Container homes are an alternative dwelling space for many individuals in the United States. Several aspects, like safety and accommodation, must be taken into account before building your living space. Since 2,000 container homes went viral on social media, more and more people are trying to get one, thinking they are helping the environment while getting a cheaper house. The problem with shipping containers is that they are a good option when they are used temporarily. In the long term, they can prove to be more expensive.
9 Reasons Why Container Homes Are a Scam
Material Shortage
One of the biggest problems in opting for a container home is the material shortage. Besides other shortages, this is a big limitation. In general, housing isn’t related to technology in the 21st century. Almost all regions around the globe have a system of vernacular housing. Also, it works quite well in the respective climates. Container homes are a good option in places that are recovering from a disaster or a natural calamity. But they aren’t the best option in the long run. In general, houses without any material shortages have a specific proportion of each building component.
Insufficient Dimensions
Shipping containers are usually smaller in size. So, if a person wants to buy a shipping container and convert it into their home, they will have to order a newer and bigger one, negating the reason behind getting a container home altogether. The only motive behind installing these homes is for better translocation. The ideal container homes which we see online are not ideal at all. They are not functional or even livable. If you want to make them livable, you would likely have to spend as much as you would spend on any other material home.
Poor Insulation
Insulation is one of the most important aspects to building a comfortable living space. This aspect is lacking in a shipping container home. In an ideal home, all walls and the roof must be insulated. The plumbing and wiring depend upon the insulation of the house. If the walls are conductive on the interior, the wiring will be a very risky job to do. To eliminate the risk, you have to install a new layer of walls inside and outside the container home. Non-insulating walls will not allow thermal bridging unless the floor is insulated. Therefore, you have to take care of the floor in shipping container houses. By having more layers inside, you will be left with a very small and congested box.
Lack of Proper Discipline
Shipping container houses lack proper discipline and structure. It is well known that discipline depends on an individual’s lifestyle. However, there are some aspects where the individual can’t help themselves. Due to the lack of proper structure, container homes are not the best option to live in. There are unnecessary items like cantilevers hanging everywhere in the frame. Unlike heavy steel, the frame starts to deflect on slicing the container walls. You can add a steel frame to the inner body to give it proper structure, but that will increase your cost. This is another reason that investing more in container houses does not seem to be a wise idea.
Hard to Stack
Container houses can and must be stacked. Depending on your floor requirements, the concrete floors can be elevated by installing the number of containers in between. To evenly distribute the load, the frame needs more columns. With the increase in several floors, there is an increasing load demand on the ground floor. In the absence of steel reinforcement, holding such a huge load is next to impossible for the frame. To make it possible, a builder must build the foundation with the most expensive pieces. But that increases the overall cost to building a shipping container house.
Hard to Install Utilities and Mechanical Systems
Installing utilities and mechanical systems in a container house is a challenge. Unlike in general houses, shipping container homes lack space. Moreover, the walls aren’t insulated enough to hold the thermal capacity. To overcome the problem of insulation, you must install a heavy HVAC system. But container homes aren’t capable of holding that either. So, you can also install a minimal amount of technology in your shipping container home. This limitation is one of the main reasons why a container home isn’t the best option to live in.
Can’t Be Recycled
There was a time when shipping container homes could be easily recycled and re-used. Nowadays, these alternate living options have lost this quality. Many of the building components of container homes are exported by China. These components are made from low-grade PVC that is very complex to recycle and reuse. Available at a very low cost, use of these materials has risen in the construction market. Even if your shipping home is made of iron, some components in the frame might make your shipping home more toxic. Also, these products claim to be easily disposed of, but they are hard to re-use and recycle.
Lack of Safety Features
There is a lack of safety features in a shipping container home. As mentioned above, the building material is made from low-grade PVC which is available in nearby retailers at very cheap rates. Being made from low-grade material, the components don’t convey shock resistance to the framework. As a result, there is a huge probability of the building collapsing during an earthquake. Moreover, the frame of a shipping container home isn’t grounded like general houses. So, this lack of safety doesn’t allow for the best living space option.
Refurbishing Issues
Last but not the least, owners of shipping container homes face refurbishing issues. A large proportion of old shipping containers are old and are in their last stage of operation. Such old containers rust frequently, even after applying paint or grease. Other issues like dents, cracks, and crevices are common problems that disappoint the owner. Under proper maintenance, a refurbished container can last for more than two decades.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are spending more money on container homes, then it is better you get a wood house or a brick house. It will keep you safe, and it will be toxic-free. And if you are buying new containers to avoid risks, then the purpose of the container home becomes nil. In California, there is a law that only single-use containers can be used for housing purposes. If so, then what is the use of using it for a house anyway? Is not it better that the container does what it was made for? Container homes may be cheaper, but they come with many risks. General houses will only be 10–20% more expensive but much more reliable. This is why container homes are a big scam and people just don’t see that.
