Do-it-yourself container houses

For most people, container houses are associated with simple cabins, temporary dwellings. In fact, buildings can strike with an unusual appearance, which directly depends on a correctly made project, design idea. This type of construction has been actively used in European and American countries for several decades. In the post-Soviet space, he is just beginning to gain momentum.

It is possible to construct multi-room, multi-storey buildings from a multi-turn container intended for storage and transportation of various items. With the constant growth of real estate prices, this option will be a worthy alternative to standard buildings, built from the usual materials. With minimal expenditure of funds for construction work, you can get a functional, comfortable, cozy residential building.

History - how long did container buildings appear?

Containers became popular after World War II. The first models that could be transferred from motor vehicles to rail or sea without loading / unloading the contents were developed in the 1950s by Malcolm Macklin. In April 1956, a test carriage was carried out, after which the container revolution began. It is unlikely that the entrepreneur assumed that his invention would be used as a home.

When and under what circumstances they began to use these structures for the construction of a residential house, it is impossible to determine, the founder is unknown. The first mention of the possibility of using products as temporary housing is found in the archives of the US Army, in a document from 1977. Later, in 1987, Philip Clark filed an application for a patent, an American architect proposed to construct housing from reusable packaging.

However, he popularized this type of construction, became the father of container architecture, Adam Culkin. This is one of the most orthodox practitioners of architecture, who calls himself an artist. A graduate of the English college Vassar, studied architectural art in London. He began to be engaged in containers since 1992 in the state of New Jersey, USA, and later organized his company, became known all over the world.

Features houses from containers

To build a structure of modules under the power of each, it does not even require special education. Enough to study the topic well, to understand the technology. Containers provide endless possibilities for creating interesting projects. The finished structure has a block structure, it can be welded or collapsible (transformable). Each item is replaceable, which is impossible to imagine in a standard house.

Container buildings can be used seasonally and year-round. With the construction of temporary housing is not required any documents. For capital residential buildings will have to issue a building permit.

The construction of reusable packaging is also called semi-finished housing. During construction, different blocks are selected for the created sketch, from which the structure is formed. The window and door openings are cut out in a cottage that is folded from separate parts, electricity, plumbing communications, gas for which you also need to obtain permission from the appropriate service, or use gas cylinders are supplied to it.


The main feature of any buildings made of this material is the fixed, rectangular size of the rooms. If the length can be adjusted by cutting the elements into separate components, the value of the height and width is constant. Of course, applying various models in size to work, it is easy to achieve a good result, but their diversity is small. And in the construction of a permanent home, you will have to use only options that correspond in size to existing SNiPs and GOSTs, otherwise the project will not be registered in the BTI.

Advantages and disadvantages

Houses built from sea or cargo reusable packaging are characterized by a number of significant advantages. One of the main advantages is relatively low cost. For a little money, you can buy a finished block that will become a small house, a separate room, a floor. Also, the building has the following positive characteristics:

  1. Strength. Due to this quality, they are used in seismically dangerous areas, in places where hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters are observed.
  2. Low weight. The mass of the product is negligible, so the installation does not require a capital foundation.
  3. The speed of construction work. The construction of the house does not take much time, even complex structures can be completed within 2-3 months, including the exterior and interior.
  4. Mobility. If necessary, the residential structure can be disassembled and re-assembled, transported to another place.
  5. Innovation and creativity. Original designs compare favorably with their appearance.
  6. Durability. With proper care, periodic maintenance, the house will last a long time.
  7. Versatility and practicality. Blocks can be combined with other construction elements, include them in projects of concrete, brick, wooden buildings.
  8. Protection from unwanted fauna. Insects and rodents cannot enter the hermetic container.
  9. The possibility of completion. At any time, you can increase the living space, add a new module.


When choosing this option, you should take into account the shortcomings inherent in it. The main disadvantages include:

  1. Toxicity. Elements intended for the carriage of goods are treated with chemicals that protect the surface from adverse atmospheric influences. It is necessary to remove the toxic layer.
  2. Fixed parameters. It is impossible to change the height of the ceilings, the width of the internal space.
  3. Coefficient of thermal conductivity. The metal heats up very quickly and does not retain heat. It will require very good thermal insulation.
  4. Tightness. The material does not allow air, does not "breathe." For a comfortable stay should organize high-quality ventilation.
  5. Corrosion. To extend the life, you will have to constantly inspect the condition of the surface, eliminate various defects.
  6. Technical condition. It is difficult to find a container on the secondary market that would meet the requirements, did not have significant flaws.
  7. Seasonality. Most projects are not designed for year-round living. Budget options are unsuitable for the comfortable existence of a full-fledged family.

Cost and construction costs

The cost of building a semi-finished building is significantly cheaper than standard housing. It depends on various factors. It includes a number of points:

  • land purchase;
  • drafting the project;
  • obtaining a building permit during the construction of a capital structure;
  • the area of ​​the planned housing, the number of living rooms, number of floors;
  • the cost of building materials and transportation;
  • hiring special equipment for installation, construction crews;
  • liner engineering communications.

The price of the main item may be different. To purchase a new product will require more cash than the used model. Also takes into account the technical condition of the object, the place of its sale, for example, in the port cities it can be bought cheaply. Pricing depends on the type of the product itself, its basic parameters.

Shipping costs can be commensurate with the price of the container. But the biggest investments fall on the purchase of finishing materials and the remuneration of employees. When building a good, suitable for permanent residence at home, you should not save on insulation, thermal insulation requires additional investments.

The cost of building a container building will be 30-50% less than building a house of traditional materials.

What containers are used for building houses

For the construction of houses using any model designed for the transportation of goods. Some are suitable for the organization of living rooms, others for arranging transitions, hallway, bathroom. However, the choice is limited. Manufacturers produce a certain number of products regulated by ISO 668. The existing options are shown in the table:

ISO classification

1 EE

1 EEE1A1AA1AAA1B1BB1BBB1C

1cc

Standard name, foot, Standard (S), High cub (h.c.)

45

4030

20

S

h.c.Sh.c.Sh.c.

S

External dimensions
Length m

13.716

12.1929.125

6.058

Length, inches

45'0”

40' 0”29' 11.25”

19' 10.5”

Width, m

2,438

Width, inches

8' 0”

Height, m

2.591

2.8962.4382.5912.8962.4382.5912.8962.438

2.591

Height, inches

8' 6”

9' 6”8' 0”8' 6”9' 6”8' 0”8' 6”9' 6”8' 0”

8' 6”

Inner dimensions
Length m

13.542

11.9988.931

5.867

Length, inches

44' 5.15”

39' 4.375”29' 3.6”

19' 3”

Width, m

2.330

Width, inches

7' 73”

Height, m

2.350

2.6552.1972.3502.6552.1972.3502.6552.197

2.350

Height, inches

7' 8.5”

8' 8.5”7' 2.5”7' 8.5”8' 8.5”7' 2.5”7' 8.5”8' 8.5”7' 2.5”

7' 8.5”

House projects and types of layouts

With the help of containers you can build a creative, unique house that will meet all the requirements of the owner, to surprise the neighbors, bystanders. Make a project, perform the layout of the rooms under the power to do it yourself or ask for help from experts, download ready-made schemes in the network.

Depending on the functionality, purpose, financial capabilities, you can build a residential structure, even from a single module. When using several blocks you get a full-fledged housing. Of them, you can build structures in one, two, three floors, which are suitable for seasonal use, and for permanent residence. If you wish, you can attach a veranda.


Due to the universality of these elements, they are sometimes combined with standard building materials, used as components of a traditional house. Showing imagination, having carefully thought out the design, even with minimal investment it will be possible to build a building that will be quite functional and attractive. For clarity, we consider a few examples of finished buildings.

House from a large container

From one large 40 or 45 - foot container you can build a small house. However, we must bear in mind that its internal area, excluding the finishing, will be 31.55 m² and 27.95 m², respectively. Such a construction is more suitable for giving, as a guest option. Lonely people, families without children, and retirees will be able to live there permanently.

The area is comparable to a one-room apartment. When planning the internal space, you can use examples of arrangement of studio apartments. Here it turns out to arrange the kitchen, combined bathroom, to equip a place to rest. With proper planning, use of zoning, within the same room, you can organize different functional areas, make room for the living room, work area, bedroom.


House from a small container

By installing on your site 20, 30-foot blocks, you can get a tiny housing with an area of ​​13.67 m² and 20.81 m². To organize a living space in this case is much more difficult. We'll have to save on everything - in the combined bathroom to use a shower cabin, the kitchen also needs to be reduced, to allocate space for it near the bathroom, as close as possible to the plumbing communications.

When organizing a room, you should consider using transforming furniture. Set a bed that can be hidden in a niche. On the walls you can place shelves, lockers for storing various items. The living room is better to combine with a dining area, a bedroom with an office. To visually increase the space on the partitions and the ceiling, place mirrors.


House of containers with external stairs

The option with an external staircase is often used in the organization of sheds installed on each other. In the same way, it is possible to build a country house exclusively for seasonal use, since in the winter period it will be problematic to move between floors and constantly go down to the kitchen. This method allows you to save internal space, reduces construction costs.

Containers can be placed in two ways: in one direction, perpendicularly. The second technique is more practical. With such an arrangement, a small terrace is installed at the bottom, and a balcony at the top. Some owners of such structures even manage to use the roof, extending the flight of stairs to the very top. Here they set up a place to relax and eat in the fresh air.


Country house of containers

A compact house in the country is used to store garden equipment, a comfortable resting place in the summer. The main feature is a combination of compactness and functionality. It is possible to save well on construction, since in most cases such a building does not require high-quality insulation, organization of a serious heating system. Enough to hold engineering communications, to perform an attractive finish.

For the construction of the dacha option, one container is enough. With proper planning, it is possible to allocate an area for recreation, cooking and eating, a separate area for the location of utensils, necessary for the care of a small garden or garden. Some people who are accustomed to comfort, using a garden plot for leisure activities, can easily build a more functional structure of two or more modules.


House with a workshop of sea containers

Showing a little imagination, with the help of reusable containers you can organize a small workshop, equipped for specific tasks. This model is suitable for people involved in shoemaking, sewing, carpentry, metalworking. For these purposes, isolated as a whole block, and a separate part of it. The main thing is that the entire instrument should be neatly stored in the same designated place, the availability of free space for carrying out activities.

The simplest project consists of two separate modules. One of them is used as residential, the second - for household needs. When organizing a workplace, one part is allocated for shelving and shelves, provide an angle for cleaning tools, have a waste box in it. Carefully think through and select the area for storage of blanks, finished, repaired products. On the perimeter on the walls hang wall cabinets. Particular attention is paid to the working area.


One-storey house from containers

The main feature of this construction is that all living rooms will be rectangular. And this does not change if the organization of the internal space based on regulatory documents. According to 31-02-2001, SNiP 2.08.01-89 and their later revisions, the kitchen area should be - 6 m², bedrooms - 8 m², living room - 12 m², therefore, with an internal width of 2.33 m, square rooms are unacceptable .

To build a one-story building can be a different area. When connecting several blocks, a large enough building is obtained, suitable for a full-fledged family. A huge disadvantage in dividing one container into several functional rooms will be their passage through passage, with the exception of compartments, the entrance to which will be located in the center of the long side.


Two-story container house

With proper planning, the use of high-quality finishes, you can create an attractive and functional house consisting of two floors. It will be able to live in families consisting of different generations. However, it all depends on its size, the number used in the construction of blocks. Separately, you must take care of the organization of the staircase, according to SNiP 2.08.01-89 p. 1.24 table. 3, it should be at least 1.05 m wide and the corridor 1.4 m.

The simplest version of the construction of a two-story structure consists of two containers mounted on each other. At the same time on the first tier have a kitchen and dining room, bathroom, boiler room, on the second endure the living room. When using more than two blocks, it is possible to provide for the presence of several bedrooms, a study, a nursery, and other functional areas.


The house with a terrace of two containers

It is possible to organize a building with a terrace of two containers in several ways: to make a one-story structure with an L-shaped arrangement of elements, to place two modules perpendicular to each other. In the first case, there will be an open area, supported on the building from two sides, in the second - partially or completely located under the roof, adjoining only one side.

The traditional extension is made of wood, has wooden flooring and fencing. For finishing the floor is better to use a special decking, which is characterized by a long service life. It is recommended to place the structure from the south, south-west side, its size directly depends on the dimensions of the residential building itself. The design should match the design of the house.


Stages of construction

The first step is to purchase one or more containers. They should definitely be checked for radiation, since it is in such tanks that the remnants of harmful radiations are collected. They should be free of dents and other defects. Before installation of the house from containers it is necessary to make a detailed project with a plan of the main works. It is necessary to determine in advance the size and number of modules if a large family will live.

Foundation

Foundation construction is the first and most important stage in construction. Установка на простой грунт невозможна, поскольку тяжелый контейнер будет способствовать сильному проседанию земли.In winter, the floors will be cold, the finishing materials will be frozen.

When choosing a foundation option, you must consider the size of the future house, the terrain features. If this is a usual change house for temporary residence in the summer, a few foundation blocks will suffice. In the preliminary preparation of the base needs a residential structure of several floors. For this usually use reinforced strip foundation. In regions with marshy ground can not do without piles.

The functions of a reliable foundation can only perform a monolithic foundation. For him, first dig a foundation pit and fill it with a mixture of cement, sand and water. For greater strength, various hardeners are added.

To fill the foundation, you can use the already prepared mixture. In this case, you will need to make the reinforcement cage according to the drawing, install the formwork, pour the solution. Special vibration tools will help to condense concrete.

Protection against corrosion and weathering

Any metal construction (small cabins, two-story house) is subject to corrosion. It is in constant contact with the external environment - the sun, water, wind. Inaction at the first appearance of signs of the disease will lead to disastrous consequences.

The problem area will grow, gradually deteriorating the functional characteristics of the entire structure. A damaged structure will lose an attractive appearance, it will become dangerous for residents. There are several ways to protect it:

  1. Padding. All external surfaces are treated with special enamel, which fills cracks, chips and reliably protects the metal;
  2. The correct choice of installation location. It is better to build a structure on a hill or an artificial shaft to minimize contact with the ground;
  3. Polymer coating. Increases the service life of the container twice, repels moisture;
  4. Galvanized. External walls and roof sheathed with galvanized sheets for reliable protection of the structure.

Module installation

After pouring the foundation, you must wait at least 25 days. When the concrete has matured, you can proceed to the installation of containers. For this you will need to resort to using a truck crane. Installed modules must be fastened together with iron corners, rectangular pipes using a welding machine, gas generator.

The container space is divided into zones using sheets of drywall in accordance with the layout. At the same stage, windows and doors are cut through. Using modular blocks of different sizes, you can build an author's building with an unusual design.


Roof structure

Containers of all types have overlaps, but they cannot be considered a full-fledged roof. The roofing is done according to the standard scheme. The roof can be made of metal sheets, ondulin, wood. Material is chosen depending on the idea and the overall design of the house. Installation takes place in several stages:

  1. Assembling the frame of the timber. The wide boards are fastened together with the help of plumbing bolts; screws are screwed to the container;
  2. Installation of rafters. The length of the boards should be sufficient to eliminate the need for splicing. Attach rafters also screws;
  3. Mounting crates. To work using six-meter boards, which are then covered with a vapor barrier film;
  4. Laying galvanized sheets. It is necessary to provide a place for ventilation.

External warming of a structure

Sea containers, due to the nature of the structure and type of material, pass sound well and do not retain heat. The house of such modules must be insulated from the outside. External insulation is much more efficient internal, since it completely eliminates the heating of the metal. You can achieve better results by using both options at the same time.

The lining of the walls from the street is done with the help of profiled sheeting, siding, wood and other methods. Plate materials are fastened to the wooden crate with screws. The space between the container wall and the decorative finish can be filled with mineral wool, filled with foam.


Engineering communications: electricity, gas, water and heating

Comfort accommodation depends on the availability and features of engineering communications. Competent design and high-quality installation will help extend the life of the house, reduce the number of emergencies.

Engineering systems - one of the most important and costly components of any structure. At the planning stage, methods of laying pipes and cables, the necessary equipment, and the type of installation are taken into account. A certain amount is laid on the works, which is 25-50% of the total planned construction costs. For the normal functioning of the house will require the following communications:

  • Electricity. The wires are laid on special channels that are allowed on the inner walls.
  • Gas. Carrying out is possible at a close location of the pipeline.
  • Water pipes. You will need to make your own well or connect to the system of the nearest settlement;
  • Heating. Most often use a fireplace, metal stove.

House ventilation

Usually make two air vents located opposite each other. From the end of the container, the pipe is cut in and out above the roof. In this way air will flow. On the other hand, we make the release, we mount the fan and the hood.

For the area of ​​one trailer, a device with a diameter of 100 mm will suffice. Adjusting valves should also be installed. You can make two inflows at the ends, and the hood in the middle. The choice of option depends on the temperature outside, the number of residents and other factors.

Interior insulation and finish

At the initial stage of finishing the walls are insulated. Then mounted decorative surfaces, carry out plastering, painting. Insulate the container from the inside in several ways:

  • Thermal insulation polyurethane foam. The sprayed material protects the metal from corrosion. A dense layer of foam does not allow air to pass through; it protects against noise;
  • Styrofoam plates. Polyfoam with a dense structure can be mounted directly to metal walls or laid in the batten cells;
  • Mineral wool insulation. The material is laid on the mounting foam. Then they fill the crate for further installation of plasterboard, plywood.

The frame with insulation can be closed with any material. Suitable lining, drywall. The joints of the sheets are glued with a building bandage, then the entire surface is painted with latex based water-based paint.


Design Ideas - Which Styles Are Better

Houses from containers do not limit their owners in the choice of style, architectural solutions. This design is more suitable modern design - high-tech, modern, loft. It will be interesting to look at home with large windows, sliding glass doors.

Country cottages in rustic style look original. Exterior, wood interior fills the room with warmth and comfort, plus brings with nature. Wood siding hides any hints on the metal frame.


Conclusion

Houses from block containers are functional and attractive structures that are very popular in many countries around the world. With the help of separate blocks you can build a budget residential building suitable for seasonal and year-round living. This model will be indispensable as a summer cottage, guest house, high-grade housing for a family with children consisting of several generations.

Watch the video: Building a Shipping Container Home. EP01Permits and Foundation Design (March 2024).

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