The soaring cost of houses and apartments is leading people to consider alternatives to the norm. One increasingly popular option is constructing your own shipping container home. Shipping containers are spacious, durable, and, perhaps most importantly, relatively cheap to buy. What’s more, with a bit of creativity and patience, you can turn a bare shipping container into a comfortable and welcoming place to call home. If you’re thinking about a container house, here’s how you should realize your dream.
Building a Container Home
The steps to building a shipping container house follow a similar pattern to any building project. You’ll need to get approval, then purchasyour materials, position them in place, and finally decorate your structure. Depending on the size of your project, you may be able to complete some of the work yourself. However, professionals are on hand to help you at each stage, including architects for designing and general contractors for building.
The first step you’ll need to take is to secure local permits and approval for your project by submitting a proposed design. Most areas in the United States allow you to build a shipping container home, but you’ll require prior approval. You could base your design on a single 40-foot-long container or several containers connected together. You’ll also need a suitable piece of land to support your application.
Once your paperwork has been approved, you can get down to the task of buying your container. The most popular types of containers used for home construction measure 40 feet or 20 feet in length. A typical 40-foot-long container provides enough space for one or two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen and living room area. Containers can range in cost between $2,500 and $5,000, depending on whether you purchase a new or used one.
After purchasing your container, you’ll need to get the site ready in preparation for delivery. This stage may include laying gravel, concrete, or another foundation material to protect the container from corrosion. A general contractor who specializes in container home construction can help you if you’re unsure how to go about laying a strong foundation. When everything is ready, you can arrange the delivery of your container by a shipping transport firm.
The next stage is the fun part — customizing your container. You can start cutting holes to fit doors and windows and putting your plans for interior rooms into practice. You’ll also need to hire professional plumbers and electricians to connect your home with the necessary utilities. After completing the work, a building inspector will need to approve your home for living in.
How Much Does a Container Home Usually Cost To Build?
The cost of your container home project will depend on its scale. As we noted above, you can buy a shipping container for as little as $2,500. If your plan is for a simple home using one container, you may be able to complete the project for $10,000 to $20,000. However, make sure that you account for permit costs and the need to hire professionals to install utilities.
For larger or more complicated projects involving multiple containers or expensive materials, the costs could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. In such cases, it’s advisable to work with professional architects and designers who can give you tips and advice about best practices and what to avoid.
Pros and Cons of a Container Home
Building a shipping container home has several advantages. The main benefit is the cost. Home prices in many large urban areas can come close to or exceed $1 million, so the idea of purchasing a home for a few thousand dollars is an opportunity that’s too good to pass by. If cost is your top priority, you can decide to keep the interior design simple. Alternatively, you can use the extra funds saved by the affordability of the container to invest in more premium interior touches.
Also, it’s no secret that shipping container homes are on trend and can help you stand out from the crowd if you favor an alternative lifestyle. A tastefully decorated corrugated steel container can showcase your unique style. Additionally, they’re environmentally friendly, as steel is a recyclable material that can last for many years. It’s also much more durable than other cheaper construction materials that are typically used for tiny house building or mobile homes.
However, before you rush to make a decision, there are certain drawbacks to be aware of that are important to consider in advance. Shipping container homes may be cheap to build, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re an easy option. As we outlined above, you’ll still need to go through the same steps as you would for any building project. That said, the building process is typically much faster than for a standard house, and you could have your container home ready in just a few months.
Find Your Perfect Custom Home Builder for Your Shipping Container Home Project
Now that you know a little more about how the shipping container building process works, why not speak to the professionals about your plan? As one of Northwest Indiana’s premier custom home builders, our team at Steiner Homes has extensive experience in helping people like you realize their dream of a custom home build. Whether you ultimately choose a container home or an alternative from a wide range of options, you can depend on our professional contractors and knowledgeable staff to guide you through the process. Feel free to reach out to us today with your questions.
Image by Jed Owen is licensed with Unsplash License
