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What is a One Trip Shipping Container?

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 04:17:24 GMT

In essence, it is the newest shipping container you can purchase in the United States and has been used one time to transport cargo. In most cases, it arrives from Asia to the United States with cargo, is unloaded, and then sold.

What are the benefits of a One Trip Shipping Container?

The benefits are:
- You are buying a shipping container that will be as close to brand new as you can buy in the United States
- It will have great floors
- It will have great working doors
- An exterior with very little damage

What do they cost?

From a port city you are looking at around $2,300-$3,000.

What color are they?

Typically they will be in a tan, grey, eggshell, or white color.

Are they worth it?

I say yes if you are looking for a long term investment.

A one trip container will be in excellent condition and have perfectly working doors, amazing floors and very little exterior damage. Most other containers you buy on the aftermarket (WWT, CW, As Is) have been used by a steamship lines for years and have considerable damage in terms of dings, dents and the container killer- rust. They offer a savings but will require some work, maintenance and restoration.

What size do they come in?

Typically you will purchase a one trip in one of two sizes- 20' or 40'.

The specs are below:

20' One Trip Shipping Container Specs

Exterior:

Length: 19 ft 10.5 in (6.058 m)
Width: 8ft (2.44m)
Height: 8ft 6in (2.6m)

Interior:

Length: 19 ft 3 in (5.867 m)
Width: 7 ft 8 19⁄32 in (2.352 m)
Height: 7 ft 9 57⁄64 in (2.385 m)

Door Opening

Width: 7 ft 8 1⁄8 in (2.340 m)
Height: 7 ft 5 3⁄4 in (2.280 m)

Internal Volume:

Volume: 1,169 cu ft (33.1 m3)

40' One Trip Shipping Container Specs:

Exterior:

Length: 40 ft 0 in (12.192 m)
Width: 8 ft 0 in (2.438 m)
Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m)

Interior:

Length: 39 ft 5 45⁄64 in (12.032 m)
Width: 7 ft 8 19⁄32 in (2.352 m)
Height: 7 ft 9 57⁄64 in (2.385 m)

Door Opening

Width: 7 ft 8 1⁄8 in (2.340 m)
Height: 7 ft 5 3⁄4 in (2.280 m)

Internal Volume:

Volume: 2,385 cu ft (67.5 m3)

What does a One Trip Shipping Container look like?

Other useful articles:

Should I Buy a WWT Shipping Container or a Cargo Worthy Shipping Container?
WWT Container- Wind & Watertight Cargo Container Information
How to Transport a Shipping Container?

A Guide to Buying a Shipping Container

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:34:22 GMT

You Want to Buy a Shipping Container, But Have No Clue Where?

I wrote this blog to give you a number of places to start your search for your future shipping container.

5 Places to Buy:

1) Online Re-sellers/Brokers
2) Directly from the Port
3) Online Marketplaces- Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay
4) Local Shipping Container Companies
4) Auctions/Liquidation Site

Online Re-sellers and Brokers

Lets start with re-sellers and brokers.

The experience

You will most likely find brokers and re-sellers if you make an online search.

For example, if you Google- "shipping containers for sale," you will find ads and websites listed for a number of re-sellers and brokers. Odds are you will be asked to fill out an online form or call a 1 (800) number.

When you reach a sales agent they will attempt to sell you a container based on your needs. They may class them as WWT (wind and water tight), CW (cargo worthy), One Trip, or as is (to learn about these click to read our blog here ).

Pros and Cons

The advantage of brokers and re-sellers are that they are quick and easy and will typically quote you with delivery to your door. The disadvantage is you have to deal with salespeople (if you consider this a disadvantage), there is typically a mark up in price, and you normally do not get to see the container you are purchasing before it arrives. They may give you the option to pick-up at the port, and this may be a question worth asking when negotiating price.

Directly from the Port

Another option when purchasing a shipping container is buying it directly from the port.

The experience

Here you would need to contact a shipping container depot (click here to learn what a shipping container depot is) and find a way reach their sales department.

You can do this with a google search (google search- container depot and the port city- ie container depot Oakland) and a brief scour of the internet, to locate the closest container depot to the port you would like to pick up from. Once you reach them via phone or email, you would ask them the cost for a used and or new container.

Pros and Cons

The advantage of buying directly from the depot is you may be able to buy at a lower price (however, in some cases their rates are similar to the re-sellers or brokers who typically also buy from them) and you may be able to see the shipping container you are purchasing before you buy it. In some cases, they may also be able and willing to make alterations to the container for you- add windows, doors, paint etc...

A disadvantage would be that you are most likely going to have to find a way to transport the shipping container on your own and you may have to contact multiple depots before you find the price you like. For ideas on ways to do this you can click here to read another article we have published.

Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces often make a nice outlet to purchase a shipping container locally.

The experience

Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, and a number of others give you the ability to search for shipping containers within their platform. Once you log on to their app or website, you would search shipping container. You will find a number of ads for shipping containers near you.

Pros and Cons

The advantage is that the shipping containers are usually local, you have access to view them via pictures or in person, and they offer a number of price points depending on how badly someone wants to get rid of it. In some cases you can find a gem for a killer deal from someone local who wants to get a container off their hands.

The disadvantage is you still have to figure out the delivery end of things and you never really know who you are dealing with as these sites are forums for third parties to exchange goods. In addition, you may still run into a number of brokers and re-sellers who use these platforms to find clients online.

Local Shipping Container Companies

These companies can usually be identified by searching online.

The experience

You may need to do some digging online to sort them out from the online brokers and re-sellers who advertise online but they offer a physical inventory in a yard that you can visit and view your future shipping container.

Pros and Cons

The advantage here is you are supporting local business, you will most likely get to see, touch and feel the shipping container you are buying, and they usually have a delivery truck or partner for transport your container to your door. The often also offer alterations that can be made if you are looking for a customer container.

The disadvantage is there is typically a mark up in cost as they need to pay for their overhead.

Auctions/Liquidation Sites

Local auction companies and online liquidation sites often also sell shipping containers.

The experience

You may need to do some web searching to find Government Auctions sites and local auction companies but they often sell shipping containers which can go for a steep discount.

Pros and Cons

The big advantage here is you can find a killer deal and the excitement that comes from buying something in an auction format.

The disadvantage is it will take some digging to find an auction or shipping container that is being sold near you.

We hope this article helps you to find you next shipping container!

Below are a few pictures of the three most common types of containers you will buy on the market:

Wind and Watertight (WWT) shipping container
Cargo Worthy (CW) shipping container
One Trip shipping container

These will help you get a sense of what you may be purchasing online.

The 16 Types of Cargo Containers

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The purpose of this blog is to give you an overview of the 16 types of cargo containers. I will list each type below along with a picture of the cargo container type. I found this information on a YouTube video published by MarineInsight. I have also placed the full video below for your viewing pleasure.

1) Dry Storage Cargo Container - these are the most common type of cargo containers. They typically come in sizes of 8x10, 8x20, or 8x40 cargo containers. They are graded based on a number of classes such as- as is, wind and watertight, cargo worthy and one trip containers.

2) Flat Rack Containers - these are similar to dry cargo containers, but have collapsible sides.

3) Open Top Containers - these cargo containers have an open top that can be removed.

4) Tunnel Containers - these cargo containers have doors on both ends.

5) Open Side Cargo Containers - these cargo containers have doors on their side that allow them to open wider for the loading of larger materials.

6) Double Door Cargo Containers - these cargo container have double doors. One on the side for larger material loading, and another door on the end. They typically come in sizes of 8x20 and 8x40 cargo containers.

7) Refrigerated Cargo Containers - these cargo containers are used for the refrigerated transport of goods.

8) Insulated Cargo Containers - these cargo containers come with regulated temperature control.

9) Tanks - these cargo containers are used for the transport of liquids.

10) Cargo Storage Roll Container - these cargo containers are foldable and are typically used for stacking material.

11) Half Height Cargo Containers - these cargo containers are half the height of a standard dry cargo container. They are useful for the loading of material.

12) Car Carrier Cargo Containers - these cargo containers are made specifically for transporting automobiles.

13) Intermediate Bulk Shift Cargo Containers - these cargo containers are made specifically for the intermediate transport of goods.

14) Drums - these circular cargo containers are typically used to transport liquids.

15) Swap Bodies - these cargo containers are custom made and are typically used to transport weapons.

16) Swap Bodies - these cargo containers typically have a strong bottom and a convertible top. They are used primarily in Europe.

We hoped you enjoyed this breakdown of the 16 types of cargo containers. To visit Marine Insights website click here . The full video I found on YouTube is below and runs about two and a half minutes.

How Architects Built a 16 Cargo Container Apartment Complex in Phoenix, AZ

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

We love all things about cargo containers at CargoContainerBroker.com, especially inspiring stories about how people think outside of the box to use a container. When I came across this story on YouTube, I knew I had to share it.

The story highlights two architects (Brian Stark and Wesley James) in Phoenix, Arizona who used 16 cargo containers to build an 8 room apartment complex. They self financed this project and it was the first of its kind in the Western United States.

When you view the video you will see how amazing these 740 square feet apartments look. The apartments are equipped with plumbing and measure up to all building codes. The steel apartments also offer a unique way to keep the rooms cool in the penetrating Phoenix sun, as steel releases heat a lot faster than wood or stucco.

Being constructed out of steel you can imagine that the structure is incredibly strong. The containers provide a waterproof structure and an almost impenetrable enclosure. By using a cargo container you are also purchasing the enclosure and structure in one, which in high priced real estate markets can prove advantageous to an investor. The structure was built based on international building code and offers residents a unique vibe to lay their head.

We hope you love this story as much as we do! The video is roughly fourteen and a half minutes and was published by Kirsten Dirksen.

How Cargo Containers Are Made

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered how cargo containers were built? These steel boxes are used all over the world for trade, transport, and storage. More recently they are being utilized for cargo homes and underground bunkers. We found a video on YouTube that takes the viewer through the process of how containers are built. The video was created by BigSteelBoxTV and runs about nine and a half minutes. Viewing it will give you an insight into the whole manufacturing process from start to finish. It features a manufacturer in China and we thought it was both educational and eye opening. Enjoy!

Upcycling- Reusing Shipping Containers for Artwork?

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 04:53:33 GMT

An Awesome Compilation of Shipping Container Artwork

I really love this new trend of utilizing shipping containers to express art.

I was inspired after reviewing a number of container based art projects, to put together a compilation of the brilliance behind this trend.

I admire the imagination that was used by the artists and applaud them all.

The thing I love most about shipping container art is that it is a super creative use for the large number of shipping containers that rest unused and abandoned in Container Depots ( click to view an old blog on what a container depot is) throughout the United States.

Why not use these boxes to express creativity and to brighten someone else's day.

I hope you enjoy the video and dream on!

Shipping Container Restaurant Modification Compilation

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 05:30:46 GMT

A Compilation of Pictures of Amazing Shipping Container Restaurant Modifications

Shipping Containers make excellent building blocks.

A recent trend has many entrepreneurs and large corporations utilizing shipping containers for restaurant locations.

From Chick-fil-a to Starbucks the environmental and structural advantage of using shipping containers is huge.

I personally hope to see more people utilize this idea.

Enjoy the video we made, along with the individual pictures below!

WWT Container- Wind & Watertight Cargo Container Information

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most frustrating things about purchasing a cargo container is the fact that most brokers or container companies will not allow you to see the actual container you are purchasing.

Meaning that you, the consumer, has to rely on classes or a rating system to base your purchasing decision. Which to me, was always scary as a cargo container is a nice sized investment as they run a few thousand dollars.

The purpose of this blog is to provide you with some insight into what a wwt (wind & watertight) cargo container is.

The easiest definition is that it is a cargo container that is literally wind and watertight. Meaning that if you were to step inside of the container and close the doors you should not see any light peering through. If you purchase one of these containers you should expect it to have minor to medium rust spots and dents throughout. The door should operate just fine, but may not open without some resistance (a little WD-40 usually solves this issue).

These cargo containers have been retired from the steamship lines and are not guaranteed to have a solid understructure, which is why they are not seaworthy (meaning they cannot be stacked, so they are not safe to carry cargo on the open water).

With this said, if cosmetics are not an issue and the primary use of the cargo container are for storage, a wind & watertight (wwt) cargo container could be the perfect solution for you. They are usually less expensive than a cargo worthy or one trip container and will be perfect to store your good.

Summary:

Wind & Watertight Container Common uses: Storage
Wind & Watertight Container Common sizes: 8x20, 8x40 and 8x45
What to expect with a Wind and Watertight Container: Minor to medium rust spots, dents and dings around the box and no guarantee to the strength of the understructure. The doors should function, but may not be super smooth.

I created the summary below in case you are dealing with a company/broker that uses an A,B,C Grading system:

Shipping Container Mansion in the Mojave Desert

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:10:21 GMT

An Amazing Architectural Beauty known as Tim Palen Studio at Shadow Mountain by ecotechbuild

I found this amazing shipping container mansion while cruising the web.

It is absolutely stunning and I can in no way describe this amazing piece of shipping container art.

All I can do is share with you the pictures that are credited to Jack Parsons, and repeat the words from the ecotechdesign .

They describe it as below:

A prototype hybrid house, also known as the Tim Palen Studio at Shadow Mountain is the first repurposed container home permitted and built in the Mojave Desert. Based on the fuel-efficient Prius automobile engineering concept, the residence combines the energy and production efficiencies of diverse pre-engineered building and energy systems working together seamlessly to produce a smooth-running hybrid green machine for living.

The residence is a prototype of 2nd generation pre-fab design and a kit-like housing product developed by ecotechbuild , the design-build subsidiary of ecotechdesign . It is constructed from 5-20′ long recycled cargo containers that were fabricated and finished in Los Angeles and then shipped to the site where they were erected and stacked 2 high in 15 minutes each. All site work, including foundations and utility placement was constructed at the remote desert site during container fabrication in Los Angeles.

The residence is the 1 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath, 2 story model hybridhouse_1 design that has been adapted for a media client who required a separate photo studio and storage building. The studio is constructed of a Butler pre-engineered steel building with plug-in cargo container storage. It is naturally daylite with 22″ dia. Solutubes, which can be manually controlled and temperature balanced using efficient, dimmable strip lighting.

The container residence and the pre-engineered, steel studio structure act as two bookends that support framing and, in turn a perforated metal shade canopy that wraps the container’s roof, south-facing steel walls and the dramatic 20′ high outside living space, aka solar breezeway to provide protection against desert heat, glare, wind and blowing sand. The breezeway, in turn moderates and then directs a flow of air through the container spaces to enhance passive cooling. A naturally lit, steel-clad stair structure connects the 2 level stacked containers and doubles as a 20′ story high photo gallery in which to display artwork.

Other unique features include:

Hybrid House Design: based on the efficient Prius engineering concept, the hybrid house concept combines diverse, pre-engineered building and energy conservation features to maximize efficiency and cost savings, while offering architectural design flexibility and variation.

All Recycled Steel Construction: the project is composed of diverse components, including: (6) repurposed ISO cargo containers, a Butler pre-engineered building, a 10,000 gal. storage tank, at solar shade canopy and an integrated steel framing system that provides extraordinary strength, earthquake, fire and wind protections, as well as large window and door openings to maximize natural daylighting, ventilation and cooling.

Solar Home Shading System: a bolt-on, adjustable steel frame and perforated metal shade system creates 50% solar heat, glare and wind reduction on the building and solar breezeway and allows for the plug-in attachment of future solar electric and water heating panel arrays.
Living Roof System: movable, bolt and add-on modules use greywater irrigation and are planted with native desert plants and sedums to absorb heat, glare, dust and CO2.

Water Conservation: integrated greywater for irrigation, water harvesting and storage systems.
Energy Conservation: an innovative steel framework allows for the placement of a “cool roof” and insulation system and a triple wall insulation system combine to create a building envelope that exceeds California energy code requirements by 50%. All appliances, fixtures and heating systems are Energy Star rated.

Reduced Costs: Finished construction costs, including footings and sitework was $150/SF, far below construction costs for comparable pre-fab or manufactured home construction.

Shipping Containers as Building Blocks for Construction

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 04:00:23 GMT

A Pretty Cool Bob Villa Video Where He Interviews David Cross from TAW

I found this awesome Bob Villa video where he interviews David Cross from TAW ( Tampa Armature Works ).

They have an in depth conversation about shipping container construction.

The conversation starts off by discussing the 700,000 abandoned shipping containers in United States ports.

These containers are left behind due to the trade imbalance.

Why not use the abandoned shipping containers as building blocks for construction?

They do. He calls these structures Intermodal Steel Building Units (ISBU). They not only build homes out of these shipping containers but other structures with the use of I-beams and plasma torches to cut out sections of the container.

The use of the I-Beams allow the engineer a lot of flexibility in what they choose to build with these sturdy boxes.

He shows Bob something he calls the "Worlds Largest Toolbox," which they created for the military. They used the shipping container frame and added fold up awnings, fold down awnings, a roll up door, and a cargo handling system.

Do these shipping container steel structures get extremely hot?

He explains that supertherm ceramic insulative paint (you can google search this and find it online) can be used as an effective insulation paint to block out heat.

He mentions it is popular in other countries and has been gaining popularity in the United States.

What about structural integrity with the shipping container buildings?

David Cross does a great job explaining structural integrity at 2:27 in the video. It is worth the watch if you are planning on making any cut outs in your cargo container.

How much does a shipping container house cost?

David says their basic package for an ISBU Framed Skin of the House would be $45 a sq ft. This quote does not include the foundation or the truss.

How to load a Cargo Container starring Howard "Hands" Keene

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Watch how an industry legend and my mentor, Howard "Hand's" Keene, loads up an 8x20 cargo container onto his flatbed truck. This video provides you with a first hand look into how a container is loaded.

I love this video as it will give you an idea for the space you will need when having a container picked up at your location.

The video was taken by me in Howard's yard in 2015. The video is almost six minutes long and worth the watch.

How to Insulate a Shipping Container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:32:17 GMT

A Demonstration by InSoFast Installing the Ceiling Insulation in a 20' Shipping Container with 12 minutes

I found this pretty cool video on YouTube.

It will give you a great idea for insulating your shipping container.

I live in the desert, and insulation can play a huge part in keeping the cargo container cool.

Especially if you are going through the trouble of installing an air conditioner.

The two gentleman in this video instal the InSOFast insulation panels within 12 minutes utilizing loctite and wood support beams to prop the panels in place while they dry.

I visited the InSoFast website to see what this type of job would cost in a 20' container.

The info is below along with the video of the install and their website .

Shipping Container Modification-Garage Organization and Storage to the Fullest

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 20:22:08 GMT

Two 20' Shipping Containers lead to a Garage Organization and Storage Masterpiece

I was super excited when I found this on the internet. It appears to be a super solid design for garage organization and storage.

With two 20' shipping containers (my guess at present time in the Phoenix, AZ Market under $6,000) you have the backbone for an amazing area for storage and organization.

For those of you interested in extra space for your house or ranch, this could be a cost effective way of getting it done for under $10,000.

This out of the box idea also offers an idea for additional living space. The two 20' cargo containers offer 320 square feet of space. This offers an array of organization and storage ideas.

As you can see from the design in the picture, you have a good amount of open space in addition to outlets, a sink, and a fridge.

For the flooring you could use and color or theme you would like.

I also like their sliding door addition. You could just as easily add roll up doors, window, etc.

My guess, very rough estimate, is that if you did most of the labor yourself, this could be an under $10,000 DIY project.

My numbers are below:

2- 20' Shipping Containers- $6,000 (with delivery)
Running the Electrical- $500
Flooring- $1,000 if using solid garage flooring ($2.40 per 12x12 tile and its 320 square feet).
Paint for the inside- $500 could be less but I'm assuming you are renting the sprayer and using Rustoleum which is about $35 a gallon
Doors- $1,000
Welding/Metal Fabrication- $1000 to weld and cut out window, doors, the containers (assuming you need to buy supplies and pay for labor).

Might not be a bad idea over a barn or traditional home addition which could be much more. You could even use solar panel over the generator and make the build even greener.

Off The Grid Shipping Container House on the Top of a Mountain

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 03:29:56 GMT

Amazing Container Home Built by HoneyBox

I found this pretty cool video of an off the grid shipping container home that I felt was worth sharing.

What I loved the most was how the creator, HoneyBox ( http://www.honeybox.ca/ ), used the principles used on a cargo ship to reinforce this beauty that was made up of three 20' shipping containers.

The amazing structure was built on a mountaintop in British Columbia, Canada with the center shipping container bolted to a cement block foundation that utilizes twist locks.

The two outer 20' cargo containers are cantilevered using lashing rods to add stability and strength. They are attached to the middle shipping container as is done while they travel on the water so it makes sense to copy the idea on land.

I also think it gives the off the grid home a pretty cool look!

The home has 800 Watts of solar panels to power the 12-volt system for lights, outlets, and a water pump.

For heat there is a wood stove and propane is utilized for the fridge, hot water, and cooktop. It has all the amenities you would want while also capturing a unique look with large windows that ensure you take in sweeping mountain views.

The owner transports in drinking water, but has a pretty cool setup to catch water for showers and his composting toilet. You will have to check it out in the video but I'm sure you will be impressed.

Hope you enjoy the video as this is a pretty cool shipping container modification and build.

The Video was made by Exploring Alternatives and found on YouTube.

A Rock Climbing Wall Shipping Container Modification

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:41:36 GMT

A rock climbers perfect box sized training apparatus!

When I found this shipping container modification, I absolutely fell in love with the idea.

It looks like a pretty simple and straightforward do it yourself project.

From what I can see it looks like the creators of this beauty used a 20' shipping container and built a wooden frame within the inside to affix the plywood to.

From that point it looks like they then strategically placed the climbing holds and added a bar across the top to add the still rings.

It doesn't look like they wired it for electricity as I see the outlet extension from the outside of the shipping container and a ceiling light hanging down.

My gut tells me the modification is most likely pretty affordable and I can only imagine that its a ton of fun and an awesome work out.

I hope this inspires you to do something out of the box with your shipping container!

What is a Container Depot? A place to find shipping containers

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 01:53:41 GMT

Where would I find a shipping container to buy?

What is a container depot and can I buy a shipping container there?

A container depot is a location that manages the flow of goods for steamship lines. The depot will take goods to be consolidated into a container that will then be sent via a steamship line.

Container depots also maintenance and store cargo containers in addition to their role as a cargo consolidation point.

They typically also sell shipping containers that steamship lines no longer want in service.

If you are looking to buy a cargo container you can easily run a google search on container depots near port cities (ie Long Beach, Miami, Seattle etc...) and the odds are you can locate a number of phone numbers and addresses for a number of depots.

I would call and ask for their equipment sales department. These departments typically deal with the brokers you find online who sell shipping containers, so there is no guarantee you will get a killer deal.

They sell the brokers hundreds of containers compared to your one, however, you never know unless you call and ask. Sometimes you get lucky and you can get a killer deal.

I also found the below video that also touches on the subject and descibres the role of container depots in the supply chain process. He starts to talk about the depots at the 1:34 mark.

Amazing Shipping Container Home in Unincorporated San Diego County

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 05:48:30 GMT

Kirsten Dirksen does an amazing job profiling this amazing shipping container home in the San Diego California Mountains

Super awesome video by Kirsten Dirksen on YouTube. She highlights this incredible custom shipping container home in unincorporated San Diego County, Ca.

The brilliant minds who envisioned this, Mike and Shawn McConkey, mention that the land was purchased in San Diego, Ca and “is zoned agricultural land out here so you can actually have a little cottage industry or a winery... or a container house.”

They designed the 720-square-foot hybrid shipping container home with three 20' cargo containers.

With a DIY mindset they were able to keep the total cost to$160,000, including design fees and permits. Which is a steal for such an amazing home in the San Diego mountains.

The McConkey's highlight that they stayed on budget with the interior by mixing IKEA and reclaimed items with a few beauties, like a $3800 rolling garage door that opens the home to the outside and unobstructed mountain views (see picture below).

The home is a hybrid of containers and stick frame structures that have ceilings as high as 13 feet between the containers to make the small space feel larger and to allow for natural cooling.

To keep the home operating with peak solar efficiency, they used a technique I use on my container rentals which is a cool roof (white reflective paint to reflect the suns uvs), and they also installed a tankless water heater.

Amazing in depth video that will inspire you to take an this type of amazing project.

Shipping Container - How to Install Aluminum Doors

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:54:02 GMT

Super Cool Video by Odd Life Crafting Highlighting How The Installed Aluminum Door on their Shipping Container Home

These two get my stamp of approval.

They make pretty dope videos (Highly Suggest you watch their Youtube Channel).

What I like about them is that they are in depth in explaining how and why they did what they did when making the container modification.

If you are considering adding aluminum doors to your shipping container home or custom build, this is definitely a worthwhile video to watch.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I think it will give you a pretty good idea of the work you will be taking on if you embark on a similar project.

Be inspired. Dream. Build it

Shipping Container Kennel Modification

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:37:17 GMT

20' Shipping Container Converted into a custom dog kennel

I absolutely love this idea!

In terms of a do it yourself project (keep in mind this is my best guess!) I would predict this could be done for anywhere between$4,000-$12,000, depending on exactly what you want and the amount of sweat equity you wanted to invest in the project.

The 20' shipping container you could probably get, depending on the condition, from around $2,350 (based on the day I write this and on my location in Phoenix, AZ- container rates vary based on location) to $2,750. This would be a WWT (wind and watertight) 20' cargo container that has dents and a good amount of rust.

The shipping container that you see in the picture above looks to be a 20' One Trip cargo container and the cost for one of those (again based on the day I write this and my location) would be around $3,600. This would be the route I would go as it would have had less chance to have encountered sketchy cargo. Again your dogs would be living in this! Cleaner and newer the better in my opinion.

The shipping container kennel in the picture above also has an AC unit, which means it must be wired for electricity. Depending on the number of outlets you want, you are looking at between $150-$300 in cost, if you do the work yourself.

For an AC unit you are probably looking at a few hundred bucks.

You would also need to weld or find someone to weld the reinforcement for the air conditioning unit once you cut out the section for it to fit in.

The kennel holes also need to be cut out and that would only cost labor and you would need to have had the tools to do it- a grinder or plasma cutter (you can also rent these but that could range from $50 to a few hundred bucks).

From there you could make the kennels that are attached to the sides of the container with fencing, or buy them online (home depot sells them- click here for an idea of the price) premade and just affix them to the shipping container. This would run anywhere from $250 per kennel to a few thousand dollars per kennel.

I'm not sure what the inside of this container kennel looks like, but you could make it as elaborate or as simple as you would like.

Depending on the setup that could easily run an extra few hundred bucks to create partitions or a $1,000 depending on how spoiled you want your dogs :)

I hope you enjoyed this blog and it inspires you to dream big :)

Shipping Container Paddleboard Shop in Page, AZ

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 04:07:17 GMT

Awesome video on the construction of Lake Powell Paddleboards shipping container shop

This is an amazing video that Lake Powell Paddleboards put together on the construction of their paddleboard shop in Page, AZ. The video does an awesome job capturing how eco friendly they were throughout this building project. From the use of the three used 40' shipping containers to paint sticks as trim board, these individuals truly stand our for the dedication and innovation in green design.
They also do a fabulous job detailing the whole project start to finish. To the foundation, roof, interior and facing, you can learn a ton in regard to what goes into a DIY shipping container build. The final outcome is pure beauty. Enjoy the video and pictures below.

20' Shipping Container Off The Grid Hunting Cabin Modification

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 03:28:50 GMT

Pretty cool video of an off the grid shipping container cabin

This video is pretty cool. Andrew Camarata tours an amazing off the grid 20' shipping container hunting cabin. It is equipped with a solar panel, wood stove and amazing wood interior throughout the inside of the container.
He talks about how quickly it heats up in 0 degree weather and how easy the solar panel was to set-up. Outside the off the grid shipping container is a legit solar shower and bathroom. I hope you enjoy the video!

What is the difference between a 4 week payment plan and a monthly payment plan?

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 20:45:37 GMT

What's the difference between a 4 Week Payment Plan versus a Monthly Payment Plan?

Let's stick to the math

Months in a year 12

Fictional Cost of Payment- $75

12 months x $75 cost of payment= $900

4 week increments in a 52 week year = 52/4= 13

13 (4 weeks in a 52 week year) x $75 cost of payment= $975

Here the lesson is if the payment amount is the same, the monthly payment plan is better (cost of $900 as opposed to the cost of $975 for the pay every 4 week plan .

As you can see the monthly payment plan offers one less payment per year. The every 4 week payment plan gets an extra week payment throughout a year period collecting 13 payments in a year as opposed to the 12 you would have in a monthly plan.

I hope this article helps as there are many companies who will try to sneak in that extra payment if you are not looking.

Should I Buy a WWT Shipping Container or a Cargo Worthy Shipping Container?

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 22:52:36 GMT

Which Is a Better Investment?

Which is the better investment. Depends :0

I sound like a stock broker don't I. You ask the question and I never give you a real answer!

So here's the deal.

Depending on what you need the container for, a different option may be the better route.

From the pictures above, you can see there is very little difference in the WWT (wind and watertight) shipping container and the Cargo Worthy (CW) shipping container in regard to the exterior.

Both have a crap load of rust, dings and dents.

They are ugly but they will keep your stuff secure (if you treat the rust!!!)

However, based on my experience buying both, the doors and the floors of the Cargo Worthy Shipping Container are typically in better shape the the WWT (wind and watertight) shipping containers.

Why does this matter, Oscar?

Because in my opinion if you are buying an asset or something you want for a long time, it may be worth the few hundred bucks for less hassle.

Screwy doors, replacing floors and fixing rust before it turns into a hole all take time, energy and effort.

My mentors have always stressed time is my best asset. Use it wisely. Its not fun messing around with a shipping container to fix all the things listed above, unless you are weird like me and actually enjoy that type of work.

So the long winded answer to my original questions.

Me personally, I buy Cargo Worthy from my vendors and even though they need the same time (roughly) in terms of investment to clean them up before painting, for a few hundred bucks they usually save me from having to deal with a few hundred dollars worth of issues in terms of messed up doors or floors (but save me a ton on time and effort).

I hope this helps.

Both the containers above ended up looking like the below. But it was a lot of manual labor.

Shipping Container Weight Room

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 04:12:56 GMT

Amazing Shipping Container Weight Room Set-Up

When I saw this picture I totally freaked out with amazement.

How freaking cool is this!

I never imagined doing something like a gym/shipping container combo but am super excited I ran across it on the internet. I totally see how this idea could be feasible.

You have the shipping container which on the inside you could put a few machines, or even store the weights since you could always lock it up.

With the cargo container exterior, you could do exactly what they did and build a frame out to put more work out equipment, bars, or even just use it for shade or a solar panel to power your sound system or fans.

Super cool idea and I hope it inspires someone out there to do something even cooler in terms of a gym/shipping container combo.

How to Remove Shipping Container Rust

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 04:01:52 GMT

The Silent Killer of Cargo Containers

The odds are rust is going to be the death of your shipping container. This is a fact most buyers of shipping containers underestimate, until it becomes a holey problem.

For example. I had a 20' Wind and Watertight cargo container that a framer needed asap.

My standard protocol is to brush off the rust on a container with a drill and cupped wire brush (always use a facemask, gloves, goggles etc...). Depending on the amount of rust and the weather (I live in Phoenix, try cleaning rust on a 20' container in 100 degree weather. I've done it a lot, it kinda sucks!) this is no small task.

I then apply Corroseal (you can check it out here ( http://www.corroseal.com/ ) over the cleaned up rusted areas. I then brush (you can use an air compressor if you have one) the shipping container clean, and spray it with my paint sprayer (I use White Rustoleum Oil Based Paint ( click here to visit their site ).

In the scenario I am describing above with the framer, I was not able to do this, and had to send it out on rent immediately. When I got it back six months later (keep in mind I live in the desert) the rust begin to form holes.

Addressing the rust at the beginning, however painful it is in some cases (it's a lot of work), will greatly extend the life of your shipping container.

In my opinion two things mess up a cargo container, rust and YOU (if you drill holes etc...).

Other than that they are a perfect box that is wind and water tight and incredibly amazing for over a million purposes (my guess :))

Back to the culprit rust, and I apologize as I digressed;).

In the case of the container I got back, I had to resolve the pin prick to nail sized rust holes I now faced.

I followed the process I stated above, but also used FlexSeal ( click here to view ) and foam to seal the holes before painting with Rustoleum.

Now the question is? Do you want to do this maintenance or just buy a One Trip Cargo Container?

These have been used one time to carry goods from China and are then sold to Container Depots by ports of entry (Such and Long Beach in California or Oakland- Where Cargo Container were invented). They are usually in excellent condition and would require little to no maintenance (atleast for some time- rust is a pain in the ass and will always find a way to stay a pain in the ass).

The price of a One Trip at the time of me writing this in Phoenix, AZ would run you about $3,300-$3,800 per container. A wind and water tight would run $2250-$2750.

You can do the math to run a rough estimate on if it is worth the work.

Either way, kill the rust or it will kill your shipping container.

See some of my pics below of work I have done on my rentals in Phoenix.

Shipping Container Bar- Beer and Cargo Containers? Simply Amazing!!

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:32:11 GMT

Could Something This Glorious Really Exist? Picture Proof Below :)

I'm personally not a big drinker (not to say I couldn't pound some KeyLites back with the homies on college) but this invention is simply breathtaking! Beer plus cargo containers = God bless the wonderful soul who imagined such a brilliant idea.

It's wonderful in so many ways.

Since the beer/kegs are stored in the shipping container, they should be extremely safe! And who doesn't like well protected beer? Say I, I do!

If you do a good job insulating the inside of the shipping container, it should also keep the beer icy cold. Huge WIN!!

It also looks badass since it has that rough and tough shipping container kind of look. The one recommendation I would make is that this looks like they used a 20' shipping container, and they could have fit more beer if it was a 40'!

Big win for all of us shipping container nuts. Shipping Container meets Beer. I'm a happy man :)

5 Amazing Shipping Container Houses

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 05:06:06 GMT

5 Brilliant Shipping Container Homes that were rated the best of 2018 by Curbed.

I found an awesome article (thanks to my Amazing Mom- shout out for sending it to me!), by Curbed that highlights their tops picks for the best 5 shipping container homes of 2018.

If you follow my blog, which I assume you do if you are reading this, you know how passionate I am about shipping containers and these homes are a thing of beauty.

I love the way Curbed highlighted a variety of homes. They didn't just select the most expensive or largest container homes, they found a way to highlights ones that offered a unique feel and design. Below you will find the pictures of the homes. I highly recommend visiting their site to read more about the homes themselves ( https://www.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18149036/shipping-container-house-best-design-architecture ).

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Shipping Container House?

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 05:15:02 GMT

I get a lot of questions on how much it would cost to build a shipping container house. This price can vary greatly depending on what you want, but I tracked down a pretty cool video of a cool couple (YouTube Channel Odd Life Crafting) discussing the topic. Worth the watch as they break it down cost by cost, which will be useful for you if you are seriously looking into a cargo container home.

A Step by Step Instruction on How to Install a Roll Up Door on a Shipping Container by My Mini Casa

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 05:02:53 GMT

A very informative video I found online detailing step by step how to install a rollup door on a shipping container. If you are looking for a way to create an access point on the side of your cargo container, this video will be very useful for you. It was created by My Mini Casa. Definitely worth the watch. Its about 22 mins long, but worth it.

Supporting Cutouts on a Shipping Container

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:57:22 GMT

A pretty solid video that I found online by Life Uncontained on YouTube. They do a good job documenting how they support the cutouts on their Cargo Container build. It's definitely worth the watch if you are interested in cutting out sections within your shipping container build. They give honest feedback and do a good job stating why they made the decisions to do what they did.

Advice For Preppers Burying Shipping Containers

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

If you are a prepper and are interested in utilizing the versatility that a cargo container can offer while building a bunker, this is an awesome video from Penny University on YouTube. They do a great job providing information that you may want to consider if you are interested in prepping with a shipping container.

Shipping Container Models

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 11:56:59 GMT

I Found This Amazing Website That Sells 1:20 Shipping Container Replicas For All the Major Container Lines

I love shipping containers and was so excited when I found a website that was selling 1:20 replicas of the numerous shipping containers that you may find on the market or carrying goods around the world.

For me browsing through the models summoned a nostalgia for the containers I have worked on over the years and brought back a ton of memories.

I hope you enjoy the find as much as I did.

Below you will find pictures of the container types they offered and more info on their products (please note, I am not being paid in any way for this article- I truly just think they have a cool product).

Price Range- When I wrote this article (11/3/19) they were $48.90 (regular price $59.90)

DESCRIPTION

Effect--Can be used as a decoration in your office.
Material -- Alloy and plastic mix
The perfect gift for any aviation enthusiast, history buff, military personnel, or collector

PACKAGE

Scale: 1/20
[L*B*H]: approx: 32cm*12cm*13cm
[L*B*H] approx 12.5in*4.7in*5.11in
Model*1

Shipping Container Lines:

Maersk

Mærsk A/S, also known as simply Maersk, is a Danish business conglomerate with activities in the transport, logistics and energy sectors. Maersk has been the largest container ship and supply vessel operator in the world since 1996.

Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd AG is a German international shipping and container transportation company. It is composed of a cargo container shipping line, Hapag-Lloyd AG. The container transport arm of Hapag-Lloyd AG is currently the world's fifth largest container carrier in terms of vessel capacity.

ONE (Ocean Network Express)

Ocean Network Express, is a Japanese container shipping company that is headquartered in Tokyo and Singapore. It was formed in 2016 as a joint venture of the Japanese shipping companies Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and K Line, inheriting the container shipping operations of its parent companies.

MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)

Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. is a Swiss-Italian international shipping line. The company operates in all major ports of the world. It is the world's second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity.

CMA CGM

CMA CGM S.A. is a French container transportation and shipping company. It is a leading worldwide shipping group, using 200 shipping routes between 420 ports in 150 different countries, ranking fourth behind Maersk Line, MSC and COSCO.

PIL (Pacific International Lines)

Pacific International Lines is a shipping company incorporated in Singapore in 1967. The founder of PIL is the Chinese entrepreneur Chang Yun Chung.

Evergreen Marine Corp

Evergreen Marine Corporation, is a Taiwanese container transportation and shipping company headquartered in Luzhu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

K "Line"

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. is a Japanese transportation company. It owns a fleet that includes dry cargo ships, container ships, liquefied natural gas carriers, Ro-Ro ships, tankers and container terminals. It is the fourteenth largest container transportation and shipping company in the world.

Wan Hai Lines

Wan Hai Lines was founded in 1965 in Taiwan as a shipping company, and has become the 12th largest player in the container shipping industry, with a fleet of 72 vessels and a capacity of 180,000 TEUs.

OOCL

Orient Overseas Container Line, commonly known as OOCL, is a Hong Kong container shipping and logistics service company. OOCL is a large integrated international container transportation, logistics and terminal company with offices in 70 countries.

KMTC

Since it's establishment in 1954, KMTC Line is the leading Korean marine transportation company.

COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company)

China Ocean Shipping Company, known as COSCO, was a Chinese state-owned shipping and logistics services supplier company. Its headquarters is in Ocean Plaza in the Xicheng District in Beijing.

APL

APL, formerly called American President Lines Ltd., is a Singapore-based container and shipping company which is a subsidiary of French shipping company CMA CGM. APL operates a container-ship fleet, including 153 container vessels.

Safmarine

Safmarine is an international shipping business offering container and break-bulk shipping services worldwide. Formed in 1946 by South African industrialists and American ship owners, Safmarine is now widely known as a north/south trade and African specialist.

IRISL

The maritime fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines comprises 115 ocean-going vessels, with the total capacity of 3.3 million tons deadweight.

Hamburg SUD

Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG – Hamburg Süd for short – ranks among the ten largest container shipping brands worldwide and is part of Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company.

The awesome website I found these shipping container models on is https://www.cartrucksolutions.com/products/shipping-company-container-model?variant=30329247301722

Container Farms- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

I found this super cool YouTube video on container farming. They do a pretty good job of providing a nice analysis on the pros and cons. Check out the video if you are interested in learning more about container farming. Many say it could be the future of urban farming, but at the very least it's a different perspective on a age old profession- farming or producing food.

What Does a Shipping Container Cost From the Port of Oakland?

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:55:52 GMT

How much does a shipping container cost?

We are dedicated to providing our readers with all things shipping containers and in this quest we proactively communicate with our network of wholesale shipping container partners to gain insight into rates from multiple ports throughout the United States.

These vendors buy directly from container depots (to learn what a container depot is- click here ) and offer great insight into what you may expect to pay if you are in the market to buy a shipping container. This is in no means a guarantee of a rate and or cost, but only an estimate to provide our readers with a general idea of shipping container costs.

Below are the costs we received from our wholesale vendors that service the Port of Oakland:

What is the current cost of a Wind and Watertight (WWT) 20' shipping container from the Port of Oakland?

$1200 (quote date received 8/20/2019)

What is the current cost of a Cargo Worthy (CW) 20' shipping container from the Port of Oakland?

$1300 (quote date received 8/20/2019)

What is the current cost of a One Trip 20' shipping container from the Port of Oakland?

$2300 (quote date received 8/20/2019)

Below are sample pictures of the different classification, and grading systems used when selling shipping containers for your point of reference:

Wind and Water Tight (WWT) Shipping Container:

What is a WWT Shipping Container?

A Wind and Watertight (WWT) Shipping Container has typically have been used for a number of years (15+) by steamship lines and have been retired by leasing companies after they are no longer safe or needed to move cargo. They are then sold off and will have rust, dings and dents and doors and floors that are weathered. A sample picture is above of a WWT shipping container I purchased from a container depot in Long Beach.

How are WWT Shipping Container Graded or Rated?

Shipping Container dealers/re-sellers may use a Grading System to accompany the shipping container classification.

For example, the shipping container is a grade "C" WWT shipping container.

Below is a chart, for reference only, to aide you when purchasing a container. It will provide you with a general idea of what to expect when you receive the shipping container in terms of the appearance, structure, rust level and use.

Cargo Worthy (CW) Shipping Container:

What is a CW shipping container?

A Cargo Worthy (CW) shipping container is typically 15+ years old and have been used to transport goods around the world. They have been retired from the leasing company and sold by container depots. Cargo Worthy means they are still in a condition to carry sea freight. Visually they will have dings and dents, rust, but the doors and floors with usually be in fair shape. A sample picture is above of a Cargo Worthy shipping container I purchased from a container depot in Long Beach.

How are CW Shipping Containers Graded or Rated?

Shipping Container dealers/re-sellers may use a Grading System to accompany the shipping container classification.

For example, the shipping container is a grade "A" Cargo Worthy shipping container.

Below is a chart, for reference only, to aide you when purchasing a container. It will provide you with a general idea of what to expect when you receive the shipping container in terms of the appearance, structure, rust level and use.

One Trip Shipping Container

What is a One Trip Shipping Container?

A One Trip shipping container has been used one time to transport goods. They typically come from Asia to US ports and are then sold by leasing companies and stored at container depots. A One Trip container will have very little cosmetic damage and great working doors and solid floors. A sample picture is above of a One Trip shipping container I purchased from a container depot in Long Beach.

How are One Trip Shipping Containers Graded or Rated?

Shipping Container dealers/re-sellers may use a Grading System to accompany the shipping container classification.

For example, the shipping container is a grade "B" One Trip shipping container.

Below is a chart, for reference only, to aide you when purchasing a container. It will provide you with a general idea of what to expect when you receive the shipping container in terms of the appearance, structure, rust level and use.

Here are a few other blogs you might enjoys:

What is a WWT Shipping Container?
What is a Cargo Worthy Shipping Container?
What is a One Trip Shipping Container?
What is a shipping container depot?
How to transport a shipping container?

How do you transport a shipping container?

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 04:21:36 GMT

I bought a shipping container- How do I ship it?

I want to buy a shipping container but how do I ship it?

Good question, as this can be the tough part in the shipping container purchase.

I like to break this transport process into two parts- The trucking and the unloading.

The Trucking

This part can be done on your own, if you have a truck and a trailer. See the picture above of the set-up my driver has (I want to give you a real life depiction of what equipment it might take to move the container).

If you purchase the shipping container directly from the port, the odds are you are going to be picking it up from a container depot. Depots have large quantities of containers that are stacked like sardines. They assign numbers to each container and when you purchase, one you will be provided a load number.

This is the number you will provide to the depot, and they will search out your container. This in no way means you are getting your shipping container right away as they may need to move a lot of large items (cargo containers) to get to it. When you buy it, make sure you know that you are going to be able to get it right away and that it will be staged for pick-up.

The odds are you are going to encounter long lines at the depot, as other truckers will also be waiting to pick-up their cargo container.

What do I do if I do not have the equipment to transport the shipping container?

If you do not have this type of set-up your best bet is to contact a freight broker (google flatbed freight broker).

The equipment you will need to ask for is a flatbed (see picture below) or a tilt bed (see picture below). The difference besides price, is that the flatbed will require you to have a forklift to unload the cargo container at delivery.

The tilt bed has the capability to roll the shipping container off the back. It is also considered specialty equipment and typically costs more to utilize and this cost tends to increase the further you are from the port.

However, the cost to rent a forklift can also be pricey, so don’t forget to keep that in mind when you are weighing the difference between the flatbed and tilt bed delivery price.

The Unloading

If you have a forklift and want to unload the shipping container yourself, this can save you some money as you can go the flatbed route. Before you do this, I highly recommend that you make sure your forklift has the capacity to lift the roughly 5,000lbs 20’ shipping container or the roughly 10,000lbs 40’ shipping container.

The other thing to consider about your forklift is the width of the forks. The forklift holes on a shipping container are roughly 70 inches apart from the inside of each hole. This is typically wider than most forklifts width.

If you have fork extensions that are at least 96 inches in length you should have a stable way to lift it from underneath.

Moving a shipping container on a forklift is not that easy to do, due to the weight and size, so I recommend you are certified and that you have help to place it where you want it.

How to Remove the Decals from a Cargo Container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:18:53 GMT

We received this 8x20 WWT Cargo Container, and started the prepping process before painting.

When you buy a Wind and Watertight (WWT) cargo container directly from the port, you should expect a shipping container with a good amount of rust along with a number of repairs, dings and dents.

These containers are retired from the steamship lines and typically have over 10+ years of service traveling the world delivering and protecting goods in transit.

The biggest threat (in my opinion) to a cargo container is- surface rust. Since the containers travel on the open ocean they are exposed to the elements and rust begins to surface. Over time, this rust can deteriorate the steel, creating holes and compromising the cargo container.

Before we sell the majority of our containers in Phoenix, AZ, we prep them by removing the surface rust with a cupped wire brush along with applying Corroseal to convert the left over rust into a primer for painting.

In addition, we also remove the decals from the outside of the shipping container to create a surface that is uniform. Painting over decals can cause the paint to run, and will also still make the decals visible on the surface (they will just be a different color!).

In doing this we thought we would create a how to video for you to view, in case you are looking to remove the decals from your cargo container as well.

We use a razor blade scrapper which can be purchased online or from a local hardware store for a few bucks. Removing the decals is even easier if you allow the cargo container to sit in the sun for the day, as the glue will become softer and the decals will peel off faster once you get them started.

When we shot this video it was done in the morning so the decals stuck more than usual.

We hope you enjoy the video, make sure to like it and to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos on Cargo Containers. Visit ContainerPedia, the world wide webs first encyclopedia dedicated to Cargo Containers at www.cargocontainerbroker.com .

Googles Cargo Container Server Center

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Google using cargo containers for a patented data center? You better believe it!!

I have said it before and I'll say it again- the uses for cargo containers are practically endless. However, even I never envisioned them being used for a high-tech data center, however, Google proved that a shipping container is excellent for that use too.

In 2005 Google launched a 45 cargo container data center that is housed with over 45,000 servers and supports a whopping 10 megawatts of IT equipment load. I'm not 100% sure what the equipment load thing means, but I had to write it as when I heard it, it sounded way to cool (and impressive!).

In October of 2007 Google successfully patented its cargo container concept, and for someone like me who loves cargo containers, I am thoroughly impressed at the creativity and ingenuity with the use of the shipping containers.

Using cargo containers makes sense as they are easily transportable, eco-friendly and cost effective and on top of those advantages they are also incredibly durable.

Google uses an impressive system to keep the cargo containers at a stable 81 degrees fahrenheit and stores roughly 1000 servers per cargo container.

I posted a video below, that was created by Google, that will give you a tour of their cargo container data center. Enjoy the video and thank you Google for showing me another awesome use for cargo containers!

How to close a self storage shipping container fitted with a lock box

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:22:37 GMT

Watch how to lock up an 8x20 cargo container. Get an inside look into how to close each door and how to secure with a standard shutter padlock.

Cargo Container Grades: All the Casual Buyer Needs to Know About Container Grading

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

You're in need of a cargo container and like most individuals you head to the world wide web to find a company that is willing to sell you one. Almost immediately after you land on the homepage of the first supplier that pops up on your Google search, and you are confronted with an abundance of acronyms that will make your head spin. To further complicate the matter you are faced with a cargo container grading system that is defined by no definite or universal system.

This leaves you dependent on a grading system that can seem complex and confusing. My goal with this blog post is to do my best to define the grades and certifications you may come across, and to help you with your buying decision.

Common Criterion:

IICL or "Premium Grade" Containers - when you see the IICL or Institute of International Container Lessors label associated with a used cargo container you can rest assured that your future container has passed the strictest criterion out there. The IICL grade means the container is structurally sound and that it will most likely not have any issues into the foreseeable future. To visit the IICL website for more information click here IICL .

One Trip Container - these containers are one of the best quality cargo containers on the market. They have been used only one time during their lifespan, typically traveling from Asia to the United States, and offer the purchaser a container with very little wear and tear. They are typically only weeks old, structurally sound, and cosmetically intact (minor dent, little to no rust).

CW- Cargo Worthy Container - are graded cargo containers that have been inspected and deemed suitable for international maritime shipping. Meaning, the container has been evaluated and can be safely used to transport goods on the open ocean. What this means to you is that the container should be structurally sound and may have minor rust or dents on its surface. Cosmetically the container should be relatively clean and it is a step up from a wind and watertight container.

WWT- Wind & Watertight Container - are cargo containers that are literally wind and watertight. These containers are great for storage as they will prevent any water or wind from entering the secure container as well as they will keep rodents out. These containers have been retired by the shipping lines and will have medium to heavy rust and surface dents. If cosmetics are not an issue a wind and watertight container may be the perfect solution for you.

"As Is"- As Is Container - are containers that are not wind and watertight and can be expected to have a number of medium to major dents and rust damage. They may have damage to the floor and come equipped with doors that do not function properly. If you need to store product in an environment that is safe from water, light, wind and rodents; this would not be the container for you. They typically offer an affordable alternative but lack the structural soundness and protection from the elements of a wind & watertight container.

Organizations and Definitions:

CSC- Convention for Safe Containers- was adopted on December 2nd 1972 and had two goals in mind: maintain

a high level of safety of human life in the transport and handling of containers by providing generally acceptable test procedures and related strength requirements and the other which was to facilitate the international transport of containers by providing uniform international safety regulations. If you buy a container that has a valid CSC, it will be structurally sound and has passed safety regulation. More information on CSC can be seen here : CSC .

ISO- International Standardization Organization- ISO is an international organization working towards harmonizing worldwide technical standards; including those standard governing the construction of shipping containers industry.

A Quick Summary of the above Cargo Container Grading information.

Cargo Container- Phoenix Building Permit Information

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Are you interested in using a cargo container for building a home in the Phoenix, Arizona area?

Are you unsure of who to call or what forms to submit?

View this informative YouTube video on how to submit an online form for a building permit in Phoenix, AZ and to find out how to contact the plan review counter in city hall to ask in person questions about your plans to build a cargo container home.

Requesting a building permit will allow you to uncover if your building plans are approved by the city while asking information on zoning will allow you to find out if the type of building your planning on constructing is allowed in the particular zone i.e. residential or commercial.

It is extremely important to research this information in advance before you begin your cargo container home construction. Doing so will save you a lot of headache down the road and is highly recommended.

To view the Phoenix Plan Review and Permit website click this link www.phoenix.gov/pdd/development/permits or call the Phoenix Planning & Development Office at 602-262-7811.

How to Install Solar Panels on a Cargo Container Roof

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Are you interested in creating a portable power source?

This YouTube video will provide you with insight on how a cargo container can be utilized as the base for solar panels. The producer of this video had the goal of becoming less reliant on his petrol generator and set out to create a solar energy source. The solar panels were welded to the top of the cargo container, and the video will highlights how to determine where to place each solar panel to account for the shadows of the panel in front of it. 250 watt panels are used in this video and on the 8x20 container he was able to install 8 of them.

The author of the video is Paul Chambers and the video length is about 5 minutes. View more info from Paul at http://www.buildshippingcontainerhouse.com/

How to paint an 8x20 cargo container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Do you have a cargo container that you want to restore and paint? We found this video on YouTube that shows how a crew paints a cargo container with a sprayer onsite. The process is quick and efficient and we felt this was a great resource to guide you in fixing up your container.

Applying a new coat of paint to a cargo container will go a long way in preventing rust and extending the life of the container. As you can see from the video, all you will need is paint, an air compressor, sprayer, ladder, and mask and you are good to go.

We hope you enjoy the video. It is roughly nine minutes long and was published by Miguel Martinez.

How to Install a Vent on a Cargo Container in Six Easy Steps

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Installing a vent on a cargo container has a number of benefits including reducing the inside temperature of your box by allowing heat to escape, preventing moisture buildup and reducing the likelihood of mold, increasing airflow and allowing fumes of toxins that build up in the container to escape to the outside.

Installing a vent yourself can be done with the six easy steps below.

Step 1: Carefully measure the vent to establish the size of the hole you will need to be cutting out of the cargo container.

Step 2: Place the vent right below the top cross beam. Center it between the outer corrugations of the container wall and mark its placement.

Step 3: Measure and mark where you will cut the hole in the cargo container based on your earlier measurements of the vent size.

Step 4: Cut a hole in the cargo container.

Step 5: Use silicone around the vent to prevent water from dripping down the cargo container wall after install.

Step 6: Use self tapping screws or bolts to fasten the vent to the cargo container wall.

A quick summary of the six steps are below:

Step 1: Carefully measure the vent to establish the size of the hole you will need to be cutting out of the cargo container.
Step 2: Place the vent right below the top cross beam. Center it between the outer corrugations of the container wall and mark its placement.
Step 3: Measure and mark where you will cut the hole in the cargo container based on your earlier measurements of the vent size.
Step 4: Cut a hole in the cargo container.
Step 5: Use silicone around the vent to prevent water from dripping down the cargo container wall after install.
Step 6: Use self tapping screws or bolts to fasten the vent to the cargo container wall.

The original video was created by Insta Container Modifications and was posted onto YouTube (the video is below). They have an awesome website that offers a number of cargo container modifications, and if you like the vent in this video, you can reach their site at this link (we were not paid or solicited in any way to add this post, I honestly just think they have awesome stuff and info!).

CW Container- Cargo Worthy Cargo Container Information

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

As I mentioned in my post on WWT Containers, one of the most frustrating things about purchasing a cargo container is the fact that most brokers or container companies will not allow you to see the actual container you are purchasing.

Meaning that you, the consumer, has to rely on classes or a rating system to base your purchasing decision. Which to me, was always scary as a cargo container is a nice sized investment as they run a few thousand dollars.

The purpose of this blog is to provide you with some insight into what a CW (cargo worthy) cargo container is.

A cargo worthy container will be wind and watertight and will also be suitable to transport goods on the open water. Meaning it is structurally sound enough to be stacked up to seven containers high. A quick equation that I find useful is CW= WWT+ CSC (convention for safe containers- in short, is suitable for transport of goods).

Typically a cargo worthy container will have very little rust, minor dings and dents and smooth working doors. The understructure is secure/stable and the floor of the container should be in relatively good shape.

These cargo containers are great for storage, transport, and may even be used for tiny homes/container homes (I would still recommend One Trip container for these), or bunkers.

Summary:

Cargo Worthy Containers Common uses: Storage, transport, bunkers, container homes/tiny homes
Cargo Worthy Containers Common sizes: 8x20, 8x40 and 8x45
What to expect with a Cargo Worthy Containers Container: a structurally sound cargo container with a nice appearance, which can be used for the transport of goods and has minor rust spots, a few dings and dents, a fairly nice floor and good working doors.

I created the summary below in case you are dealing with a company/broker that uses an A,B,C Grading system:

One Trip Containers- One Trip Cargo Container Information

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most frustrating things about purchasing a cargo container is the fact that most brokers or container companies will not allow you to see the actual container you are purchasing. Meaning you pay them a few thousand dollars and hope for the best as they order your container from a port or depot. The first time you see your thousand dollar investment is when it arrives by flatbed to your location. Talk about a roll of the dice!

Due to this, the purpose of this blog is to provide you with some insight into what a One Trip cargo container is to give you an idea of what you may be purchasing.

A one trip container is cargo container that was used only one time to transport goods. Due to the limited use, these containers typically have very little to no rust, very few dents or scratches, and are structurally sound. These containers are typically considered "new" as cargo containers are usually manufactured in Asia and have to travel at least one time to reach the United States (therefore they are as new as you can get in the USA) .

If you buy a one trip container, you can expect to pay more than a wwt (wind & watertight) or cargo worthy container, however you can expect your container to look pretty and last for a very long time.

Summary:

One Trip Container Common uses: Storage, Tiny Homes, Cargo Container Homes, Bunkers, Car Storage, Transport of Goods.
One Trip Container Common sizes: 8x20, 8x40 and 8x45
What to expect with a One Trip Container: a cosmetically appealing container with little to no rust, few scratches or dents and structurally sound. The wooden floors will also be well kept and the doors should open easily.

I created the summary below in case you are dealing with a company/broker that uses an A,B,C Grading system:

Urban Farming with Shipping Containers- Insights from a TEDx Talk by Stuart Oda

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiration comes from a number of places, but for Stuart Oda of EDN (Everyday Nutrition), his inspiration was derived from seeing hungry children while traveling throughout India. The eyes of the starving children he witnessed haunted him and also inspired him to find a solution to create commercial scale quantities of food within a small footprint.

The solution he found rested within cargo containers. Their abundance, small size, and mobility offered the key components he was looking for to achieve his goal. By retrofitting cargo containers into shipping container farms, he and his team would be a step closer to accomplish their goal of tackling world hunger. Not only would they have a source for food, but they would also have a solution that could be implemented anywhere and more importantly directly where the food was consumed.

Their shipping container farms offered a solution that uses one hundred times less land than a traditional farm, twenty times less water and fertilizer, low labor needs and no heavy machinery or pesticides.

They installed a vertical racking system with recirculating hydroponic channels, high efficient LED lighting and a robust insulation and airflow system. They tie this in with a monitoring and automation system and a task management app. Their farm is state of the art to say the least.

Their system is so efficient in terms of water use that it is able to water up to 3,000 plants with about a much water as you used today in your daily shower. Not only does it save water, but it also reduces the amount of chemicals or pesticides used in farming, allowing them to produce clean food, while also removing the negative impacts that traditional farms have on the environment.

Their current farm is structured on a roof top in a parking lot in Beijing. This farm produces up to 50 kilograms of leafy greens per week and looks to be proof that you can use cargo container farming as a way to bring produce directly to the people it will feed.

EDN has a goal to not only bring shipping container farms to large cities, but to arid desserts and even the moon. They believe they have a solution to solving the world hunger crisis, while also being ecofriendly.

Below you will find the TEDx Talk video I found on YouTube with Stuart speaking and I highly recommend watching it. The video is about thirteen and a half minutes long and outlines how he created his shipping container farm. Cargo containers are our passion at cargocontainerbroker.com and we love it when people use them in unconventional ways. Especially when they are trying to change the world! Enjoy and we hope you like today's blog!!

Cargo Container Home by Vipp- Bringing the Outdoors to Life with Shipping Container Living

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

In 1939 the creator of Vipp, Holger Nielsen, designed a trash bin that improved his wife's life at her hair salon. Fast forward to the twenty first century and the company has developed a cargo container shelter that brings nature to life.

From the sky lights above, that open up the night sky, to the all glass doors on both sides of the containers; this is a marvel of shipping container homes.

By embracing practicality (like all their products do) and incorporating a simple but beautiful design, this shelter is nothing short of amazing.

The shelter itself rests two 8x40 high cube cargo containers on top of nine steel pillars. The cargo containers have two modules resting on top and the whole unit has steel sheets tied together with 10,000 bolts. The interior of the shelter has felt that is 3 mm thick to dampen sound and also creates a cozy atmosphere.

The cargo container shelter is 592 square feet, sleeps two people, has a fireplace and floor heating. The floor is dry pressed ceramics and the whole unit weighs 25 tons.

The sleeping quarters is upstairs within one of the top modules, and offers skylights in the ceiling, allowing the person resting to fall asleep while admiring the milky way.

The goal Vipp had was not to only build a house but to bring nature to the resident, which they certainly did. They centralized all the plumbing and electricity and hid most of the reinforcements within the felt inside the cargo containers.

This shelter is amazing and I hope you enjoy the pictures below. I also have a video that Kirsten Dirksen produced on YouTube and also included the link to Vipp's website here .

Container City in Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Could a whole city, with homes, businesses and the works, be constructed in five months?

It could if it was constructed solely with cargo containers.

This is exactly what took place when architect Eric Reynolds set out to construct container city in Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London. This city is a marvel in cargo container construction. The buildings themselves are made with 80 percent recycled material and have a unique flavor of design swagger. Boasting eccentric colors, eye catching design, and even a giant cat ladder, this city is amazing!

Phase one of the construction was built in 2001 with twelve 8x40 cargo containers that were stacked one on top of one another. However, in phase two the architects began to get a bit more bold. They realized that the beauty of cargo containers are their strength and they decided to start to stack them in unique formations, even stacking a cargo container on its end.

The cargo containers were built offsite and later stacked within the city to add to efficiency. One particular section of the city was constructed in only fifteen days, and Reynolds highlighted how this same section would most likely have taken over a year if constructed by traditional means.

The city itself is estimated to have cost about two thirds of the cost of normal construction and should last a whole lot longer. He estimated they would last indefinitely, which we believe as cargo containers are incredibly sturdy.

Below you will find a YouTube video with more information on Trinity Buoy Wharf's Cargo Container city. The video was published by ContainerCity and runs roughly six minutes. You will also find more pictures below.

Cargo Containers Becoming Art with Hydraulic Doors

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew Quilty and Adam Kalkin from Industrial Zombie's are doing incredible things with cargo containers. I first became aware of their cargo container artwork from a YouTube video by Kirsten Dirksen (I highly recommend following her on YouTube).

In the video they mention they are driven by the goal of changing people's paradigm in terms of what they view as art. And from what I have seen, they are doing just that by making regular cargo containers into incredibly sophisticated and beautiful structures.

Their use of hydraulics within the structure of their cargo container artwork turn steel containers into a fascinating and mind challenging structures. Not only do they use hydraulics but a number of other out of the box solutions (like automatic doors), to turn their containers into a thing of beauty.

With the number of cargo containers resting in the United States, which they estimate to be around half a billion, with seventy percent of those in light to no use, it only makes sense to use these cargo containers for building. Not only is it eco friendly (essentially recycling) but they are incredibly structurally sound and offer a fair amount of space (an 8x40 cargo container offers 320 square feet of space).

I hope you enjoy the pictures below along with the video that Kirsetn Dirksen posted. You are in for a treat in cargo container design and will be amazed at how they incorporate hydraulic doors into their functional artwork.

Cargo Container Repair and Maintenance

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A cargo container can literally last for a hundred plus years, and by keeping up with routine maintenance you can extend the life of your box saving you from having to invest in a new one.

When a container does wear down it is typically due to rust. Cargo containers are constructed out of steel and when they are exposed to water over a period of time (keep in mind containers typically start their life off transporting goods on the sea) they tend to naturally rust. These rust spots, if left unattended, can lead to holes which can compromise the structural integrity of the box.

We found this video on YouTube that provides useful information on searching out rust spots and repairing them before they become a major problem. We believe the video will give you a good idea of how to perform basic container maintenance.

The video was published by homesteadprepper and runs about seven minutes.

Master Yacht Builder Creates Cargo Container Home Masterpiece for under $15,000

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When I found this video of a master yacht builder turned cargo container home builder savant, I was blown away. The wood work alone in this 8x20 cargo container is amazing!

The owner of the tiny home, shipwright Evans, lost his wife four years before he decided to take on the project and did a masterful job utilizing space without sacrificing beauty. He has all the amenities you would need to survive- a kitchen made for a chef, a normal size bathroom, washer and dryer and LED lighting built into the ceiling. He also has plans to make the tiny home off the grid, and as it stands, he operates it with a water filter and battery system hidden behind the fridge.

To keep the 8x20 cargo container insulated he used 12 mm (1/2 inch) multi-key insulation combined with 30 mm (1 inch) of high density polystyrene installed directly on the steel walls and in the ceiling he used a one panel sheet that was made by a company that makes insulated truck bodies. The one panel sheet was made of fiberglass and high density insulation and to spice it up he routed in LED lights into the ceiling. With this insulation system, shipwright Evans uses a wall heater that takes as much energy as a light a bulb to keep himself warm.

The cost of this home in US dollars was roughly $15,000. Which is simply amazing when you consider the beauty of this cargo container home. His goal is to make the home larger, expanding it to 22 square meters with a glass wall opening up into a veranda. As is, the side of the home currently opens up, adding an awesome feature and adding space.

This video is a must see and truly shows how creative you can be with a cargo container. Shipwright Evans home is still seaworthy and in my opinion a masterpiece. This video was discovered on YouTube and was produced by Living Big In A Tiny House and is roughly twelve minutes long. See more pictures of this home below.

How to Frame a Cargo Container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you were interested in modifying your cargo container, at some point you may need to do some framing.

There are a number of different ways to accomplish this, but I found one video that might be useful to you. The person who published this did a nice job detailing each step and I am going to do my best to outline these below, along with posting the full video for your viewing.

Keep in mind that when you frame a traditional home you are doing it for support, however, with a cargo container the structure is already sound and the framing is typically for you to attach something to it (drywall), to hold insulation, or to add doors or other fixtures.

In most cases you will not want to affix the 2x4's or wood with screws or nails directly into the steel of the container as this will make the container less likely to be wind and watertight. There are some exceptions like screwing the base of the framing into the floor of the cargo container, however, I would advise to steer clear of screwing into the steel walls.

In this video standard house framing was used within the cargo container. The couple used a kreg jig (see picture below) to help secure the studs, however, they do note you could use toenailing (I also included a picture below to show you what toenailing is).

At this point they made sure to drop down the ceiling a bit to install installation at a later date and then secured the framing with Hurricane Ties (see below).

They secured the base plates down to the floor with screws and the tops with angle brackets. They choose this method as they did not want the frame secured directly to the metal walls of the cargo containers as they wanted to insulate it with a thermal spray foam at a later date.

The framing was done pretty easily with this process and should provide you with general instructions for framing your own cargo container.

The video was published by Container Acre and runs roughly four and a half minutes. It also includes a portion towards the end of the video on how they installed their flooring. I hope you enjoyed this blow and get some use out of it.

Below you will find the whole video. Thanks!

How to Install a Cargo Container Door

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found this step by step video on YouTube which I thought did a nice job of breaking down how to add a door to a cargo container.

If you are looking for a way to enter your cargo container from the side, you may find this blog useful. I summarized the video in the 12 steps below, but also added pictures below the text breaking down the video above. The video was produced by Quickfit Container Accessories and runs three and a half minutes. I hope this video helps you with your Do-It-Yourself Cargo Container modification.

Step 1: Measure and Record the Inner Frame of the Door.
Step 2: Measure and Mark the Cargo Container for Cutting.
Step 3- Mark cutting guides with painters tape
Step 4- Proceed with cutting the door hole with the tool of your choice.
Step 5- Safely remove the panel that was cut out for the door.
Step 6- With the tool of your choice smooth the edges into a flat surface to remove any burs or sharp edges.
Step 7- Place the door your purchased in the cut out.
Step 8- Screw door in place with self-taping screws.
Step 9- Ensure the door is straight and has an even gap around the frame.
Step 10- Attach brackets to the door frame and ensure they are tight to the wall.
Step 11- Weld the door to the inside of the container wall, or use more self-taping screws around the frame.
Step 12- Check your work to make sure you have a proper fit.

See step by step pictures below:

Keetwonen, Amsterdam's 1000 Cargo Container Student Housing Complex

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

TempoHousing has taken cargo container homes to a new level.

In September of 2005 they embarked on a massive project to build a student housing complex in Keetwonen, Amsterdam with a total of 1034 modules. Within the complex, which is now one of the most popular student housing centers in the city, there are 301 square feet student homes made up of cargo containers, a cafe, common areas, and a laundry mat. Essentially, all the amenities a student would need while attending college.

The project only took eight months to construct as TempoHousing commissioned a dedicated production line in China to produce 40 shipping container homes per week. These homes were made with 8x40 cargo containers and are stacked vertically one container on top of another to complete the complex which is a total of 333,897 square feet.

In 2015 each home cost around $475 us dollars per month, which to a college student seems very affordable. The original plan was the leave the cargo container homes on the site for five years, and then have them relocated (which is a perk of a shipping container home). However, the project was postponed to stay on the site until 2018.

With cargo container buildings and complexes increasing in popularity, I think this is an awesome idea to provide students with affordable housing while still capturing the dorm life experience. The container homes have proved to be safe as they meet the high building standards in Europe, and since cargo containers are incredibly durable, I would imagine these homes take minimal maintenance and will last longer than a traditional dorm complex.

Bravo to TempoHousing for such an awesome complex. To view their website you can click here . Below you will find more pictures of the cargo container housing complex, along with a YouTube video I found with some live footage of the homes. The video was published by Dutchurbanminer and runs roughly two and a half minutes.

Shipping Container Homes- A Video Highlighting 38 Amazing Cargo Container Homes

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found a pretty cool video on YouTube published by RunmanReCords Design that highlights 38 amazing shipping container homes.

The video was inspiring as you are able to digest all the amazing things people have done with cargo containers to make not only sturdy and structurally sound homes, but incredibly beautiful artwork combined with awe inspiring design.

I also added one home, ahem... actually a cargo container castle, that I thought should have been added to the list as it is amazing as well.

Below you will find pictures of these homes and at the bottom I also have a copy of the original video.

Enjoy and I hope you are as amazed by these homes as I was :)

One Family's Story of Building a Cargo Container Cabin in the Redwoods

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Cargo Container homes are becoming more and more popular. They offer an individual the opportunity to build a home at a relatively low cost, while also providing the durability and longevity that a traditional home does not.

This family was originally considering installing a prefab home, but due to the location that they picked out in the Northern California Redwoods, they decided that a container home would be more desirable.

As you watch the YouTube video you will see how impressive this home is. It offers both architectural beauty and feasibility. By using multiple cargo containers from the Port of Oakland they were able to build their dream cabin in the woods. An advantage of using the containers as the foundation of the cabin are that it will naturally be fire resistant (more so than a wood cabin or traditional home) and in my opinion more earthquake resistant than a normal home (they do have earthquakes in California!).

The video was published by Kirsten Dirksen and runs roughly nine and a half minutes. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did. It is inspiring and shows how creative you can be with cargo containers!

A Cargo Container Coffee Shop? Starbucks Thinks So!

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When I heard about this I almost jumped out of my seat.

Could Starbucks really be jumping on the cargo container building bandwagon?

They sure did!

Anthony Perez, a local architect in Seattle, Washington, became inspired while watching the shipping containers outside of his window in the Port of Seattle. It was in this moment when he decided to bring the idea of building a cargo container coffee shop to Starbucks, and with Starbucks drive to always take sustainability to the next level, the idea was right up their alley and they gave him the go.

Perez used three 8x40 cargo containers, as well and a sixteen foot hammerhead for the drive thru, to create an amazing experience for Starbucks customers. The container building is 137 square meters and is LEAN certified. It takes cargo container building to the next level and created an environment that is unique, eco-friendly and incredibly beautiful.

Starbucks experienced so much success with the building that they built another one in Denver, Colorado. I have posted the video I found on YouTube below. It was published by CNN and is a little over four minutes long.

8 Unbelievable Structures Made From Cargo Containers

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found an amazing video on 8 structures from around the world that are constructed out of cargo containers. I created a summary of the 8 below, but have also posted the YouTube video from Freeze Lists who published the video. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Urban Rigger - the Urban Rigger was created by the Danish firm Bjarke Ingels and is an affordable student housing complex in Copenhagen. It is constructed out of 9 shipping containers that cost the students $600 per month. Each unit offers 680 square meters of living space and the whole structure rests on the water. The rooms offer beautiful views of the ocean as they each have glass incorporated in the cargo container to maximize the view.

Shipping Container Pools - These pools are made in Queensland, Australia (the have a sister company in Canada) and are constructed out of cargo containers with fiberglass shells. The are easily transportable and usually have a glass side. They are incredibly sturdy and offer a unique place to take a dip.

Carrol House Lot - created by EK in the Williamsburg Area in Brooklyn, New York. The Carrol House is made from 21 cargo containers that were cut diagonally to create an amazing slanted affect. The structure offers 5000 square feet of living space and was such a hit when it was being constructed that tours were offered for curious onlookers before the houses grand opening.

Bharathi Antarctic Research Station- the Bharathi Antarctic Research Station was created by India's National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research. It is 2500 square meters and was created out of cargo containers as they provided the structure with the ability to be quickly disassembled and moved. The structure can withstand 200 kilometers per hour winds and temperatures that drop as low as -49 degrees celsius. It was built on stilts and the cargo containers allow it the toughness it needs to survive in one of the most difficult terrains on Earth.

Mill Junction - Mill Junction is a student housing center created by Citiq in South Africa. The structure offer students with 375 apartment’s made up of cargo containers and disused grain silos. The structure offers a very unique look with an eccentric design and alternating colors providing it with a vibe that students absolutely love.

Container Stack Pavilion - The Container Stack Pavilion is made up of 12 cargo containers and was designed by Peoples Architecture, a firm in China. The structure was created to be transportable and is moved as needed. The cargo containers within the structure are stacked into two rows with zigzag edges. They boast bright red and yellow colors to commemorate the Chinese flag and are often rearranged into different designs.

Container City - Container City was built in London by Urban Space Management. The structure was built in 2001 for affordable housing, and entered phase two with Container City 2 in 2002. The building has inspired many other container buildings around the world and is famous for how affordable, eco-friendly and quick it was to construct.

Joshua Tree - Joshua Tree was created by London based designer James Whitaker. It was built as a residence and its cargo containers are set-up in rising positions to maximize the landscape views and enhance privacy. The cargo container structure was built in the California desert and has concrete columns with a total square footage of 200 square meters.

Below you can view the whole YouTube video that was published by Freeze Lists. The video runs a little over eleven and a half minutes long.

Be Inspired: A Luxury Cargo Container Home Built For Less Than $40,000

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Get ready to be inspired! As you know by now I love cargo container homes and when viewed this video on YouTube I had to share it. It is proof that you can live a life of luxury without breaking the bank. This tiny home was constructed out of an 8x20 cargo container and features double wide glass front doors which open at 180 degrees (makes moving things inside easy) and wood beams within the container.

I was impressed with how wide open this tiny home looks. The architect did an amazing job with their use of windows to liven the home up and provide natural lighting throughout.

They also utilized a barn door inside to provide the home with a unique vibe. The home has a cooling unit as well as plumbing. It is equipped with a kitchen sink, shower and toilet.

We love this home and I think you will too. Be inspired, and enjoy this video. It was published by Tiny House Listings and runs about seven minutes.

Tiny Home- 484 square foot 8x40 and 8x20 Cargo Container Home for $84,000

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I marveled at this tiny home when I found it on YouTube. Brenda Kelly built this incredible home out of two cargo containers. She combined an 8x40 container with an additional 8x20 to create roughly 484 square feet of living space.

The home stands out with its prominent blue and white colors but to me the highlight was the patio area that has a beautiful deck, surrounded by glass and clear blinds. The area adds onto the house, opening it up to amazing views. Kelly mentions how she uses this area to entertain and I can see why.

Her cargo container home is also eco friendly. She installed solar panels that feed into the grid and she sells her energy back during the day and buys a lesser amount back at night. She runs 240 volts of power at no cost and is able to operate all the common amenities a traditional home would carry.

She also utilizes a vermiculture water treatment system that is gravity based and does not need a pump. She uses the water run off from her flashing to feed into a 1000 liter water tank. The water she collects saves her 45% off of her water cost. She also ties into the water main for potable water, but the runoff feeds her shower and clothes washer.

Overall the home is amazing and she was able to get an awesome deal on the land as it slopes. For a cargo container home, this does not pose a problem, as all you need to support are the four corners of the container as the frame is reinforced by steel.

The total cost of the home is roughly $84,000 without installation or the foundation. The video was posted by Living Big in a Tiny House and runs roughly thirteen minutes. Below you can find more pictures of this tiny home along with the video. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me :)

The Creation of the Cargo Container- How Shipping Containers Changed the World

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered how cargo containers were created? Well you know I have! If you follow my blog you know that I am a self proclaimed cargo container geek and you can blame my mentor and friend Howard "Hands" Keene for that. However, I can't be blamed for the invention of the container, that falls onto the shoulders of Malcolm McLean.

In 1955 he was running a trucking company in North Carolina when he bought a steamship line and came up with the idea to remove the wheels from his trucks and strengthen the sides of the trailers and stack them on his newly acquired steamship decks. His prototype "ideal X" could store 56 containers on deck and Malcolm became the father of containerization.

Around the same time Oakland, California based Matson Navigation Company conducted research on ways to control rising costs and discovered loading and unloading freight in the traditional manner was inefficient and a containerization program they implemented revolutionized transport to the Hawaiian Islands. The rest is history!

Containerization started a revolution in trade and in the loading and unloading of cargo. Longshoremen were replaced with cranes and the industry was turned on its head. By 2005, roughly 50 years after McLean invented the cargo container roughly 90% of all goods were moved by containerization.

This YouTube video by the Wall Street Journal will give you an incredible insight into an industry and tool (cargo container) that has had a profound impact on the world as we know it. !

A Luxury Cargo Container Home- The Lindendale

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

This home is simply amazing!

The Lindendale Luxury Container Home was constructed by the Container Build Group and is constructed out of fourteen, 8x20 cargo containers. The project took only ten weeks to build and when you see the pictures and video of the home below you will be in awe.

The owner, Charles, did an amazing job with the design. Everything about the shipping container home is innovative and beautiful. From the fan out windows in the kitchen to the state of the art toilets and towel holders that double as towel warmers! How could you not love the attention to detail? I know I do :)

The thing I love the most about the home is they did not hide the fact that it was built with cargo containers, they actually celebrated it! Which you should, as cargo containers are awesome!!!

I hope you enjoy the pictures below and the YouTube video I found. The video was published by containercabins1 and runs roughly five minutes.

Hybrid Cargo Container Home

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found a nice video that provides a time lapse of a cargo container build. I labeled this build as a hybrid cargo container home as the builder used three 8x20 One Trip cargo containers, mixed in with a traditional home build up.

The video was published on YouTube by Scott Owen and as I read through his comments the home is expected to cost less than 30k. Which for a new home, which is custom made, seems like a steal.

Since he used One Trip cargo containers, I would also be willing to say that the home will most likely last for a significant amount of time (I would guess the one trip containers could last up to 100+ years).

What I really liked about the video is it shows you how they laid the cargo containers on a steel frame for the foundation which I liked as it will keep the cargo containers off the ground. They also built up a pitched roof which added a really cool flavor to the home and three glass doors on the side where they only set one cargo container which would really open up this home.

I really love the mixture of both cargo container building and traditional building and think you will like this video. The video runs about five minutes, but it is worth the watch.

Cargo Container Farming: Can You Really Produce 5 Acres of Produce with an 8x40 Shipping Container?

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

With the average head of lettuce having to travel over 1800 miles of surface road to reach the daily consumer, the folks at Local Roots decided to search for a new and more efficient method of farming.

This led them to my favorite thing- Cargo Containers. With an 8x40 shipping container they were able to find a way to produce the equivalent of 5 acres of traditional farming produce. The innovation in farming allows them to bring produce into the markets they service such as Los Angeles, Ca, without the 1800 mile travel.

When an 8x40 container arrives at their location, they are able to outfit it with irrigation, electricity, shelving and lighting, within a week to make the container a fully functional farm (or cargo container farm). Their farming techniques take away all the harmful practices of traditional farming and introduce growing into a controlled environment that produces quality food. No genetic modifications take place, just good ole fashioned farming with a cargo container twist!

The idea seems ingenious and I have posted the full video below. It was produced by Mashable News and runs close to three minutes. This idea seems like a game changer in farming and looks incredibly efficient.

I have also included a few pictures for you to view. Enjoy :)

Cargo Container Farming- What are the Pros and Cons

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Cargo container farms are becoming more and more popular and like any investment they hold a number of pros and cons.

We found this video on YouTube by Bright Agrotech that details a list of 4 pros and 7 cons to container farming. We thought it would be worthwhile to list these out and also post the video on our blog for you to view (the video is a little over nineteen minutes).

If you are considering getting into this business or are looking to grow produce out of a container at your home, here are some things to consider.

The video outlines this list of Pros to Container Farming:

Pros:

1) Compact & contained

2) Cheap & available

3) Easy to Ship

4) Prices to buy prefab container farms are decreasing

It also highlights this list of Cons to Container Farming:

Cons

1) Not designed to grow plants

2) Environmental control difficult

3) Structural Integrity

4) Light and Heat antagonistic

5) People and workflow issues

6) High operational expense

Our goal with this post was to give you a real basic overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this new type of farming. We hope you enjoy and I am sure we will have more information posted on container farms soon!

How to Install Cargo Container Shelving

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you are planning on using a cargo container for storage, installing some shelving will certainly come in handy.

One thing to consider before installing your shelving is that it might not be too wise to drill holes via screws or nails directly into the steel side walls of the cargo container. The reason being, is that it will compromise the container from being wind and watertight. Once a hole exists, it is not long before moisture accumulates and you have now opened a can of worms in terms of rust.

Because of this there are a number of creative solutions for shelving that do not require puncturing the surface of the cargo container. One such product is by Insta Container Modifications (they also published the video I will post below as well as are responsible for the pictures I have below).

They did not solict me or pay me for this endorsment. I honestly just like their how to videos and products.

The installation of this shelving system can be done within a few minutes and takes 4 easy steps.

Step 1: Hang the shelf brackets on the cargo container D-Rings, then attach the t-bars to the bottom of the bracket.

Step 2: Center your boards in the brackets leaving only one inch overhang for every foot between your shelf brackets.

Step 3: Place the board in brackets with the inside meeting edges pointing up and snap boards into place.

Step 4: Repeat the process for all three shelf levels.

There you have it. Any easy to use shelving system that will not compromise the integrity of your shipping container. If you want to reach Insta Container Modifications website click this link . The video for the whole instructional is below. Enjoy!

Installing a Large Window into a Cargo Container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When most people think of a cargo container home, the first thing that comes to mind is how claustrophobic it must be. The idea of being stuck inside of an 8x20 or 8x40 box seems unbearable.

An easy and efficient solution that many tiny home builders utilize is the use of windows within the walls of the container to open up the space. I found this video that details a container home builder utilizing a large window within his container home to open up the space within his room.

You will see how he cuts out the space for the window, smooths out the area, welds the frame and screws in the window. He says the window now only opened up the space, but also gave him and his wife better cell phone reception!

The producer of the video, Paul Chambers, takes you step by step on how he adds the window into his home. The approach is a low cost solution to opening up a cargo container home and solving the idea of being stuck in a box. The video is roughly nine minutes and worth the view.

How to Build a Rainwater Catchment on an 8x40 Cargo Container

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Are you looking for an innovative solution to collecting rainwater for a farm or garden?

I found this video online that documents how someone did just that. They were looking for a way to catch rainwater for their nursery and did so in a few easy steps.

The first step they took was welding metal brackets to the upper ridge of one side of the 8x40 cargo container. They were going to use these brackets to affix reclaimed wood to create a low pitch roof that angled into a rain gutter on the other side of the cargo container.

Once the metal brackets were in place they attached the reclaimed wood and ran two by four lumber across to create the slope that would feed into the gutter.

Once the frame of the low pitched angled roof was complete, he installed roofing material (most of it was recycled) that would filter the water into the gutter on the side of the cargo container. The water would feed from the gutter into downspouts that feed into IBC totes that will be stacked two high.

Once that was complete the roof of the cargo container was now set-up to filter the rainwater into the gutter that would then be collected for his nursery.

To view the video that was created by What's Ripening please click below. The video runs close to eight minutes. We love the idea and according to the creator of the video, the rainwater is better for plants as it has less chlorine than tap water. We hope you enjoy this blog!

Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) Overview of Cargo Container Equipment Inspection

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found this video online that provides an overview video on the IICL-6 guide. You will see how inspection measurements are made and have a better understanding of the guide and standards used in inspecting cargo containers.

The IICL or Institute of International Container Lessors was formed in the early 1970s and has been setting technical standards for the inspection and repair of lessor owned marine containers since that date. This video is highly technical but will give you a great insight into how inspection on cargo containers takes place. You will view actual inspectors at work and have a chance to witness what they are looking for and why.

Again this video is highly technical but we thought you might find it useful, especially if you purchase an IICL guide. The video was found on YouTube and is about fourteen and a half minutes long.

How to Build a Concrete Slab for a Cargo Container Home or Building

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you are looking into building your own cargo container home (tiny home) or building, you will need a foundation for the containers to sit on. The foundation is key as it will allow the cargo containers to remain level and sit off of the soil.

I found this video on YouTube by Andrew Camarata that documents the procedures that you will go through in building your container slab. The video is nearly eleven and a half minutes long, but is a good representation of what tools, equipment and labor you would need to set your own foundation.

I summarized the steps below, but have the video for your viewing. Enjoy and I hope this video helps!

Quick Summary of how to pour your cargo container home slab:

1) Pick a spot high up to prevent water/rust issues

2) Clear and level a spot

3) Put down a layer of ¾ inch gravel

4) Dig and install conduits for electric, cable, water and septic (even if you do not think you will need them, they can save you time, energy and effort if later on you decide that you do).

5) Install anchor barrier, rebar and form boards

6) Pour your concrete, set wall, or container anchors

7) Level the concrete

8) Remove form boards

9) Fill sides of slab with gravel or dirt

A Bob Vila Special on a Shipping Container Home Build Up in St Petersburg, Florida

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found this awesome Bob Vila episode on the construction of shipping container homes in St Petersburg, Florida.

This is a two part episode (I have both episodes below) and I felt like they did a great job detailing the history of the company that created the cargo container homes (or as they call them Intermodal Steel Building Units- ISBU's) and what needed to be done to complete the construction process.

The biggest take away that I had was on the material they used to insulate the cargo containers from heat. They used a product named superthem (see their website by clicking this link ) which is a product similar to the one NASA uses on spaceships to insulate the shuttles. To apply the superthem they sprayed it onto the outside of the cargo containers, similar to what you would do to apply paint.

They mention the product during both episodes, however, during the first episode they do a cool demonstration on the products effectiveness with a small piece of metal and a blowtorch at around the 7:15 mark.

The video will also show you how they install their shipping container homes onto the foundation, how they install the wooden trusses on the roof and explain the challenges they had with the exterior of the homes due to the 4 different surface types they were working with (the cement foundation, the steel cargo containers, the metal framing, and the wooden gables).

Enjoy the videos below!

Episode 1:

Episode 2:

Alternative Pools: Building a Cargo Container Swimming Pool

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Looking for an innovative way to build a swimming pool? With the national average cost of an in ground swimming pool hitting just below forty-seven thousand dollars (according to HomeAdvisor), a cargo container may present a lower cost alternative to your swimming needs.

When I found this YouTube video I became instantly intrigued; especially when the producer (Home Design Inspiration) claimed this can be done in six easy steps (I summarize these below). Granted after watching the video it sounds like this is no easy project by no means, however, it does sound feasible and cost efficient.

When you consider you can by a one trip cargo container for less than five thousand dollars (I personally wouldn't want to try this with any other grade since you need to ensure it structurally sound), and if you can do the leg work described by yourself, this definitely poses an interesting alternative to a traditional pool.

I think this idea is pretty intriguing and given the video is only four minutes long, I think it worth the watch. I hope you enjoy and happy swimming :)

Cargo Container Pool in Six Easy Steps:

1. Check on building restrictions within your area and apply for a permit (if you are in Phoenix, Arizona click the link to our blog post on obtaining a permit).
2. Consult a structural engineer to ensure the cargo container can withstand the weight of the water inside.
3. Decide on height of the swimming pool, cut the container to size, and smooth out the sharp edges.
4. Make the container watertight.
5. Add the plumbing and pumps.
6. Install the pool.

How to Install Shipping Container Vents to Reduce Heat or Moisture

osci32@hotmail.com (Oscar Martinez) — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I found this cool three minute video on how to install side vents on your cargo container to reduce either heat and or moisture. The video was published by All Things Containers PTY Ltd and runs roughly three minutes.

I visited their website and they sell the vents, but appear to be outside of the United States ( I believe they are in Australia). I have never purchased any products from them but I appreciated the how to video and wanted to share it with all of you. They didn't solicit or pay us for this post, I just thought they did a great job of making an informative and concise how to video. The literally run through installing the product in about two minutes.

The vents, like any vent, are effective in reducing the heat of your cargo container and will also allow for airflow to reduce moisture.

I hope you all like the video!

8x20 Cargo Worthy Cargo Container For Sale Phoenix, AZ SITU 294243