Stacking multiple shipping containers on top of each other is a great way to achieve a nice two-floor design, but you may want to consider some of the following before going to work. Shipping containers can be made into a variety of designs, including spacious two-story set ups. Some people may think that living in a shipping container means that you have to settle for a specific type of house, but that simply isn’t the case. 25 Two-story Shipping Container HomesĪnother one of the best things about shipping container homes is that they can be very versatile.

This is something you’ll definitely want to keep in mind as you begin the hunt for the perfect shipping container. Some shipping containers may contain lead or other harmful chemicals. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re all safe to use. According to container home plans, “It’s important you’re aware that a building permit is required because a permit can take time to be approved so you need to make sure this time is properly budgeted for in your construction plans…Some areas in the US are known as ‘outside of city zoning’ this means your land lies outside of the building permit regulations so you can build there without a permit.”įinding suitable materials – As mentioned earlier, there are lots of unused shipping containers out there. However, this can be even more true for shipping container homes. That doesn’t mean that all hope is lost though, just make sure your open and up front about what you’re looking for when you do find someone to work with.īuilding codes – No matter what type of home you’re looking to build, building codes and local requirements can always be a pain. Unfortunately, however, finding a builder who is skilled and educated on shipping container homes can be a bit of a challenge since the idea of these homes is still relatively new. Controlling the temperature inside of shipping container homes can be pretty difficult because the metal walls make the structure susceptible to drastic changes in temperature.įinding a suitable builder can be difficult – Sure, you could build a shipping container home on your own if you’re so inclined, but for most people, that’s out of the question. Not good for extreme temperatures – If you live in a place with extremely hot or cold weather, you might want to cross shipping container homes off your list. However, keep in mind that there are some people who advise against using old shipping containers. This means that there are countless shipping containers out there just waiting to be turned into beautiful homes. There are millions of shipping containers that have been discarded, with not even half of them currently in use. Reusing old shipping containers helps cut down on the amount of energy that would need to be used in order to melt them down. Those who love hands on work will definitely find this to be appealing.Įco-friendly – This is definitely the thing that draws most people to shipping container homes. If you’re up for the challenge, you may even find that you’re able to build a shipping container home by yourself. Because the containers already come as a unit, constructing them into a house can be done relatively quickly.

Quick construction – If you’re pressed for time, shipping container homes will definitely appeal to you. Almost all the structural work associated with building a home falls away when using shipping containers, and even people with no architectural training can build a home for themselves using them.” Shipping containers can also be obtained very cheaply, sometimes even for free. According to Jetson Green, “Shipping containers are already the perfect shape to be repurposed into homes, so a home built out of them is much cheaper than a same sized home built the traditional way. For those who stay away from home ownership because of the cost, this is a huge plus. ProsĬost effective – Who doesn’t love saving money? The good news is that shipping containers tend to be a lot less expensive than traditional homes. Take a look at some of the pros and cons of shipping container homes. With the housing market continuing to struggle, and home ownership hitting record lows, it’s always nice to explore your options. However, as with anything else, education is key and learning more about shipping container homes may help you come to a better conclusion about whether or not they could be suitable for your needs. After all, if someone recommended that I live in a shipping container, I would probably be a little skeptical.

But as popular as these unique houses are, there are still lots of people who don’t understand the hype.

Although there was once a time when shipping containers were nothing more than containers to ship things in, these days they are places that people can actually call home. Over the last few years, shipping container homes have become a very popular concept.

Crazy container homes