Would you live in a shipping container home?
By Cahaya
@cahaya1983 (11116)
Malaysia
September 6, 2015 10:03pm CST
Apparently buying houses isn't as easy or affordable as it used to be. Prices are skyrocketing, at least where I live. Lately I've noticed that more and more people are becoming interested in the idea of building houses from shipping containers.
I've seen some really nice ones here (even a motel built from containers) and I think it's cool that they're eco-friendly and all that. I don't know what it's like in terms of durability, ventilation, etc. though so I can't say that it is or it isn't for me.
What do you think? Would you live in a shipping container home?
8 people like this
10 responses
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Sep 15
Yeah I read some container home owners talking about what they wish they had known before they got one. One of the things mentioned was insulation. It's best to do a lot of research about proper insulation before moving into a container home.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Sep 15
Yeah it would be interesting, wouldn't it. 
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 15
@crazyhorseladycx Yeah, I've seen all sorts of design, from all around the world too. Some of them look even better than normal houses!
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
If it's just one container that's probably how you'd have to fit things in, but if there's more than one I think there's more room inside so you have more freedom to customize the layout and stuff. I've seen the interior design of some that look pretty much like a normal house.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
10 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 @Rollo1 folks don't typically use jest one container, but multi ones. sometimes stacked on top 'f each other. from all i've seen/read, one imagination 'n buildin' codes is the only limitation.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
I would say so. It's definitely more affordable than buying other types of landed property considering the prices at the moment.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23660)
•
8 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 I guess it would work cheaper than having to pay rent.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
@sofssu Depends on what type of property you're renting too, I suppose. Rental can pretty crazy here too especially in the big cities.
1 person likes this
@TonyYangZD (3)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Sep 15
you have no idea how nice to live a shipping container house,considered from economics,to build a shipping container house you can you can save a lot of money!from art,if you know some futuristic design inspiration,then I can tell you this shipping container house definitely cool more than another big house!!
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Sep 15
Wow that is pretty amazing. Is that in China? Yeah I've heard about the cost- and energy-efficiency of container homes and I think it's wonderful. That picture reminded me of one cafe here built from a container, it looks pretty much like the one in that picture.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
@TonyYangZD Yeah I guess different countries have their own set of regulations regarding container homes. I'm not sure what the procedures are in my country, I should look it up later.
@TonyYangZD (3)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 yeah!is very cool!but in China if you want build a shipping container house like that,you need to apply for related department first, is not so simple
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
9 Sep 15
yepperz, i've seen some purty one's 's well 'n it seems the limitations 're in folks imaginations. lots 'f o'erhaulin' to be done to get 'em insulated 'n the like. 'round these parts, they're spendy lil suckers, kinda like boxcars. once folks found out how great they were, the prices soared.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 15
No doubt it needs a lot of investment to really make it feel like home. You do have a point there, I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before the prices start to increase.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 15
@crazyhorseladycx Oh wow that sure is super expensive for a container! 
I had no idea they could cost that much. I'm not exactly sure how much the price is here, I'll have to look it up.
I had no idea they could cost that much. I'm not exactly sure how much the price is here, I'll have to look it up.1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
10 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 last time i checked on prices here (sometime last year), they'd gone up to nearly $25,000 each. 'twas a pity coz i was wantin' to convert one to a horse shelter. i've heard though that in some places ya can still pick 'em up fer under $5,000? they ought to be purty darned durable though, dependin' on one's design 'n how much steel 's cut 'way.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
I can't either, but usually people would cut a few sections of the container themselves and set windows into those openings. I'd feel like I'm being shipped somewhere if there are no openings. 
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
9 Sep 15
I think it is a great idea and I'd be happy to go for it if no other property was available, though I'd be afraid of accidentally getting shipped and waking up in another country.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
9 Sep 15
Haha that would be terrifying. Maybe a "Content not regulated for shipping" label on the door would help avoid that? 
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
8 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 There really is. Some I can think of right away and other things that I probably haven't even considered.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
8 Sep 15
Exactly. Apparently it's not as simple as many people think. There are many factors to consider.
1 person likes this
@seren3 (387)
• Los Angeles, California
10 Sep 15
I've seen videos on these and they're usually well built just like any home. Some are quite large and designed so that the whole shipping container form disappears. With the cost of housing so high why not re-purpose these shells? And the homeless increase every day by the thousands.
