with a modern design is sleek and perfect for minimalists. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, and the upper levels are made from extended metal sheets. Modern design container homes typically range from 200 sq. ft. to over 1,520 sq. ft.

• Container Beach House With Modern Design

This modern beach house is made by joining two shipping containers together. It has a sophisticated and minimalistic design that allows light to permeate most parts of the house. It has a bright and relaxing effect, which is perfect for any beach house.

• Stylish Container House

This container home comes with a small patio, ideal for those who love spending time outdoors. It also has a variety of plants, including manjula pothos, so the home blends well with nature. The modern and stylish design suits a lot of people.

• Contemporary Shipping Container House

A contemporary shipping container home focuses on maximizing space. It is sleek and fresh, emphasizing shape, color, and space to make the home more spacious and bright. Contemporary container homes generally feature bold colors and neutral elements.

• Shipping Container Office

A tiny shipping container office is perfect for people who need to work at home. If you want an office that is both comfortable and private, this is a really good choice. Since you cannot be disturbed, you will have peace of mind and can focus clearly on your tasks.

13. How to connect shipping container houses?

A common way of joining two shipping containers is by producing a seal using welded corner posts, thin metal sheets, and roofing cement. After setting the two containers on their foundation, you can start welding the units into their foundation and the adjacent corner posts. You need to install the rolled roof flashing outside and inside the opening first before applying the roofing cement. The junction of these three materials should achieve a perfect seal.

14. Where can I buy container houses?

You can purchase container houses directly from manufacturing companies that build and design homes from shipping containers. Some manufacturers only build container homes but offer a wide selection of container home models. Meanwhile, some manufacturers offer both construction and customization of shipping container homes and can build your home exactly the way you want it.

The great thing about purchasing directly from manufacturers is you can be assured that the container home you are purchasing is of great quality and in mint condition. It can be a bit more expensive, but your investment will truly be worth it.

Another way is through online third-party sellers such as eBay or Amazon. The biggest advantage of purchasing from these sellers is you can negotiate the price. It is usually more affordable, but the downside is you can’t always be sure of what you are getting.

15. How much does a shipping container weigh?

An empty 20-ft. shipping container usually weighs around 1.8 to 2.2 metric tonnes, and an empty 40-ft. shipping container weighs about 3.8 to 4.2 tonnes. These figures generally apply to dry containers and don’t include special containers, such as flat racks, open tops, and tanks.

Old shipping containers are usually heavier than the stated weights, but they are quite rare nowadays. Younger shipping containers are usually lighter due to current manufacturing methods that use less metal while maintaining similar strength.

16. How to move a shipping container?

A forklift or crane is typically used to lift the shipping container to a flatbed trailer, which will then be transported to its intended location. If the land is accessible, the driver can back up into the foundation and allow the container to slide through. However, if the land is hard to reach, a crane will be used to hoist the container and drop it into its proper place.

17. How to insulate a shipping container?

There are several factors you need to consider when insulating a shipping container. These include performance, air leakage, eco-friendliness, cost, R-value, vapor permeability, and net interior space.

Taking these factors into consideration, here are five ways you can insulate a shipping container:

• Non-traditional insulation—using unconventional materials such as hempcrete and straw bale
• Blanket insulation—using materials like cotton, fiberglass, sheep’s wool, and slag wool
• Loose-fill insulation—using materials like perlite, cellulose, and loose-fill fiberglass
• Spray insulation—with two types: ocSPF (open-cell spray polyurethane foam) and ccSPF (closed-cell spray polyurethane foam)
• Expanded foam insulation—with five types: oc PU Foam (open-cell polyurethane foam), cc PU Foam (closed-cell polyurethane foam), Polyiso (polyisocyanurate), EPS (extruded polystyrene foam), and XPS (expanded polystyrene foam)

18. Which states allow shipping container homes to be built?

In the US, almost all states are already considering shipping container homes, if they have not allowed them already. These include Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, Maryland, Minnesota, Maine, and even Michigan.

Nevertheless, you need to check first with your city to be sure that shipping container homes are allowed in your area.

19. How thick are shipping container walls?

The walls of shipping containers are generally corrugated. The corrugation depth is typically 1” or 25 mm, which means that 2” or 50 mm is taken from the outer width dimension, i.e., 1” per side. The back side is corrugated as well, and the doors are about 2” or 50 mm thick, meaning around 3” or 75 mm is taken from the length.

20. How many square feet is a shipping container?

Typical shipping containers usually come in two sizes: 20 ft. by 8 ft. and 40 ft. by 8 ft. A 20 ft. shipping container is equal to 160 square feet, while a 40 ft. shipping container is equal to