Shipping container homes

[Impureclient]

This is so off topic and kind of a new thing, I don't know if anybody will have anything to bring to the table here but let's see. I am thinking about making a couple of these.
I found general information but does anybody here have direct experience with these? Or maybe even seen one up close and asked any questions of the owner?

[Tectoniic]

This was a cool read and some of them mention mistakes/what they would have done differently

http://www.containerhomeplans.org/20...ontainer-home/

[Tectoniic]

now i'm on a roll, this is some cool stuff. Some duplicates from the last article but this is really making me want to do this later in life.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/fi...iner-homes/#/7

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

This is so off topic and kind of a new thing, I don't know if anybody will have anything to bring to the table here but let's see. I am thinking about making a couple of these.
I found general information but does anybody here have direct experience with these? Or maybe even seen one up close and asked any questions of the owner?

Had to look up what you were talking about. Can't help but will say there is probably no place in Canada (south of Hudson Bay at any rate)that those would meet building codes or permit requirements. I would check your local codes before I put much effort into it. Some looked pretty cool though.

[Tcoat]

Not sure if this guy was saving money on paint or bragging with horrible grammar.

[Leonardo]

I have stayed in one in Costa Rica. It was a shack. Been in a few in Hawaii that were nice. They stack well, which gets you off the jungle floor. They are narrow, with work you can open them up. Think of them as a skeleton...

[Ultramaroon]

I fail to understand the advantage. By the time you're finished it would be just as expensive as a traditional home but with all the luxury of a shipping container.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I fail to understand the advantage. By the time you're finished it would be just as expensive as a traditional home but with all the luxury of a shipping container.

Well if you suddenly had to send all your stuff overseas...

[Impureclient]

http://residentialshippingcontainerprimer.com/
This site really has some good info. One huge thing I learned from a lot of container home owners is definitely buy a one-trip container. That is basically a one time use container that is "new" instead of one that is all dented, rusted, etc that needs work done to it. The one-trip ones are a little more but worth it.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I fail to understand the advantage.

I think it is cheaper if done correctly. Some people said they saved nothing over a normal construction since they winged it. I think they would be more durable. Apparently they are considered a shed with no permitting or hassle if small enough. Built off site and transported to the land is recommended.

Originally Posted by Tectoniic

now i'm on a roll, this is some cool stuff. Some duplicates from the last article but this is really making me want to do this later in life.http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/fi...iner-homes/#/7

I came across those and a couple sites do duplicate some material. I don't think I qualify as "later in life" but I really think this is neat way to get a lego-like thing going that could be added onto very easily.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I would check your local codes before I put much effort into it.

Yeah, I am looking at the land and when I narrow it down I will call and ask what's what since these are somewhat a new thing. I think it's basically the same rules as a trailer though.

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I have stayed in one in Costa Rica. It was a shack. Been in a few in Hawaii that were nice.

Anything negative like noisy inside or things that you would changed to make it better? Some couple made one and said something about wind noise but they fized it with more vegetation surrounding the unit.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I fail to understand the advantage.

The main advantage for me is convenience. I want out of Florida bad and want to move to North Carolina. My house is paid off and I'm just waiting for my son to graduate. It seems it will be better to rent this FL home out and use that to pay any bills I have for the rest of my life. I'd have to get a pile of money saved to get a normal house in N.C. which will take a while and I do not like having a mortgage and definitely don't want to stay here any longer than I have to. I'm literally willing to live in a hole in the ground and cover it with some leaves and be there than be here in FL in a paid off home.

I'm going to buy my N.C. land and while I save up some more money in the meantime, I will buy a 20 ft small one and put it in my back yard to work on here and there. There I can build it to my specs and when done, just deliver it to the site. That one will be like a temporary spot to live while building on site a larger complex one. Then several more like the first smaller one can be made and set up like a rental camp site away from my main home. So a bunch of small income producing rentals easily and cheaply made to make retirement that much easier. I think college kids would rent these things out in a hearbeat or maybe just keep it vacationers who want an upgrade from a tent or log cabin.

[Ultramaroon]

My stepdad did the same thing with a double wide mobile home up in the mountains south of Tijeras NM. He modded it out so much that it bore little resemblance the original structure.

edit: oops, took too long to post.
Not the same but I mean he started with a basic shell and built it out. Take a look at an inexpensive mobile home. No harm in considering it.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I fail to understand the advantage. By the time you're finished it would be just as expensive as a traditional home but with all the luxury of a shipping container.

Well, I can just see me approaching mrs humfrz and saying "guess what, sweet pea, I have this idea for our retirement home ........ ".




humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, I can just see me approaching mrs humfrz and saying "guess what, sweet pea, I have this idea for our retirement home ........ ".




humfrz

Show her a dumpster first and then say you decided to upgrade.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, I can just see me approaching mrs humfrz and saying "guess what, sweet pea, I have this idea for our retirement home ........ ".




humfrz

You just start with inside pictures first:


From the outside, some of them are a bit weird but then you tell her "Honey, it's what is on the inside that counts."