Converting a shipping container

kacy5, Jun 5, 6:18pm
I have seen some lovely ones on Google. I watched one today about a couple in Hawkes Bay who converted two into a lovely home. He was an engineer and talked about insulating it but I can't remember much about that side nor how I found it.

daves, Jun 5, 6:23pm

kacy5, Jun 5, 7:34pm
That's the one, turned it into a beautiful home.

peacebird15, Jun 5, 9:04pm
With shipping containers its all to easy to screw it up and end up with a moisture trap due to the steel attracting condensation. I have seen some that ended up being terrible

Be very careful and thorough with your lining and venting

tegretol, Jun 6, 6:03am
Yep venting is the important part - make sure it's at least 200mm off the ground and install an air extractor to pull out condensation from humans.

What's your local council like about the idea? - it's totally disallowed around the Nelson area.

budgel, Jun 6, 10:07am
Another thing to remember is that they need a proper roof, the top of the container is not going to last long.
I think they can offer a relatively quick way to get shelter, but the container is very much just the starting point.

trade4us2, Jun 6, 11:14am
I think people are better to build a small wooden framed house and clad it in corrugated steel.

golfdiver, Jun 6, 12:20pm
Yes but op already has a shipping container on site. I've seen a few rust and leak throughout the top. I've put a few small roofs on them which seems to work

tweake, Jun 6, 12:57pm
roofs on top of shipping containers helps a lot.

as mentioned they need well designed moisture control in them. otherwise they just sweat and everything goes moldy quick. you do not want walls and insulation becoming a trap for water.

elect70, Jun 6, 2:46pm
Buy an ex reefer container already got urethane insulation & fibreglass liner . just paint it . Idid a few as sleepouts& temp offices even built few
as lunch bars for construction sites . ( no cooking ) .Just take doors off & frame it for an opening dor . Must open outwards & if its only egress then it has to be a crash bar door

sky44, Jun 6, 3:41pm

dibble35, Nov 3, 6:42am
Wooden floors on them may have lots of spray/fumigation chemicals in them. My boss converted a few into a shop, lunchroom and an office for his business. He's put a roof over the shop. still waiting for a roof over the lunchroom and office. Costs a lot to paint them,(special paint) and cut the windows and doors out of them. and we are still having leaks around a window or 2.