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| The Jones-Glotfelty shipping container house in Flagstaff, Arizona. |
The Ultimate Downsize:
Living in a Shipping Container Home
From the basic to the
lavish, the containers offer the benefit of a ready-made shell, but they can
lead to confusion over what is necessary and allowable from site to site
BY CARRIE WHITNEY, PH.D.
Whether
they stir up childhood memories of the Boxcar Children or look like the coolest
answer to today's microhousing movement, shipping container homes combine
innovation and durability in one self-contained package.
In
any configuration, a shipping container home is just what it sounds like – a
dwelling made from a steel container otherwise used for shipping.
From
the basic to the lavish, the containers offer the benefit of a ready-made
shell, but they can lead to confusion over what is necessary and allowable from
site to site.
In
addition to learning more than you probably want to know about local building
regulations, you will need to start by selecting a container or containers from
which to build your home.
How
to Choose a Shipping Container
There
are two basic shipping container sizes to choose from – 20 by 8 feet (6 meters
by 2.4 feet) and 40 by 8 feet (12 meters by 2.4 feet), which provide 160 and
320 square feet (15 and 30 square meters) of space respectively.
Regular
containers have a height of 8.5 feet (2.5 meters), but a high cube offers 9.6
feet (3 meters).
While
it is more expensive, a high cube may be worth the extra cost – adding
necessities like insulation and plumbing takes away some height.
Pay
special attention to the condition of the container, which may have been
anywhere in the world while it was being used for its primary purpose.
The
Tiny Life blog suggests power washing the inside of your container in case it
had been used to transport produce.
Accounting
for a container's global travels could also mean that it has come in contact
with harmful materials, according to designer Ben Uyeda, who built a shipping
container home in California.
That
has led some states, like California, to restrict the types of containers than
can be used for dwellings.
How
Much Does a Shipping Container House Cost?
"The first consideration is, where do you
live," Uyeda explains.
In
California, all units used for dwellings must be first-run or one-trip
containers, and all trips must be documented.
Depending
on the regulations in your area, you may be able to purchase a cheap, used
container on eBay or Craigslist for around $1,000.
But
you might be better off, or even required, to get one that is new or has made
just one documented journey.
Uyeda
got his 40-foot high (12-meter high) cubes from ContainerDiscounts.com for less
than $5,000 each.
There
are many container brokers in business, and he suggests finding one that is
reputable, willing to deal with individuals and able to ship the container to
your site.
While
the one-container prefab or DIY homes might carry a small price tag, there is
no limit to the upward end of the range.
Placing
containers side by side and stacking them allows for spacious, high-end homes
that are one of a kind – although they might come with cellphone and Wifi
issues thanks to the steel frame.
Are
Special Permits Needed for a Container Home?
When
it comes to obtaining the proper permits to build your container home, know
that locations throughout the U.S. and the world have significantly different
requirements.
In
fact, you should find out about local regulations before you even order your
container.
While
the containers are relatively inexpensive, building regulations can add cost to
your home, change your plan or make it altogether impossible. Not every
location allows for this type of dwelling.
You
need to consider zoning laws, building codes, permits, deed restrictions and
homeowner association rules, according to the Discover Containers website.
These
can get specific. For example, in Atlanta, buildings under 750 square feet (70
square meters) are permitted behind a primary residence, but if they have a
stove and are intended for long-term tenants, more than 90 days, they are only
allowed in certain zoning districts.
In
any city, container homes must also meet building codes.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), "Shipping containers that are converted into housing
units are subject to state and local building codes like modular and site-built
homes."
Uyeda
recommends visiting your local building department and explaining what you want
to build so that you will know whether and how to proceed.
Although
any professional architecture or engineering firm should be able to do the
necessary research to sign off, because the structure may be unusual, it could
cause you to rack up time at an hourly rate.
Approval
from the structural engineer ran Uyeda around $8,000, but he estimates the
stamp on a traditional home would have been closer to $1,500.
What
to Know Before You Build a Container Home
With
your shipping container on its way and permits in hand, you are ready to start
putting your new home together.
Rather
than doing the work yourself, you could buy a completed container home from a
builder. These units can start at $35,000 to $40,000 depending on size.
If
you go the ready-made route, Uyeda cautions to make sure the builder
understands the local codes in your area.
Find
out what is included in the quote – the foundation, hooking up the plumbing and
electric, delivery and other aspects.
"Just make sure you are getting accurate, binding
quotes that are all inclusive,"
he says. "There is no nationwide building solution. Be very skeptical
of Amazon sellers that sell those. Use common sense."
Next,
pay close attention to the delivery and placement of your container. If your
home will be located in a remote area, make sure the roads are good enough for
a big truck to get through.
If
your foundation is not ready or you do not get the container placed precisely
and have to move it later, you will need to rent a crane.
If
you are doing the build-out, you will need to open spaces in the steel for
windows and doors, which means welding.
Nevertheless,
Uyeda says a container home can be a good option for people who want to build
their own living space but do not have a lot of construction experience.
Instead
of having to worry about getting corners straight, you start with the box and
can treat it like a remodeling project from there.
"Learning to weld isn't that difficult," he says. In fact, because the exterior walls are
already in place, building a container home with just a couple of people is
doable.
It
took his small crew less than 20 weeks to construct a three-container house.
NOW
THAT'S DISAPPOINTING
It
may seem like container homes offer the ultimate in recycling, but in states
where containers must be new or one-trip units, building a home in a container
actually takes it out of its intended purpose, thus negating the recycling
benefit.
Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Carrie Whitney is an
Atlanta-based writer with a love of all things design, particularly tile. In
addition to being willing to cover any topic that sparks her interest, she has
spent many years zeroing in on home improvement and currently serves as the
newsletter editor for Kitchen & Bath Business magazine. Although she’s
never tackled a renovation of her own, she’s pretty handy with a paintbrush.
Carrie earned a B.A. in
journalism from Georgia State University, then an M.A. in anthropology and a
Ph.D. in history. Along the way, she picked up a B.A. in French literature and
remains a devoted Francophile (allez les Bleus!). In addition to writing, she
teaches in the department of communication at her alma mater and tries to keep
up with the latest trends in social media.
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