Shipping container homes have gained a lot of popularity recently in Australia and other parts of the world. Their sudden popularity brings about several questions that need answering. What actually are these shipping container homes? How are they different from modular homes? What are some of the pros and cons of the 20ft shipping container or 40ft shipping container homes? Why are shipping container homes are better than modular homes? These are some of the common questions that still surround shipping container homes and need further clarification.
What are Shipping Container Homes?
As the name suggests, these are homes made from the steel shipping containers that you often see sitting on ships, ports, trains, and big trucks carrying goods from one place to another. By making modifications to these sturdy containers, people are building homes, shops, restaurants, offices, cabins, and studios of all shapes and sizes.
A great number of these steel boxes are tagged “out-of-service” once their useful life comes to an end. The average lifespan of a shipping container is about 20 years. Most of them end up living their retirement out in a port somewhere in the world. From the seaports, they are purchased by various people who use them as an attractive alternative to traditional homes and various other purposes. Shipping container homes are quickly replacing traditional modular homes, and for good reason. Here are 4 solid reasons why shipping containers for sale present a fantastic option to prospective home owners:
Safety
Since shipping containers are made out of corrugated steel, it is almost impossible for anyone to break into them. This is the reason 40ft shipping container homes and 20ft shipping container offices are considered the most secure living and working space. They can easily withstand harsh weather conditions and need little maintenance to retain their structural integrity.
Stack-ability
Shipping containers come with standardised height, width, and length measurements; therefore it is easy to stack them in towering columns. In case you are constrained by limited space, you can stack them horizontally to create more storage or living space.
Customisability
There is simply no end to the ways you can customise a shipping container. Using your imagination, engineering and fabrication skills, you can modify your shipping container to just about anything you can think of. Shipping containers can be easily customised to be:
- storage spaces
- office spaces
- retail workshops
- accommodation units
- mobile labs
- mobile hospitals
Whether you are looking for a slight modification or a complete transformation of your shipping container, you can do it provided you have the required tools and equipment.
Logistical suitability
One of the greatest advantages of shipping container homes over traditional modular homes is that it is easy to transport them from one place to another. The shipping containers are designed to be easily transported via truck, rail, sea, or air. You will not face any difficulty bringing a newly customised 20ft shipping container home to your place and moving it. Few places will be inaccessible for shipping containers since a global infrastructure of transporting these steel boxes already exists.
