Building Amazing Homes & Mobile Spaces Using Shipping Containers!
In this video we explore and learn how to use shipping containers as strong, durable and mobile building blocks to create amazing structures of all kinds, like a house, addition, office space, or cabin; and we feature a few stunning projects to get you inspired!
Anthony Ruggiero from Storstac Inc. ( showed us around their yard in Toronto, Ontario and took the time to teach us about the ins and outs of building with shipping containers. We’re excited to share the tips and information we learned with you.
Shipping containers come in standard 20 foot and 40 foot lengths, and there are other specialty custom sizes like the 10′, 45′, 48′, 53′ long containers.
Almost all shipping containers are made in China, and can be bought used (after they’ve been used for 10-20 years), or new, which means they’ve one been used once.
Since there are no shipping manifests for used containers to show what was transported in them over the course of their lifetime (it could be anything from clothes to nuclear waste), it’s better to build with a new shipping container that’s only been used once.
They’re made with COR-TEN steel, which is a weathering steel that can withstand harsh weather conditions and elements like salt water because the rust on weathering steel creates a protective patina to keep it strong, whereas rust on mild steel would actually weaken the metal.
While building with shipping containers is not necessarily cheaper than conventional building, it does have advantages because the containers are modular, movable and mobile, durable, and have a unique, modern look.
They can be do it yourself friendly if you’ve worked with steel before, or if you find a company to take care of the steel work for you so you can focus on how to frame it and finish it from the inside.
Let us know what you think of shipping containers as alternative building blocks in the comments!
And if you’re interested in learning more about Storstac and the projects they’ve worked on, check out the links below:
Storstac
New Old Stock – LA Man Cave
Harlem House Addition in Toronto
Rogers Fan Hub in Toronto
Thanks for watching!
Mat & Danielle
————————————————————-
SUPPORT OUR CHANNEL!
————————————————————-
Thank you to all of our Patrons who support us so generously and a very special thank you to our backbone supporters: The Burgess Family.
If you like our videos, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
————————————————————-
STAY IN TOUCH!
————————————————————-
Blog: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: /exploringalternativesblog
Instagram: @exploringalternatives
————————————————————-
VIDEO CREDITS
————————————————————-
Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.
Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credits:
Interview and B-roll by Mat of Exploring Alternatives
Drone footage and photos by Anthony Ruggiero
Harlem House rendering by Javid Jah
shipping,container,shipping container,green,building,block,blocks,modular,home,homes,bunkie,cabin,addition,new,used,Storstac,modern,architecture,design,interior,interior design,retail,food,truck,build,shipping containers,alternative,exploring alternatives,new old stock,Jason Halter,Anthony Ruggiero,los angeles,LA,Toronto,Canada,2017,mobile,office,DIY,do it yourself,how to,how,to,COR-TEN,steel,box,mild,weathering,Harlem House,weld,welding,cut,cutting,cutouts,paint,off,grid
interesting points ,if anyone else wants to learn about container home floor plans designs try Corbandy Container Crusher (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my brother in law got cool results with it.
Somebody needs to design a nice hotel from containers
It is not that neighbours do not like the look of it, It is the fact that they paid more than twice of what you are going to pay to live in the same area with the same square footage if not more, Even if you wanted to build a mansion I bet those same neighbours would appose that also lmfao just do things easy and quietly.
Neighbors interfering with what you want to your house?
If it's for safety I'll comply.. But if it's just design they're against then screw them!!
.
That's what you get for sooo much freedom, it turns into privilege.
what's next? homes made from portable toilets?
I thought there IS a manifest for every container so you know what’s been in it and where it’s gone 🤷♂️
I love the look of container homes but each container only lasts 20 years? So after 20 years you’d have to replace the home?
I'm not sure but ,if anyone else wants to learn about container home floor plans try Sovallo Container Build Fixer (just google it ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my friend got cool results with it.
May i ask you ? how to deal with lightning from striking the container building ? is container building safe from lightning?
I want to do great things with this technology some day
nuclear waste….dude probably saw this ONE time, from a friend who said they saw it happen…com'on mannnnnn
wow, I learned a lot. great video.
we are moving on farmland and building a shipping container house weve heard they are So good for building homes and this video just supports that claim
Who ever is in the back ground making annoying noises. Tell her to keep her noise silent.
Shipping containers are the way to go, problem is local and city governments haven't got a clue, they balk at anything that doesn't fit their conventional way of thinking about how a home should look and be built, their rules and regulations are out of date and out of touch with the current realities and problems that people face today. Quite frankly they all need to be fired and replaced with people who are people friendly. Lots of luck with that. It's going to take a civil war to straighten out the mess this country is in.
Shipping containers are great I go to a pony club and we have 2 shipping containers there that are split into three for tack sheds they are really good and hold everything saddles and all the feed there awsome
Can you hear the person in the back saying, mhm, yea, all the time?
Super informative. Thank you so much 👏👏
2:02 this looks like the beginning preamble to cities looking like the ones in the movie Ready Player One.
I'd like to know price too. My husband works in construction and was GIVEN one. We eventually turned it into a BEAUTIFUL shed, covering it with wood siding and installing a wooden patio floor all around.
This is so cool
Ok you didn't mention the insulation step…
Don't the steel reinforcing frames needed offset the low cost of the containers? Seems like less effort and cost if you start with a steel frame from scratch. Am I overlooking something?
Great video!! What about isolation? must be fking hot at the sun in summer
Awesome video. I loved the guys knowledge