Why are Shipping Containers Becoming Popular to Build Homes, Offices and Shops

So many reasons to chose a shipping container build!

• Structural integrity: Shipping containers are manufactured from 16 gauge Corten steel making them incredibly tough, wind and watertight, and stackable. Corten steel is also known as weathering steel, as it contains protective elements against harsh outdoor environmental conditions. Well-known and impressive structures made from Corten steel include the statue Angel of the North, Broadcasting Tower in Leeds and the Chicago Picasso sculpture. So our shipping containers are in great company!



• Cost-effectiveness: Compared to building from scratch, using shipping containers can significantly lower the over-all costs. Combined with using readily available, largely recycled materials and a faster construction time, your wallet can survive the costs of a new venue for your business or pleasure.



• Flexibility: Did you know that the design and construction of a shipping container build is as variable as the British weather? The metal box foundation can give rise to a multitude of different sizes, layouts and applications. Beyond their storage capacity a wide-range of modifications can be made both inside and out, meaning every container conversion is purpose built for the end user. A small selection of end-products displayed here spotlight some of the most popular uses of shipping container redevelopments:
  
  Portable offices - Home offices for the garden, or site offices.
  
  Pop-up shops and food stalls - from individual units to malls like Boxpark. Did you know that shipping containers can be modified to include serving hatches and patio style doors.
  
  Mobile homes - shipping containers can be stacked or joined together to create as much space as your living accommodation requires.



• Portability: Shipping containers are designed for all modes of transport - sea, rail and road, which means they can be easily moved to different locations. For a small pop-up business this is handy to take on the road to capitalise on trade at festivals, shows and markets and more.



• Sustainability: Repurposing shipping containers to create new buildings is eco-friendly and keeps our carbon footprint low - by sustaining existing materials the need for new building materials is reduced.



• Security: We've already discussed the cockroach like nature of the shipping container - that steel outer shell not only protects against rough-handling and wear and tear, it also makes them an unlikely target for thieves and and vandals.



• Uniqueness: A shipping container conversion is one of a kind! Doing business from a shipping container creates curiosity and interest, even becoming a talking point, especially in retail and catering. The human eye will always be drawn to differences and novelty and a shipping container building stands out from the bricks and mortar kind we've become accustomed to. Additional modifications such as wood cladding, patio doors and even a roof platform can leave people astounded that your building came from a simple metal box!

What goes into popular shipping container builds?