Comments for Containerist.com - ISBU Shipping Container Home Building

Comment on Ugh! Shipping Containers and Building Codes. by Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:31:37 +0000

Anyone have any experience with getting permits in Tacoma, Washington, or anywhere in Pierce County?

I’m building military housing in Afghanistan out of shipping containers, and would love to use them to build on my property when I come back to the States.

Comment on Haiti, Revisited. by Terry

Terry — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:25:36 +0000

You are correct, its all relative I suppose. I have a profound vision of clutter and claustrophobia in the camps. I am the very, very distant observer with no idea how bad it could really be in that setting for the last six months. 20 per toilet seems like the better end of things. As for where I got that number, it was from an expose on public television two nights ago and it was first-hand commentary.

To me, still not so pretty. Wishing these people the best.

Comment on Haiti, Revisited. by Container Homes

Container Homes — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:59:47 +0000

Great to see you passion and support for this most difficult situation.

Not intending to pick points but because you mentioned it using a few different numbers all supporting each other I am curious

You said there is one toilet for every 20 people in the camps, that doesn’t seem to bad a ratio to me, or more correctly given the nature of the tragedy I would have thought it would be far worse.

I think I have worked in offices where I am sure the ratio was less than 20:1 – was that a typo ? maybe 1 in 200 ?

Comment on Open Casting Call! Who Has a Container House Being Constructed? by Reply

Reply — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:29:54 +0000

Building a 20 container building on the east coast that has been underway for about a year now. Had a hell of a time getting through building permits – in part because I built with containers. Needed to pickup a lot of tools and know how along the way but the overall final result is intensely strong and amazingly practical. Not as “pretty” as most houses but it works for me. I would suggest spraying ISO foam on the outside of the containers – not inside.

Comment on Ugh! Shipping Containers and Building Codes. by George Runkle

George Runkle — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:29:57 +0000

We’re building the second container house in Atlanta, and it went through the code review very quickly. The only problems were administrative, I signed an outdated form, but the building department called me and let me know. That was about it. Other areas I’m working in seem to be going smoothly too. In every case all I had to do was submit my calcs, or in rural areas explain the building inspectors how I do my analysis to assure them I don’t just pull stuff out of thin air. I explain the code officials that I analyze the containers using AISI Manual of Cold Formed Steel Design and the International Building Code for loads. The only hassle was the county I visited here in Georgia (which I won’t mention because they know me and I don’t want any kind of further hassle).

BTW, what is the fascination with burying containers? I’ve done the calcs, it won’t work. I also know that intuitively, I’ve done enough failure investigations to be sure it won’t work. Not only will the containers crush if you bury them (over time, so you can be fooled by people showing pictures of how they did it), but burying the container will make the metal rust. I don’t care if it is Core Ten steel, it still rusts. When I worked for an oil company in the beginning of my career, I learned there was no real way to stop steel from rusting when it is buried. You can slow it down with cathodic protection, which you could do with a buried container. However, after you reinforced the container, and put in the corrosion control system, wouldn’t it be easier to just used a concrete vault?

George

Comment on The First Containerist by Container Hire

Container Hire — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:25:42 +0000

Brilliant! One of my previous jobs was for a French shipping company and I was responsible for returning empty containers in West Africa back up to Europe. Time and time again when looking for all the empties in Nigeria, I would hear that they had been stolen, windows cut out of the them and served as people’s homes. A lot cheaper than bricks and mortar, although can’t imagine what the heat must be like at midday!

Comment on The First Containerist by Alex Klein

Alex Klein — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:42:11 +0000

You know, with all the “Containerista” out there…

I never thought of Oscar! And, now that explains his attitude!

In fact, I’m gonna name my next ISBU Project “OSCAR” in tribute to ‘im…

Heaven knows, he gave US enough…

Comment on Cool Truck Lift for Shipping Containers by steve

steve — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:35:37 +0000

Also known as swinglifters and first built in New Zealand back in the 80′s and then exported to Australia and other countries. Very successful concept and are also used to load other trucks on sites that do not have them. An experienced operator can load/ unload in very quick time.

Comment on Ugh! Shipping Containers and Building Codes. by steve

steve — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:27:00 +0000

JW, Renaissance Ronin has advice on his websie about burying containers…need structural reinforcement and other issues…worth a look

Comment on A Texas Containerist Paradise? Quite Possibly. by Wiley Robinson

Wiley Robinson — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:38:03 +0000

I too live in El Paso and actually own one of these peices of land out in the middle of nowhere. Mine is at a place called “Hueco Tanks” but the land deal is the same as Hudspeth Co. I bought 5 acres for about $15,000.

I collect old cars so I use my land to store them on. I also have thought of building an A-Frame building using two containers spaced about 20′ apart as a base.

Water isn’t an issue really because what you do is buy a polytank and purchase it from people who truck it in. No one digs 1000′ wells really, they just buy the water. It’s hot out here though so you’d better like heat and staring at the same thing forever because nice tree don’t exist out here.

Here’s the real issue here. Poverty. Yep, you are about 20 miles from Mexico at all all times. The area is innudated with illegal immigrants, most of whom are nice decent people looking for a better way of life. However, with them is the 1% who are theives. Last month they stole my 18′ trailer, an antique car, the copper radiator out of my truck and about 100′ of my fence. The Sherrif isn’t going to do anything as they can’t patrol these wide open spaces.

I’m not saying don’t do it, many people do (most live in old RVs) but you’d better warm up to the idea that gun ownership is a good thing – esp. if the drug cartels of Mexico decide your remote parcel of land with a container on it makes a good drop point for their shipments.