Also called shipping containers, I been thinking for few years now about buying 4-5 of these and making a house ...I saw a couple slick ones out in colorado a few years ago..anyone have one ?
Seen used ones for sale ?
we called them connexes. I've built out hundreds of them for military. we lived in them, made bathrooms, offices, whatever. they were really cheap until people started figuring out how useful they were. They shot up in price about 5 years ago. you used to be able to buy them for less than a thousand. now they are 2 - 4 thousand for a 40ft http://www.ebay.com/itm/40-High-Cube-Shipping-Container-2-100-00-/271368216222?hash=item3f2ece5e9e
Nice...about 7 Years ago I could have bought the 8'x 40' ones cheap..1k apiece...didnt have anywhere to put it tho. you are correct ..the price is up...if u had to ballpark the build out with material n labor if done by myself what do ya think it would be ? No solar or anything...just 200 @mp service and liquid propane feeding all appliances...thanx 4 $wift reply.
The price is probably higher now because the value of metal has gone up. There is a company in Detroit that sells these on eBay. They told me it would be $700 to have it delivered on a flat bed truck to nw lower mi. I think it was a 15x10 unit I was looking at.
it totally depends on what you do. I have slept once or twice since then but best I can remember materials were probably 4 thousand apiece on average for batt insulation, furred out w/2x2, pakistan plywood inside, wood doorfront with one chigo ac/heat unit, 100 ampserv at the most, about 8 receptacles.
copper is pretty high now so hopefully it is near the elec source
My best friend plans to buy a bunch of these and make a huge house out of them with an open center. He has the plans made up and everything. I will have to take a look at them again a maybe I will scan them. I was thinking about doing it too and doing 6-9 going up a hill like steps with glass on the front of each going on to a patio on each level.
Anyone ever see the Canadian documentary where some guys put ten of them underground to grow in? there still there to but no more grow. I have found the like ebay link for the same price around here in Michigan. Thought about burying a couple of them to build up inside and have an underground shelter on some property up north, then Rrog can buy me some solar panels and battery backups!
I have seen some really, really nice ones . I love the top picture.
I know a site that had free plans, I will spend some time later finding it. I know I saved
the link. If I remember correctly, after buying the shipping container and land the guy
spent less then 20k getting everything done on a very upscale one. I think you could do
a basic one for a 1/3 of that.
I found em cheap from China for 800$ ..but the floors are sprayed with some nasty chemicals to repel pests...so ya gotta floor em ..still cheaper than stick built tho..I got a buddy says He can get me 3 of em for 2k but the delivery is over 1k ... I haven't given up hope but It ain't lookin feasible.
I'm glad ya bumped this.. Check out some designs they havevon the net..these can be pretty sharp.
My new pipe dream is this tiny house nation stuff...likec700 square ft...have a barn to run innies...I don't need much room..its just more to clean and heat-cool.
The toxic chemical finishes are exaggerated. If they were that unsafe chemically they would not be fit to move goods intended for retail.
I read that a coat of paint over the floor and walls would trap any possible contaminants anyway.
And the floors are pretty rough and needed to be redone anyway.
I just read this article last month and still think these are very cool. I'm with you on the minimalist approach, possessions have been feeling more and more like burden lately.
If you happen to have a little experience in metal fab, then this is definitely a good idea. I think I'd look for 8' reefers if I could find them to avoid insulating them yourself. I can't think of too many climates where condensation wouldn't make them rain inside.
Spray foaming the interior completely and proper venting and hvac make the condensation problems disappear.
Reefers cost 3-5 times the money and usually have the wheels and undercarriage attached .
Not as easy to build around.