Container VS Stone walls | RCD Article

 

Hello RCD readers,

Container VS Stone Walls that is the important question.

 

The year began with two client's wanting container designs.

Client 1: Storage Area |residential use

Client 2: Storage Area (2 floors) | Business use

Story time:

Client 1 wanted to know what would be cheaper prefab or building with stone. I had reminded them from the start that stone would be cheaper. But they still asked. So I called :

- business who sell already build prefab designs

- business that designs prefab houses and offices 

The first company would be over his budget. 

And the second explained everything why the cost are not much cheaper.

The client choose the stone walls after a lot of convincing.

Story time: 

Client 2 did not have a budget problem. They already had bought the containers. They knew the pricing of everything. But the contractor was smart enough to consult me for the concrete calculations for the floor/foundation. Mostly because it would be a storage for a company. so the the ground flooring had to be able to carry the heavy load.

High prices:

- the prices of containers are high from the get go for a residential storage unit

- the prices for the transportation of the container is also expensive

- the labor of welding is on the expensive side. If you weld yourself, it will be cheap because you simply buy the steel profiles and make your own design with them. But to pay somebody for that is going to be expensive.

The heat/ The cooling

While sturdy and durable, a shipping container's steel walls can get very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. That means you'll definitely need insulation if you intend to use the container as a living or working space, or if you plan to store temperature-sensitive assets such as electronics or perishable goods.

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Fire safety

While marine-grade CORTEN steel, or weathering steel, they're made from are fire-resistant materials, the containers themselves are not entirely fireproof. High temperatures sustained over a prolonged period can warp or melt the steel, and the wooden floors found in standard containers can catch fire.

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Disadvantage

Another significant disadvantage of container rooms is insulation and ventilation issues. Shipping containers are made of steel, which means they conduct heat and cold quickly. This makes it difficult to regulate the temperature inside the container.

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What are the benefits?

The most important benefit is the building phase will be cut in half.

Biggest misconception:

- A lot of client's think they don't need a foundation. 

- A lot think that it's a puzzle without welding on the ground and the ceiling.

- That it will be cheaper because it's fast built

My advice:

I agree that building with containers or prefab is fast but the pricing isn't going to be cheaper. You have to remember that working with containers you get fixed size that you work with. That means each combining of containers will cost more for the welding plus the construction needed to make the design stable.