Why Are Shipping Container Homes So Popular?

For decades,the shipping container has been an integral part of the shipping industry, providing an efficient and convenient way of transporting cargo both inland and overseas.

To carry out its duties effectively, the container hard to be made tough – durable and resilient enough to combat the elements and harsh conditions out at sea. Having already conquered the seas, these versatile metal boxes are now gaining popularity in an entirely different industry; home construction.

It’s now commonplace all over the world to see shipping containers being converted into homes in all buyer segments from ‘budget’ all the way to the ‘luxury’ segment. Shipping container housing is popular with both the budget conscious would-be homeowner as well as those with a little more to spend.

There are several reasons why shipping containers have become very popular and quite commonplace in Australia as well as other parts of the world. Here are the five main reasons why:

1. They are affordable. While shipping container homes are popular with both the budget-conscious as well as the well-heeled, both buyers will find that shipping container homes offer significant cost savings when compared to traditional-style houses. And who doesn’t want to save some cash?

A home constructed using shipping containers can end up costing between 30-50% cheaper than a comparable home made using traditional construction materials. The cost savings make building homes with shipping containers a compelling alternative for any person looking to own a home.

2. Containers are widely available. Because shipping containers are widely used in shipping cargo all over the world, it’s easy to find shipping containers for sale at reasonable prices everywhere. In fact, once shipping containers have been retired from shipping – some of which are retired after only being used for a single trip – they’re made available for sale to anyone who wants one.

These used shipping containers are available at competitive prices in yards and deports nationwide. With a few thousand dollars, you can have a shipping container in near-pristine condition delivered to your doorstep ready for converting into a home.

3. Quick builds. Unlike traditional houses, which need majority of the work to be carried out on-site, shipping container homes can be prefabricated off-site and then delivered ready for assembly at the location. Each container component of the house can be prepared as a single module in a remote workshop before all the modules are assembled on-site.

Once all the modules have been delivered to the site, all that needs to be done is to weld the different parts of the house together and make the finishing touches. A complete family house build using shipping containers can be completed – start to finish – in just a couple of weeks as compared to the months it would take to complete a traditional-style house.

4. Uniqueness. Most houses are generally the same – plain and boring. There’s nothing wrong with this, after all these plain houses do perform their function, but if you want to stand out; the ordinary house will not work for you. You could use a more elaborate architectural design, but that will leave a big hole in your bank account. Shipping container homes offer uniqueness without the premium.

While popular, shipping containers are still not as common as the normal run-off-the-mill home. This makes shipping container homes the perfect solution for that person looking for a unique-style home that doesn’t just ‘fit-in’ with the rest. So, if you’d rather stand-out than fit-in, then shipping containers offer a viable alternative.

5. Durability. Shipping containers need to be able to withstand rough handling, tough sea conditions as well as the weather elements while on duty as cargo carriers. For this reason, cargo containers are made tough and study which makes them extremely durable.

As such, home buyers who choose to build their homes using shipping containers can expect their home to have a lifespan comparable to that of a normal house. When properly maintained, a shipping container house will last just as long as a traditional house.

Moreover, shipping container homes can be easily designed to be storm and earthquake proof thanks to the robust nature of the shipping container.

Additionally, reusing old shipping containers to construct houses is good for the environment as it ensures that resources don’t go waste. That’s because if not upcycled/recycled, most of the containers sold after their use for shipping would end up being abandoned or destroyed – an inefficient way of using resources.

It is for these five main reasons – affordability, availability, fast construction, uniqueness, and durability – that shipping containers have become a popular choice for many people globally looking to build a home. If you’re in the market for a home, shipping containers offer a compelling alternative in terms of price and value. And what’s more, you get to help conserve the environment as well.