Shipping containers have long been used for more than just transporting goods. Thanks to their robust construction and easy adaptability, they can be used for many other purposes. You can turn them into a pool, a shop, or a house. A shipping container can also become a garage, a storage unit, or even a bridge.
Shipping containers don’t have to be used just for transporting goods; they can also be repurposed for other uses. Take a look at some of the most common transformations:
- Shipping Container House
Shipping containers can be used for quick and affordable construction projects. Nowadays, tiny houses made from shipping containers are very popular. If you attach wheels to one, you can even hitch it to a car and take it with you.
The most suitable for these builds are shipping containers made of high-strength steel, making them durable, sturdy, and able to withstand strong winds. If you renovate them beautifully and use materials like wood for the exterior, they can be almost indistinguishable from wooden houses.
Advantages of a shipping container house:
- Cost: lower price than traditional houses and low land requirements.
- Durability: shipping containers are strong and durable.
- Speed: the fastest construction of all types of houses.
- Eco-friendly option: repurposing used containers, independence from energy grids, and water distribution.
- Freedom: the ability to move the house anywhere.
- Maintenance: easy to maintain.
You can start the construction yourself or hand over the container house plans to a specialized company.
- Pool Made from a Shipping Container
Yes, you read that right—you can make a pool from a shipping container, whether you have a traditional house or a shipping container home. The pool can be set into the ground, painted or tiled on the outside, and equipped with LED lighting.
- Garage
Without major modifications, you can easily transform a shipping container into a functional garage. Here are some ideas for a shipping container garage:
- For a single parking space, a 20-foot container will suffice.
- To create a double garage, you can join two containers together, and for a large garage, you’ll need three or more containers.
- Paint the entire container in your chosen color and apply an anti-corrosion coating.
- Install doors and equip it with electrical installations (electric doors, lighting, outlets, security system, etc.).
If protected from corrosion, a container garage can serve you without issue for up to 20 years.
- Storage or Workshop
Shipping containers offer a practical and economical solution for a storage unit or workshop. Thanks to their robust construction and resistance to weather conditions, they are an ideal choice for storing various materials and equipment. You can also install shelves, drawers, and lighting inside the container.
- Shop, Restaurant, or Showroom
Shipping containers have become popular for creating stylish shops, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and fast-food restaurants. They are also a suitable choice for showrooms.
Moreover, you can relocate them to a different place at any time. The entire process of disassembly, transport, and reassembly takes much less time than moving a traditional building.
- Bridge
Even temporary bridges can be made from containers. Tunnel containers are typically used for this type of construction, as employed by American soldiers several decades ago. There are still several smaller bridges around the world made from one or two containers.
Shipping containers can also be used to construct offices, administrative buildings, dormitories, student housing, kindergartens, recreational and sanitary facilities in parks, auto repair shops, car wash facilities, sports locker rooms, gatehouses, warehouses, and much more.
