If you want to quickly and cost-effectively solve your housing problem, we recommend that you think about building a house from shipping containers. A few decades ago, no one could have imagined that a sea container could be used as temporary or even permanent housing, but technology does not stand still, and today, in light of the lightning-fast rise in housing prices, using a sea container for a house no longer seems unnatural . Despite the fact that in Russia, due to the insufficient distribution of container construction, you are unlikely to find finished projects houses from containers, the demand for such houses abroad is beyond doubt and is due to the reliability and practicality of the buildings. According to experts, the low popularity of container construction in Russia is due to insufficient awareness of the population about the advantages of buildings built using this technology, as well as insufficient coverage of this issue on the Internet. To correct this, in this article we will, in a sense, try to promote the popularity of houses made from sea containers in Russia and consider the issues of their construction and arrangement.
Residential buildings made from containers: a new era in construction
Despite the fact that the popularity of container construction in Russia has not yet reached its peak, experts rightfully consider it a technology of the future, which will soon gain its loyal fans. This is confirmed by the demand for container construction in European countries, where this technology has contributed to the emergence of a new independent and profitable business sector, the basis of which is the design and production of container “semi-finished houses”. A semi-finished product means a base model made in a factory, the structure of which consists of walls and subfloors. It already has a heating system and electrical wiring installed, windows and doors are installed. Having purchased the required number of blanks provided for by the project, they are delivered to construction site, where they are combined into a single building. The production of such blanks can significantly reduce the construction time of container houses, which is their most important advantage.
Advantages and disadvantages of houses made from shipping containers
Advantages of houses made from shipping containers:
- Houses made from shipping containers are recognized as one of the most seismically resistant buildings, and therefore they are often built in areas where natural disasters are common - earthquakes, hurricanes and others;
- Container buildings are not much different from permanent houses: the outside can be finished with clapboard, the inside with plasterboard;
- If you live in a home built using shipping containers, you may not be afraid of rodents and insects;
- Houses made from shipping containers can be built in any climatic conditions, but despite such versatility, it is important to remember the need for high-quality thermal insulation;
- The total cost of construction from sea containers is several times lower than the cost of permanent houses;
- If you decide to build a house from shipping containers, remember that they are advantageously combined with various building modules, including brick, reinforced concrete, etc.;
- The construction of a residential building from sea containers takes no more than two to three months, and if you minimize finishing activities and limit yourself to simple finishing, two to three weeks will be enough to complete construction activities;
- Due to the small load that container buildings carry, they do not require the installation of a solid foundation and can even be installed on carefully compacted earth;
- Sea containers can be used not only for the construction of residential buildings, but also commercial facilities. In addition, they can be used to build an outbuilding to an existing building;
- The installation of container buildings on frozen ground is in widespread demand, and therefore, it is often practiced from sea containers, mainly those intended for sea transportation, to build entire housing bases in the far north and Antarctica;
- If your construction project does not involve creating stained glass windows on the entire wall, it will protect you as much as possible from outside intrusion;
- Buildings made from shipping containers can be successfully erected in areas with a large slope.
Disadvantages of houses made from shipping containers:
- Often, special paints and highly toxic compounds are used to treat the walls and floors of shipping containers to protect them from atmospheric influences. In this regard, before using such containers for building a house, take care to remove these compounds;
- In the summer, a shipping container home gets very hot, while in the winter it cools down. Taking this into account, take care of organizing an effective thermal insulation layer;
- To avoid the appearance of rust on the surface of the building, it is necessary to organize careful observation and care of it;
- One of the disadvantages characteristic of container buildings is low ceilings (if the floor and ceiling are insulated, the height of the latter will be about 2.35 m).
Houses made from sea containers: projects, drawings, construction basics
House made from shipping containers - constructive solution, which became popular in Europe and America thanks to the famous architect Adam Culkin. It was he who became the author of the first container house in history, which became his creative experiment. Three shipping containers were used for its construction. As it turned out, purchasing sea containers did not cause any difficulties, and the financial side of the issue only pleased the author of this know-how. Over time, buildings made from sea containers began to be used not only as residential buildings, but also hotel complexes, restaurants and retail premises, and their high seismic resistance and mobility made them especially in demand in areas with frequent natural disasters.
For the construction of a residential building, mainly standard 40-foot cargo containers are used, which are characterized by the following internal dimensions:
- height - about 2.4 m;
- length - 12 m;
- width - 2.35 m.
If from one 40-foot container you can build a spacious extension or utility room, as well as equip a storage room or workshop, then from two or three building blocks you can build a house with an area of 60-120 square meters. meters. For example, two 40-foot containers installed opposite each other can be connected with stained glass windows and subsequently covered with a common roof.
Important! Distinctive feature sea containers are highly durable. Initially, sea containers are manufactured in such a way that they can subsequently be installed on the sea deck on top of each other in the amount of 8-10 pieces. Considering this feature, it can be assumed that sea containers can be used for the construction of two- and three-story buildings. However, to increase the reliability of the container structure, they must be secured by welding.
Important! For the construction of residential buildings, you can use two, three or more shipping containers. If more than two containers were used to make the house, the space between the separated containers, which remains free, must be equipped as an additional room, using maximum glazing.
The construction of houses from sea containers, the price of which is on average 30% lower than capital buildings, begins with the development of a project and the acquisition of building blocks - cargo containers. You can find a large number of designs for houses made from shipping containers freely available online, amazing in their diversity. The most common designs involve the use of two containers that are placed side by side or at an angle to each other in an "L" or "T" shape. It is also possible to install containers on top of each other.
By moving the containers relative to each other, you will complicate the façade of your home, while at the same time making it more original. On the contrary, by moving the containers apart, you will create additional free space that can be used as a spacious living room with maximum glazing.
The next project is a container house, consisting of two blocks, which are united by a pitched roof. In one of the blocks there are two bedrooms, in the other - a bathroom and a kitchen. A living room is set up in the free space between the blocks, in the area of which the ceiling height will be greater due to the roof slopes.
Craftsmen with experience in building container houses recommend entrusting specialists with the creation of house projects from sea containers; in this case, there will be no problems with the drawing, since they will work out everything down to the smallest detail.
Residential building made from sea containers: stages of construction
If you decide to build a house from shipping containers yourself, without involving a contractor, keep in mind that construction will take longer and will also require the use of special equipment and welding skills. Before you begin construction, you need to purchase containers. To build a full-fledged residential building, experts recommend purchasing at least two containers, which on average (including delivery) will cost about 100 thousand rubles.
Important! Once the containers are delivered to the construction site, they must be tested for radiation. No matter how strange it may sound, it is in such containers that residual radiation often accumulates. As for the norm for background radiation, for our latitudes, it is 35 microroentgens per hour.
Foundation arrangement
The first and one of the most important stages of construction from containers is laying out the foundation. If you place the house directly on the ground, without a foundation, then the soil under the building will sag, and the building itself will freeze. The choice of foundation design for a container house is made taking into account its size and terrain characteristics. If you are planning to build an ordinary shed for spending time in the warm season, you can use several foundation blocks as the foundation. However, if we are talking about a two-story residential building created according to the author’s design, it requires preliminary preparation of the foundation. In most cases, it is recommended to give preference to a reinforced strip foundation.
To do this, a pit is dug, the dimensions and depth of which correspond to the requirements of the project. This will require calling specialized equipment - an excavator and trucks for removing soil. As for the most preferable foundation designs, in most cases experts recommend giving preference to a strip foundation, but sometimes you cannot do without piles. The latter is relevant for regions with weak, marshy soil.
Considering the large weight of a container building (especially if we are talking about a two-story house made of shipping containers), there is often a need to prepare a reliable foundation, the function of which can only be performed by a monolithic foundation. To fill it you will need grade 400 cement, sand and water. To increase its service life, special hardeners and other additives are often added to the solution.
Concrete work, which is an integral stage of foundation construction, can be simplified by ordering ready-mixed concrete. In this case, preparation of the foundation will consist of installing a reinforcement frame in accordance with the drawings, installing formwork and pouring mortar. Be sure to compact the concrete using special deep-well vibrating tools.
Constructive stage - installation of containers
You can start it only after the final maturation of the concrete, which will take at least 22 days from the moment the foundation is poured.
Important! While the concrete is maturing, treat the containers with anti-corrosion treatment. To do this, paint them with iron and then lead. Only then cover them with paint that is resistant to high temperatures.
After the final ripening of the concrete and anti-corrosion treatment of the containers, proceed to the next stage - installing the containers on the foundation. If we are talking about building a house from a 40-foot sea container, you cannot do without using special equipment, namely a truck crane. After you have installed the modules, they need to be tied and welded, fastened to the foundation and to each other. Next, install internal interior partitions. The easiest way to install partitions is from plasterboard sheets, which can be easily installed by yourself. However, in practice, a different technique is more often used. It involves removing and cutting the corrugated sheet from which the walls of the container are made, which will end up inside the building and are not provided for by the project. This is done immediately before their installation on the foundation. At this stage it is also necessary to cut through the doors and windows.
Important! If 20-foot containers are used in addition to 40-foot containers for the construction of a residential building, it is necessary to take into account the difference in their sizes. Combining containers of different sizes allows you to create a building with an unusual, original design.
Roof installation: main stages
Stage 1. To make the attic frame, a beam with a section of 10x10 cm can be used. To attach the beams to the container, use self-tapping screws, and to fasten them together, use plumbing bolts.
Stage 2. Having prepared the attic frame, install the rafters for the roof. The dimensions of the rafter boards are selected in accordance with the project, so that later they do not have to be spliced together. The rafters are connected using self-tapping screws.
Stage 3. Having installed the rafters, proceed with the installation of the sheathing, on top of which you need to lay sheets of galvanized steel. At the same time, it is important not to forget about arranging a vapor barrier, which can be done using two options:
- You can lay a vapor barrier film between the steel sheets and the sheathing;
- On the two sides of the house, under the roof itself, three 40-centimeter pipes with a diameter of 10 cm can be installed, which will ensure effective ventilation of the under-roof space. Holes for installing pipes must be made in advance. Considering the fact that the attic is used mainly in the summer, these pipes will not be closed for the winter.
Obviously, the first method is the simplest.
Important! When giving preference to a steel roof, remember that during strong winds and rain it will make a lot of noise. In this regard, despite the fact that steel roofing is an economical option, experts recommend abandoning it and choosing soft materials, for example, ondulin.
Insulating a house from shipping containers
Thermal insulation is an integral stage in the construction of any residential premises. When building a house from shipping containers, this is especially important, and since the metal from which the containers are made is a good conductor of sounds, it is important to provide not only heat but also sound insulation. The following materials can be used to insulate a house made from sea containers:
- Mineral wool;
- Polyurethane foam;
- Foam plastic.
The service life of mineral wool does not exceed 10 years, after which it loses its original characteristics. Polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam, unlike the previous material, due to their dense structure, are installed very quickly, and their service life is an order of magnitude longer and is about 20 years. They have not only heat but also sound insulation functions, which is not typical for mineral wool. Fastening of any of the listed materials is carried out using special glue or plastic pins. If you prefer pins, they must be screwed into the walls of the container in advance. A plastic film is laid on top of the materials.
Interior and exterior decoration of a house made from shipping containers
After you have completed the insulation, install a sheathing made of wood or metal on the surface of the building, onto which plywood or OSB sheets will subsequently be mounted for subsequent finishing.
The following materials can be used for the exterior decoration of the building:
- Siding;
- Block House;
- Decorative plaster;
- Natural or artificial stone;
- Plastic.
Plastic, block house and siding are attached to a wooden sheathing, previously protected with varnish. Decorative and natural stone - on a primed surface using concrete or special adhesives. The plaster is applied to a flat surface using spatulas of various sizes.
The interior decoration is practically no different from the exterior - insulation is mounted on the sheathing beams, which is covered with sheets of plywood or OSB. In this case, the space between the sheets of plywood should be at least 1.5 cm. Subsequently, they are filled with polyurethane foam, which will prevent dust from entering the house.
Producing interior decoration, plywood and OSB can be replaced with plasterboard, which can subsequently be lined with paint, plaster, wallpaper and other available materials.
When finishing the ceiling, you must remember that its height does not exceed 2.4 meters, and, as a result, abandon multi-level ceiling structures. Experts recommend choosing a regular ceiling, finished with plasterboard, or installing suspended ceilings.
Recently, in Russia and other CIS countries, this type of building, such as a house made of containers, is gaining increasing popularity. Of course, such projects remain a curiosity for most people. However, this idea is increasingly gaining more and more adherents.
Of course, if we consider the projects of residential buildings, the most common today are cottages to the house, made using more familiar technologies and using such traditional materials as brick, foam blocks, expanded clay concrete blocks or wood. Houses made from shipping containers today are more of a curiosity, and for some, an incomprehensible new phenomenon.
There is nothing surprising, because many new things are often perceived with some apprehension and caution, which is explained by the lack of experience and habit of handling this or that product. By the way, one example of this, which at first was something unusual, but today is becoming more and more widespread.
So it is not surprising that individuals and professional architects are increasingly taking on the development and implementation of such projects for permanent residence. It is clear that there is no comrade for taste and light. However, many people like it not so much relatively affordable price container buildings, how many of them are beautiful appearance and a simple, attractive interior.
What you need to know about containers
Cargo containers can be used for ship and railway cargo transportation. This is precisely their direct purpose. Each of them has a welded frame, which is made of I-beams or pipes. So, when considering designs for houses made from shipping containers, you can be firmly confident that such housing will certainly be extremely durable.
Note! The high strength of the structure is ensured by a powerful frame welded from steel elements.
As for the external finishing, its role is played by special corrugated sheets. They are made of metal 2-3 millimeters thick, sometimes more. Container houses, photo:
Dimensions and shape
The length and width (denoted in feet in the names) of most of these structures intended for the transportation of sea or rail cargo can vary. Let's look at the most popular of them:
| Standard containers | 20 feet | 40 feet | 40 ft. High Cube | 45 ft. High Cube | |
| External dimensions, m | Length | 6,05 | 12,19 | 12,19 | 13,71 |
| Width | 2,43 | 2,43 | 2,43 | 2,43 | |
| Height | 2,59 | 2,59 | 2,89 | 2,89 | |
| Internal dimensions, m | Length | 5,75 | 12,03 | 12,00 | 13,55 |
| Width | 2,35 | 2,35 | 2,31 | 2,35 | |
| Height | 2,39 | 2,38 | 2,65 | 2,70 | |
| Doorway | Width | 2,34 | 2,34 | 2,28 | 2,34 |
| Height | 2,28 | 2,28 | 2,56 | 2,58 | |
| Internal volume, m3 | 33,1 | 67,5 | 75,3 | 86,1 | |
| Maximum weight, gross, kg | 30400 | 30400 | 30848 | 30400 | |
| Own weight, kg | 2220 | 3800 | 3900 | 4800 | |
| Cargo weight, kg | 28160 | 26600 | 26580 | 25600 | |
As for the shape, as a rule, it is rectangular, and much less often – square. All this allows you to build a variety of options for cottages and houses based on one, two, three or more containers. As for the number of floors, the most common option is single-story modular structures. They are followed by two-story ones.
How much do they cost
Prices for ship containers can vary greatly. To a large extent, it depends not only on the size and configuration, but also on whether it is new or used. In the case of used products, the cost can also be influenced by the condition: better-preserved specimens with good geometry are valued higher and their price is correspondingly higher.
If we talk about the cost on the world market, prices can range from 4 to 10 thousand dollars, depending on the characteristics. Speaking about the current situation in Russia, a ready-made solution can cost from 300 thousand to 2 million rubles. These are the prices of houses made from containers, photos and projects of which you can see in this article.
Main pros and cons
Of course, any type of housing has its pros and cons. Let's briefly list the most obvious of them. So, the advantages:
- The “origin” of such housing is easy to hide if you don’t want to show it. This applies to both ready-made solutions and those cases when you do everything from start to finish with your own hands. This applies to both external cladding and interior decoration, in which you can use drywall, wood, lining, and much more. Such a house will be practically indistinguishable from analogues made from other materials.
- They can easily “cope” with any manifestations of bad weather, be it strong wind, hail, a thick layer of snow, etc.
- An important advantage is the price, which is significantly lower than any analogues.
- Adaptation to any weather and climatic conditions, subject to good thermal insulation.
- Almost complete guarantee against the penetration of insects and rodents.
- Possibility of connection with other modules made of wood, plywood, foam block, etc.
- In addition, they can be used without a foundation on frozen soil. This is especially true for the cold climate of the northern regions.
- You can also do without arranging a washable and durable foundation, which will also reduce costs.
- The speed of construction and interior finishing work is very fast.
- You can order turnkey construction or make different types of buildings yourself: garden country house ik, two-story house for permanent residence, extensions to already built objects, utility units and even non-residential premises.
Well, now a few words about the main disadvantages of this technology:
- As mentioned above, you will have to pay shipping. In addition, during installation you cannot do without a manipulator or crane.
- Narrow rooms will be unusual for those who are used to space. At the same time, with combined construction the space will be wider.
- If not used good insulation(which performs the function of thermal insulation), then in winter it may be too cold, and in summer, on the contrary, it is hot, since the metal will heat up greatly in the sun.
How to build: step-by-step instructions
Once you have decided on a plot of land, it is time for construction. Here are its main stages:
- Drawing up a work plan.
- Construction of the foundation.
- Container installation and roofing work.
- Additional high-quality insulation.
- Carrying out finishing both outside and inside.
- If desired, you can do additional decor.
Let's look at each of the stages in a little more detail.
Making a plan
It is clear that the configuration, just like the area, can be different. However, here are basic guidelines for planning rooms, including a bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom with bathtub and toilet, and storage space. Of course, the size of the room will depend on the number and type of containers used.
Attention! First of all, treat metal surfaces with an anti-corrosion compound.
As far as communications are concerned, a container house can be connected not only to electricity, but also to heating, water and even sewerage. Thus, living in such a house will be very comfortable.
Making the foundation
Having purchased containers of the required quantity and selected sizes, the first thing you will have to do is carry out foundation work. There are many varieties of this part of the structure: FBS foundation blocks, tape, piles, etc. To a large extent, the choice depends on what type of soil is available on the site and what kind of terrain you have to work with.
In any case, there is no need to build a high or very complex foundation. It is quite possible to get by with a simple design, because this is not the type of housing that is built to last.
Installation
In cases where the house consists of 2, 3 or more containers, they must be fastened together. In order to connect the individual parts of the future structure to each other, metal elements are used: rectangular/square pipes or corners. However, the first step is to cut out the sides of the containers with a grinder in the places where they will be connected, because you plan to achieve a wider space and a larger area. Therefore, "walls" must be eliminated.
As for the movement and installation itself, you will have to hire a truck crane. Having installed the individual parts on a ready-made foundation and fitting them tightly, we weld the joints and fasteners. For reliability, you can additionally use bolts if you are not sure that weld seam will not disperse due to deformation of the foundation.
Interior finishing
Here there is complete freedom for creativity. The style you want to give to your home can be essentially anything. However, classic interiors will be, at a minimum, inappropriate. Still, this type of building is associated with something fashionable and avant-garde. Therefore, the furnishings for the interior space should be more modern and fashionable. The layout, as well as materials for interior work, are selected based on your preferences.
Roof arrangement
The roof may have different shapes. Some people prefer to make an attic. In such cases, you will need to make a classic gable roof with beams, sheathing and roofing. With a flat roof, everything is even simpler. In other words, no difficulties should arise at this stage. The only thing I would like to remind you about is the increased requirements for thermal insulation. Moreover, this advice is relevant not only for cold climates, Siberia, but also for most cities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
It is also necessary to take care of vapor barrier and ventilation of the space under the roof. In other words, everything is the same as when building an ordinary house, cottage or country house.
In any case, if you are interested in container houses, photos, ideas, options - this is something that should be carefully studied. Here is one example of a completed large project:
How best to insulate
If you live in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia and the CIS, and not in sunny California, you will definitely have to take care of good insulation of the house. As a rule, there are two main modern insulation materials:
- Foam plastic.
- Mineral wool.
There is also extruded polystyrene foam, which is more of a material for insulating plinths or floors. However, it is also possible to use this insulation in our case. The peculiarity of the insulation of such structures is that the walls here are made of metal, and not of a material that can be drilled with a hammer drill. In most cases, to fix insulation to the wall in houses built from more traditional materials, so-called “umbrellas” (plastic dowel-nails with a very wide head) are used. Container house, project:
In our case, you will have to use glue or special mastic. You will need to buy special compounds for high-quality gluing.
Exterior finishing options
In this case, as with the arrangement of the internal space, you have a great many possibilities. There is no point in giving a separate step by step instructions how the exterior finishing is done. It should only be noted that it is no different from how traditional houses are finished. Popular and simple options that you can do yourself are siding, corrugated board or various types wood finishing: blockhouse and others.
It is better to install modern windows: PVC or. The latter are somewhat more expensive, but at the same time they look better and, according to many experts, are more durable.
Heating system
There are several heating options. The choice of one or another of them depends on what communications are available on the site. The simplest option is a metal stove, as well as a fireplace. In addition to it, you can use electric heaters, which can be turned on in winter during frost.
Useful information! In addition, there is an option to install a separate furnace with a solid fuel boiler.
We carry out communications
When people become interested in a container home, designs and prices are usually the first thing they think about. At the same time, there are other important things, including the step-by-step arrangement of communications in the future residential building. Here are some general recommendations:
- It is better to do sewerage using a septic tank: this is the most affordable and easy to maintain option.
- Electrical wiring should be carried out in special channels, this will be both neater and better from a safety point of view.
- When it comes to plumbing, there are several options. You can drill your own well. On the other hand, if there is a water supply in the locality, then you can connect to it.
Option with purchase
If you don’t know how to build a house from one or two or more iron block containers, or you don’t have an idea of what it should look like, you always have the opportunity to turn to specialists and buy a ready-made option. Not everyone can make a house from a container with their own hands, and this is not necessary. Typically, the first thing a company will do is provide a drawing with plans for several different projects. You can choose the one you like best: small and unusual, larger and simpler, cheaper or more expensive, and so on.
Any professional company knows better how to make a project, how to insulate walls, arrange external and internal decoration, and so on. At the same time, feedback from the owners of similar houses is always taken into account, on the basis of which the best solutions are “crystallized”.
Houses made from shipping containers, photo (click image to enlarge):
A resident of Minsk named Yaroslav had long wanted to build his own dacha house, however, ordinary dachas did not attract him and then he decided to build his own small dacha based on. The Minsk resident saw examples of such modular houses during his travels abroad, in which he spent 4 years. Upon returning home, he began to make his dream come true, and six months later he became the owner of an excellent alternative to a regular dacha, which we will talk about later.
This is what the site looked like this spring before work began.
The house was manufactured in a factory for about a month.
No foundation was needed to install the house. A metal structure was placed on the ground as a foundation.
Then they brought two block containers, already insulated and lined with wood, on trailers, connected them and installed them using a crane. The installation process took two days. Then communications (water, sewerage, electricity) were connected, for which we had to call in craftsmen, dismantle a third of the house and reassemble it.
View of the room without interior decoration.
The frame of the unusual dwelling is a metal skeleton. Unlike a classic sea container, there are no walls made of corrugated metal profiles. Instead they are used steel pipes, the spaces between which are filled with insulation.
In section, the wall looks like this: an outer board, an OSB board, insulation (100 mm mineral wool), a vapor barrier, another OSB board and plasterboard. The floor and roof are insulated in the same way.
The dimensions of the house are 4x8 m, the height from floor to ceiling is just under 2.5 m. The total area is 32 sq. m. m, residential - 27 sq. m. Several “squares” were spent on creating a storage room in the end wall, where the most necessary garden tools are stored. The photo below shows fragments of the metal frame.
The threshold turned out to be quite high - I had to make a step. Two comrades helped in this matter. Then we installed a sun canopy on the terrace. We also did the interior decoration ourselves.
The interior space is organized according to the principle of a studio apartment and is divided into four parts: a living room with a sofa, a kitchen, a place to sleep and a bathroom. The area is zoned using two partitions, where the stiffening ribs are hidden. There is wallpaper on the walls, heavy-duty class 33 laminate on the floor, and a rake on the ceiling. Furniture (except for the sofa and bed) includes a small closet and a shelving unit.
There is a refrigerator in one of the cabinets in the kitchen.
The home is heated by a wood-burning fireplace. Its power is enough to heat a room three times larger in size.
There is no forced ventilation in the house. At the same time, you can create a draft and ventilate a small room in a few minutes. There is a place for an air conditioner, but the owner has not yet decided whether there is a need for it.
“I plan to live here while it’s more or less warm outside. My neighbors in Minsk have just started renovations at their place, and this is a good reason to move from the city to the country. It’s wonderfully quiet here. Recently, an acquaintance came with a device that shows the noise level. an open window measured 19-22 decibels, and in a Minsk apartment - 30-35 decibels,” says Yaroslav.
A container house is unlikely to be suitable for all-season living. No matter how good the fireplace is, an open door in the cold will quickly cool the room down. In winter, Yaroslav plans to appear here only occasionally.
In the absence of the owner, security in the house and on the property is monitored by video cameras, the online image from which can always be viewed on the phone. Another camera is installed inside the house in front of the door. It automatically starts recording as soon as a person appears at the entrance and sends the data by email.
The plans include landscaping the area, laying out a lawn and installing a gazebo with mattresses. Neighbors advise Yaroslav to set up garden beds. In response, he smiles: his views on life do not fit in with the prevailing image of a Belarusian summer resident.
According to Yaroslav, when minimum costs Such a house would have cost about $20 thousand for finishing and landscaping, but it turned out to be more expensive.
Yaroslav considers a container house an ideal option for a country holiday. True, he does not rule out that over time he will want to sell it. Long-distance travel has taught us not to become attached to any place for long.
A container house is a practical, fast, cost-effective and reliable structure. Modern technologies make it possible to construct buildings from cargo containers. And it doesn’t matter at all what kind of containers the construction will be made of: sea or railway. Both of them perfectly withstand the aggressive influence of the external environment, have a very durable structural part and can be used to construct buildings with your own hands.
Container house - simple and original design
Using two shipping containers will allow you to build a house from 60 m2 to 120, depending on the project. For example, 40-foot containers installed opposite each other can be connected with stained glass windows and covered with a common roof.
Small container house
From one 40-foot container you can make a luxurious extension, a convenient utility room, temporary housing for daily wage workers, or equip a workshop or storage facility. Houses built using this technology have great seismic resistance, so it is possible to build such a house in seismic zones.
Types of projects
“Container” projects are diverse, there are a huge number of them. Therefore, seeing modular buildings made from block containers in person or in photographs is not difficult. This kind of construction is very popular not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Unfortunately, projects for this type of building are extremely individual. Standard projects cannot be found in the public domain.
However, like any construction, a house made of containers requires mandatory calculation of loads, foundations, strength - in a word, it is necessary to create design and estimate documentation.
Container house plan
You should not treat the need for a project as something negative, cumbersome and unnecessary. After all, not only the strength and reliability of the structure depend on what the building design will be, since it is this package of documentation that determines the appearance, convenient location rooms and rational use of space.
You can build such a house with your own hands, but to create a project, you need to contact a special organization. Professional engineers will calculate every little detail, determine not only the scope of work, but also correctly calculate the loads, create an impressive appearance, indicate the necessary building materials and calculate their quantity.
The house for the construction of which the project is being prepared is always beautiful, reliable, safe, comfortable, and does not threaten to collapse. Built in compliance with all the designers' recommendations, it will serve faithfully for a long time.
Original design of a house made from shipping containers
Projects drawn up by architects and designers, as well as the buildings built on them, are always individual and unusual. These can be houses of two or more floors, built in the form of a cascade, steps, or chaos. The project may involve combined construction, when, along with the use of sea containers, railway containers and other structures are used.
Construction Features
Freight, most often 40-foot, containers for rail or sea transportation are a ready-made and reliable skeleton of a future building. These are ready-made modules from metal structures made in a factory.
The construction of buildings and structures from containers is much faster than structures made by any other method.
The apparent simplicity of constructing residential buildings according to projects attracts those who are accustomed to working with their own hands. But, it should be remembered that the construction of buildings from sea and railway containers is a serious and responsible undertaking that requires certain skills and knowledge.
House made from sea or railway containers
Therefore, to build such a country house or residential house from containers, it is best to invite specialists. Many construction companies They offer, among other works, the construction of buildings from 40-foot cargo containers.
These companies have experienced welders, concrete workers, and roofers on their staff. Therefore, modular buildings made from block containers, regardless of the number of floors, total area, or intended use, will be built with high quality and quickly.
That's all further work You can do the interior and exterior decoration of the house yourself.
Stages of construction of the structural part
If you nevertheless decide to build a house with your own hands, without involving a contractor, then you need to take into account that the construction of structures will take time and will require the use of special equipment and the ability to handle welding and other construction tools. To weld metal structures, it is necessary to use only high-quality domestic electrodes, since Chinese-made electrodes are not suitable for such construction.
Foundation. Production construction work begins with the construction of the foundation. Because if you place the container directly on the ground, it will settle and the house will freeze. Therefore, first of all, you need to dig a pit of size and depth in accordance with the requirements of the project. In most cases it is enough strip foundation, but in a number of regions it is impossible to do without piles. The last requirement applies to regions with weak, marshy soils. In order to dig a pit, you will need an excavator accompanied by trucks to remove soil. During concrete work, it is necessary to leave outlets from the reinforcement to connect the foundation to the container.
You can simplify the concrete work of pouring the foundation yourself by ordering a ready-made concrete mixture. In this case, it is enough to mount the reinforcement cage in accordance with the drawings, install the formwork and pour the mortar.
Fresh concrete must be compacted using special deep vibrating tools. You can move on to the next stage only after the concrete has finally matured, that is, no earlier than 22 days after it is poured. The dimensions of the foundation depend on what containers will be used, since the dimensions of sea and railway containers differ significantly. In addition, they are released in different options, including: 20 and 40 feet. When designing foundations, the number of modular blocks from which the house will be built is taken into account. Accordingly, there is a difference in the size and design of the foundations for two, three or more blocks. To build multi-storey structures from sea or railway containers, more powerful, reinforced foundations will be required.
Installing the container on the foundation
Structural part. The next stage is installation of containers on existing foundation. You can’t do without special equipment here. Since both sea and railway containers have significant weight, you will definitely need a truck crane. Therefore, when building a house with your own hands, you should take care of this in advance. Special equipment, especially during the season, is in great demand. After the modules are installed, they should be tied and welded, fastening them to the foundation and to each other. Next, all the necessary work on the installation of internal, interior walls is carried out. This could be as simple as installing gypsum plasterboard partitions, which you can easily install yourself. But, most often, before installing them, the corrugated sheet from which the walls of the containers found inside the new building are made is removed or trimmed. At the same stage, holes for windows and doors are cut. If both sea and rail containers are used for construction at the same time, the difference in size should be taken into account. Combining 40 and 20 foot containers allows you to create an unusual, individual design.
Roofing device
This is also a rather complex type of activity. Despite the fact that sea and railway containers already have a ceiling, it will not replace the roof. It is done in the same way as in conventional construction.
Container house with roof
It is unlikely that you will be able to do this part of the work yourself. Therefore, it is best to invite a contractor who will perform all the work efficiently and in accordance with the project.
Containers can support a lot of weight, so even buildings of two or three floors can be covered with any type of roofing material, including heavy tiles.
Insulation and finishing of facades
Insulation of a living space built from containers is carried out in the same way as in the construction of ordinary houses. Having arranged the sheathing along the walls and on the upper outer part of the ceiling, you need to lay insulation. This can be glass wool, mineral board, polyurethane, penoplex, polystyrene foam, on top of which work is carried out on the exterior finishing of the building. You can do this work yourself, without the involvement of contractors.
For finishing the facades of such houses they use special panels, decorative brick, tiles from natural stone, as well as conventional painting and plastering such as Munich. For painting, special façade paints are used that are resistant to sudden temperature changes and sun rays, as well as withstanding frost and plenty of moisture.
The decoration of the facade can be varied depending on the style and imagination
Interior decoration
The interior decoration of container houses usually begins with covering the external enclosing structures with sheets of plasterboard, plywood or USB panels. It is best to mount them on a metal frame made of a rigid profile, since the wooden structure will be movable due to the constant change in the percentage of moisture in it. In order to insulate the house from the inside before covering the external walls, it is best to cover them with isocork. The material made from natural cork wood is an excellent antiseptic, resistant to the formation of various biological microorganisms, the appearance of which is associated with the formation of condensation.
After covering the walls, the ceiling is finished. As the most simple option wooden ceiling The container can simply be painted and varnished. But plastering and gesso are the least suitable for it. Firstly, because the existing floor, as a rule, is perfectly smooth, and secondly, the emulsion and gesso will constantly crack due to changes in the percentage of moisture in the wood. Therefore, it is best to use suspended or suspended ceilings made of plasterboard, Armstrong or MDF panels. At the same time, suspended ceilings will maintain the ceiling height as much as possible, lowering its level by no more than two to three centimeters.
Interior of a container house
After installing the ceilings, you can return to finishing the walls. Since they are no different from the walls of any other house, the decoration is determined solely by the taste of the residents. Technologically, you can use any materials: wallpaper, paint, decorative plasters etc.
Floors also require minimal finishing. Since the wooden flooring is treated with various antiseptic and fire-fighting agents, it is better not to dismantle it, but to leave it as a base.
Wooden flooring can be covered with any material - from linoleum to parquet. Laying ceramic tiles will need to be done not with a regular tile adhesive solution, but with a special glue - “liquid nails”, the instructions for which involve gluing wooden and ceramic surfaces.
Application in industrial and civil engineering
Construction of buildings from containers intended for freight transport By railway or the sea, in the 21st century has ceased to be the prerogative of private construction. An increasing number of countries are introducing this type of structural part into industrial and civil engineering. Shopping complexes, multi-storey residential buildings and even children's institutions have already been built using this technology. In Finland, the issue of constructing an entire residential complex from containers, including a large number of multi-storey buildings, is being considered.
Project to build apartment buildings from shipping containers in Detroit
In Detroit, Steven C. Flum, Inc. has already started construction of a 20-apartment building from used containers. In addition to other advantages directly related to the simplicity and economy of construction, this type of construction is considered environmentally friendly, saving natural resources project.
This is due to the fact that it is not profitable to send arriving containers back, and the issue of their disposal is quite acute. Therefore, the construction of small and medium-sized repair shops from them, residential complexes, snack bars and restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment buildings - an excellent solution for recycling containers without requiring an expensive disposal process.
Finland is also interested in construction of this kind. According to the government, this will help solve the housing shortage. The small area of the apartments and their relatively low cost will make housing affordable for young people who are in dire need of it. Such a house should appear in the city of Vantaa in 2016. It will have from 50 to 100 apartments, each from 14 to 28 m2.
In Buenos Aires (Argentina) they built a shopping complex of 57 modules, brightly colored, with a roof made of solar panels, they provide the opportunity for restaurants, offices, and shopping boutiques to operate. There is also even a gallery and a cafe with huge stained glass windows.
A unique shopping street has been created in London; 61 shipping containers were used for its construction. Boxpark Shoreditch isn't just about walking. There are places to relax, sanitary stations, cafes and even a small park with beautiful well-groomed trees.
The construction of buildings from modules is also gaining momentum in the CIS. In Kazakhstan, for example, this method is widely used to create boutiques in markets where a warehouse is located on the second floor.
Auxiliary mobile premises
It is convenient to build modular houses to create living conditions for shift workers. Prefabricated dormitories are easily dismantled and transported from one facility to another.
Container cafes: easy to install, dismantle and transport
The containers house canteens, baths and sanitary stations. In addition, in winter, when working outdoors is difficult, some of the work performed can be transferred to modular workshops.
Installation of furnace equipment and external insulation make it possible to use structures made from containers all year round. The ability to install one container onto another without problems or loss of strength ensures maximum efficiency of use land plots. If necessary, containers installed in a row, in addition to their main purpose, can form a temporary fencing of the territory.
Many people solve the problem of expensive housing by choosing inexpensive but reliable container buildings.
The basis for such houses are containers used in shipping.
It is noteworthy that you can easily build a house from containers with your own hands, and you can vary the area and number of floors of such buildings at your discretion.
Container houses are just gaining popularity in Russia, but we are sure that they will soon become a common alternative to standard buildings, so let's learn more about the features, as well as the pros and cons of container houses.
Container houses: latest projects, photos Advantages of container housing
Of course, in some of the operational characteristics of the house, containers cannot be compared with brick, wooden and other buildings common in our area. But you can close your eyes to most of the differences if you want to quickly and inexpensively furnish your home. Moreover, container houses have their advantages: 
Container houses: photos and projects 
House made from a sea container, photo
How much a container house costs depends on many factors: its size, material strength, features finishing works etc. But, in any case, even complex designs of houses made from sea containers will be more attractive at prices compared to ordinary houses, and this is one of the main advantages of creating houses from sea containers in Russia. 
House made of containers: photos in Russia
Increasingly in low-rise construction a new material is used - what are the advantages and disadvantages, features of the material - find out in the article at the link.
Read about where to start a phased renovation of an apartment. Main stages of construction
Let's talk about how to make a house out of a container. Let us describe this process using the example of a house made of two containers.
You will need beams 100 by 100 mm and 60 by 60 mm, 8 and 6-meter boards with a section of 10 by 4 cm and 15 by 2.5 cm, respectively, self-tapping screws, chipboard with parameters 27.5 by 12 by 1.6 cm, galvanized steel in the form of corrugated sheets, bolts for plumbing, two reinforced concrete piles with a section of 35 by 35 cm, MP-50 mineral wool, S-10 corrugated sheets, welding equipment, an angle grinder with discs, a gasoline generator and a screwdriver.
Before installation begins, it is necessary to prepare a project for a container house with plans for the main work. Most often they make a house project from a 40-foot container, since this standard size for such structures. 
Beautiful houses made from containers, photo
Advice: There is not enough space for a family in one container, so we recommend that you plan to create a modular container home with at least two components.
Main stages of construction houses from containers:
- purchasing containers of the required quality with parameters corresponding to the plan;
- creating a foundation (if desired);
- installation of containers;
- reconstruction of the interior of the container house;
- roofing works;
- insulation and finishing;
- laying the necessary systems and communications.
Container houses: photos, ideas, options
For a house made of 40-foot containers you will need about 100 thousand rubles (excluding other materials).
Inspect structures for defects and use radiation detection equipment.
Remember! Radiation background a house from a container should not exceed 35 microroentgen per hour.
Container house, photo
If you are wondering how to build a house from a container, and still decide to make a foundation, you should not settle for the monolithic option. During operation, cracks and other defects will form on its surface. And the soil under the house will gradually subside. This is why the foundation should be minimalistic or even dispensed with (in this case, a residential building made from containers will be easier to move if the ground begins to sink).
The procedure for creating a foundation for such a house consists of several procedures. To begin, create a “cushion” of gravel or other inert material. Then anchor the piles parallel to each other every 6 meters to form a square base.
The average weight of each container will be about 6 tons. Therefore, you will not be able to build a cottage from containers yourself. You will have to use special equipment and transport and call specialists.
If you are creating a house from several blocks at once, they must be welded together (do this in a circular pattern).
Container house, photo
After installing the house from iron containers, we proceed to internal work. Using a grinder, get rid of unnecessary elements inside, and also cut niches for doors and windows.
It is better to do such work not in hot weather, so during the day in the summer season you can start building an attic or roofing work.
The main stages of creating an attic and roof in an apartment from a container:
- use a beam with a section of 100 by 100 mm to create an attic frame. To secure the beams, use self-tapping screws, and to connect the beams to each other, use plumbing bolts;
- when the frame is ready, start installing 8-meter rafters. Boards must have appropriate parameters. It is better to connect elements of such a structure not with nails, but with self-tapping screws;
- make lathing on the rafters: for this you will need boards 6 meters long. Place galvanized sheets on top, and also provide a vapor barrier between these elements.
Vapor barrier is done using a special film. Instead of film, you can use another technique: six (three per side) pipes 40 centimeters long with a 10-centimeter cross-sectional diameter are mounted on the sides of the house under the roof.
Since the attic is not intended for use in cold seasons, there is no need to close them in winter.
Container house: projects, photos
Insulation and finishing of a container house
Another point that needs to be considered is how to insulate the container for housing. This is done very simply: first, beams with a 6 cm cross-section are used to create the sheathing (keep a distance of approximately 0.9 m).
Advice. To keep the sheathing against the walls of the container, use self-tapping screws.After this, you can begin the insulation itself: take large sheets of mineral wool and secure them between the beams. The larger the sheet of cotton wool, the better it will stay between the beams at a given distance.
DIY container house, photo
At the next stage of building a house from shipping containers with your own hands, you need to think about the external cladding of the house. For these purposes, use corrugated sheeting - and, traditionally, secure it with self-tapping screws. For aesthetics, it is better to choose light materials.
Next, you can begin decorating the interior of the house using metal containers. Carry out internal insulation in the same way as external insulation using chipboard sheets. 1.5 cm gaps should be left between them: they are intended for polyurethane foam, which will prevent dust from entering the house.
The next procedure is the installation of double-glazed windows (preferably double-glazed windows) and insulation of the floor (traditionally, lathing-insulation-flooring). For the floor, as a rule, 15 by 4 cm boards and chipboard are used.
Modular houses from containers, photo
Heating and communications
Often, special stoves are used to heat modular housing containers. A cutout is made in the floor chipboards and a brick oven is laid directly on the container bottom. If over time one of the sides of the container settles along with the stove, it will be enough to use a jack to lift it - and lay down a durable material.
As for electrical wiring, in container housing it is better to conduct it not along the outer walls, but through special channels for greater safety.
It is better to foresee the need for sewerage equipment in advance when planning a house made of containers. For this purpose, a hole is made in the floor: through it the pipe will be connected to a dug drainage ditch or septic tank.
Buying a container holiday home
If you don’t want to spend time building it yourself, you can purchase a ready-made country house made from containers. The advantage of garden containers is that they initially issued with the condition of use for domestic purposes, so that the external and internal design will fully suit your needs.
Container cottages, photo
Thus, in a country house made from a container, all communication systems will be present, thermal insulation and decorative finishing will be provided.
The average price for such containers for a dacha starts at 90 thousand rubles, and the cost of a house made from a container with a shower and plumbing, designed to accommodate more than 3 people, will be about 170 thousand.