Cargo containers

[rico304]

Has anyone used cargo conatiners to make a shop? I know several people have them for storage, but was wondering about making a shop out of one.
Some of my questions are:
Are they easy to cut through for windows/doors?
Problems with mold?
Surface to put it on?
What would you do to one to make it a nice workshop?
(I would run power to it and add outlets and lights.)

Any other things you might think of would be helpful.
I saw a post on TBN where two were made into a barn. That was awesome. Maybe down the road some day. any thoughts or pictures would be awesome!
Thanks!

 

[Melensdad]

My contact with cargo containers is limited to our deliveries, but I can tell you they get very hot in the sun. You would want to insulate the top because even in a cool climate they heat up under bright sun and become unbearable to be inside. I'd also suggest good ventilation. Of course in the winter they are very cold, so some sort of insulation will help you both summer and winter.

 

[bczoom]

I caught some info on this on TV awhile back.

This company is making everything, including houses and office buildings out of these containers.

Here is a link to their site. It may provide some info.

Brian

 

[OkeeDon]

I have one I'm using for storage. It was in pretty good condition when I got it, except that it had been banged on one top, outside edge by a fork lift, and there was a small dent and an even smaller tear in the sheet metal. Their repair guy had quit, so I got it for a heavily discounted price. I never bothered to fix the dent and simply stuck some sticky, waterproof metal tape over the tear.

However, after a little over 1 year sitting in the Florida sun, there have been a couple of pin prick holes open up in the roof. This container had been used as a rental for a while, and I can see a dozen or more patches where other pin prick holes have opened up from rust. There are a couple of coats of paint on it, but the spots still appear.

What this means to me is that the metal is pretty thin, has poor primer under the paint, and the alloy of the steel is probably pretty weak and susceptible to rust. I think if I wanted one for a more-or-less permanent structure. and planned to make any kind of investment in it such as insulation and interior improvements, I would definitely plan to over-roof it with some sort of conventional roofing. You wouldn't need trusses; I think you could get by with setting 2x4s on edge across the roof, the sheathing that with OSB and applying some flat roll roofing, especially if you shimmed your joists enough to create a taper in the roof. You could put some foam insulation between the 2x4's and go along way towards keeping the interior cooler.

However, by the time I paid for the container (around here, they're upwards of $3,000 the last time I checked, and all the hurricanes may have driven the prices higher), improved the interior, over-roofed it, leveled it and set it on some kind of foundation (mine is on railroad ties), cut windows and such, and still end up with something that is an odd shape for a shop, I think it might be more effective and almost as cheap to build something from scratch.

 

[rico304]

Thanks for all input so far! That site is great.
I found a place that has the smaller ones (8x8.5x20) for $1995 used. 40'ers are $2895
Another has the same with only 1-2 voyages for $3175/$4100.
I'll have to compare to stickbuilt before I would buy, but this is kind of a neat idea. Any other input is appreciated.
Thanks again!

 

[bczoom]

I'll have to compare to stickbuilt before I would buy, but this is kind of a neat idea. Any other input is appreciated.
Thanks again!

Let us know what you come up with in your comparison.

It's been a couple years, but I stick built a long, narrow building and was able to complete it (but only a stone floor) for about $4 sq/ft.
Here's a couple pics.

 

[OkeeDon]

Nice looking place; and compare that to your 8'x 40', 320 sq. ft., container at around $3,000; almost $10 per sq ft before you ever get started. The containers have the advantage of being quick and easy, and they have a dry, raised floor.

 

[DaveNay]

It's been a couple years, but I stick built a long, narrow building...

First thing I thought on those pictures is that you built a covered firing range.

:14_6_12:

 

[bczoom]

First thing I thought on those pictures is that you built a covered firing range.

Nah, that's what the bunker is for. It's more than double the length.

I had to build it that dimention because of being tight on space being wedged between a creek an steep hill.

 

[nixon]

Brian , Nice job . From looking at the pics, I'm guessing the columns are 4x4 . Right ? As it looks like You took the time to cut the rafter tails, What pitch is the roof ? Did You get Your roofing from a box store ? And lastly how did it affect your property tax? being as it might be considered a permanent structure , I would be interested . Sorry for all the questions . But my 12x12 enclosed wood shed that I built this last summer has proven too be way to small .

 

[Junkman]

Brian has done what I would like to have done, but the tax man in CT looks at that like a big dollar imporvement. They are trying to wring out every last $$$$$ that they can on any imporvements. Even a canvas Cover-It is considered taxable as personal property.

 

[nixon]

Brian has done what I would like to have done, but the tax man in CT looks at that like a big dollar imporvement. .

That's why I asked the question about the taxes .
When I built my house, I hadn't even moved in before the Taxman was out with His Tape to measure the house . When they started to ask questions about things like how many bathrooms, is the basement finished , etc ,can we come in ? My answer was to look at the plans that I'd filed for on the permit .
That is the way it was built .
In hind sight , maybe I should have told them it was 5000 sq ft, 6 baths two gamerooms , etc . I'd have probably gotten my road plowed more often ,and the plow guy wouldn't have taken out the mailbox twice a year

 

[bczoom]

Brian , Nice job . From looking at the pics, I'm guessing the columns are 4x4 . Right ? As it looks like You took the time to cut the rafter tails, What pitch is the roof ? Did You get Your roofing from a box store ? And lastly how did it affect your property tax? being as it might be considered a permanent structure , I would be interested . Sorry for all the questions . But my 12x12 enclosed wood shed that I built this last summer has proven too be way to small .

John,

Yes, the posts are 4x4's, 10' on-center. I made it into 5 bays.
The roof pitch is either 1/12 or 2/12. I honestly don't recall.
I got the roofing from Flexospan in Sandy Lake (up your way). They had some "seconds" but I honestly couldn't see/find anything wrong with them. I got them for about $15 each (3x12') which is about 1/2 price.
The exterior is hardy-panel.
3 sides are walled in. On the 4th side, there's 5 open bays. I only have canvas tarps on that side that roll up when I need access.
My property taxes went up approx. $15 per year.

I also have a 12x24 wood shed and a canvas carport for wood overflow (pic attached).

 

[Doc]

Brian, that wood sure did overflow. Doesn't seem like you'll need to use much of that wood this year with all the warm weather. But if you plan to heat your bunker with wood, that much might last you a week or two.

 

[bczoom]

Brian, that wood sure did overflow.

That 10x50' building I posted pics of yesterday was supposed to be my woodshed but "stuff" got in there first. The woodshed/overflow shed isn't even all the firewood I have cut/stacked. I normally have enough firewood to completely fill that 10x50' (20+ cord).

 

[BoneheadNW]

Brian, how much wood do you go through a year? Does the wood on the bottom ever get so old that it rots? How do you rotate the wood in a pile that big?
Bonehead

 

[bczoom]

Rico,

We've drifted off your thread. Let me know if you want me to split this thread and talk about wood & woodsheds in a different thread.

Brian, how much wood do you go through a year? Does the wood on the bottom ever get so old that it rots? How do you rotate the wood in a pile that big?
Bonehead

It varies a bit (like this winter is way down) but in general I burn about 5 or 6 cord (128 cu/ft each) per year.

In the primary wood shed (next to the carport thingy), there's a partition in the middle. This makes it whereby I use 1 side/year and then use the other side the following year.

The wood doesn't rot, but I try to separate my wood by type and burn the stuff with the shorter "shelf life" first.

For the types of wood I have, I try to burn on this schedule:
Poplar/Aspen - it goes on the bonfire... It's not worth the time.
Maple - 1-2 years
Cherry - 2-3 years
Oak & Ash - last forever...

 

[rico304]

bczoom, this is just as interesting to me as the cargo container. I say run with it. You have some great pictures there. When I was a kid we used to cut 4 cords of wood each year. I thought that was a lot. Boy was I wrong.
I have an idea, maybe if we take a cargo container and make a big wood furnace out of it.............. and cut about 75 cord each year.... .... ..........or not.