Improve Your Shipping Container Home's Durability

Homes made from shipping containers are becoming very popular with every passing day. A few of the population prefer it over regular construction as shipping containers look trendy and are cost-effective. But there are some important tips they should take to maintain them properly. Good maintenance techniques will be helpful to extend the durability of the shipping containers up to twice their life span, which is approximately 25 years. However, materials and methods used in constructing a shipping container home significantly contribute to its life. Supertech offers the best shipping container house in Dubai using only premium materials and proven construction methods.

If properly maintained and taken care of, a container home can stay up to 25 years without any problem. All you need to do is reinforce, protect, insulate and prevent the container from rusting to prolong its life. Choosing a shipping container without damage and dents will help maintain the house effortlessly. You can prevent rust by investing in a good roof structure, floor, and paint. Cleaning dirt and debris, keeping the place free from moisture, and lubricating openings will be useful in easy maintenance. You should understand that a container that was not used multiple times or had made only one destination in the ocean will last approximately 40 to 50 years. In this blog, let us discuss the various effective steps to take to increase the life span of a container home.

6 Essential Tips to Improve the Lifespan of Container Homes

1. Take Care In the Installation of the Roof

The roof is an integral part of a container home. When installed rightly, it will increase the shipping container’s life span by 100%. Generally, shipping containers are made of cor-ten steel, which makes them durable. The material withstands various climatic conditions as they are destined to be at sea. Shipping containers are therefore designed to resist salt water, storm, rain, direct sunlight, and heavy wind.

2. Use Rust Prevention Paints

Rust is the biggest enemy of any shipping container. A good quality roof will protect a shipping container home against sun and rain. Thus, this will be the best defense against rust. You can get excellent roof insulation by investing in a robust material for your container home’s roof. Ensure that the roof is constructed in the best possible way so that you don’t face any problems in the future. A container roof must:

• Offer sufficient shade by extending it furthermore than the container’s exact roof size.
• Be capable of holding solar panels if the user wants to utilize solar power.
• Contain a big pitch for draining rainwater.
• Be in the form of an individual structure and encase the container.

Shipping containers are made of metal which is prone to rust. Painting is the best way to prevent rust. The paints used before 2017 were considered unsafe for shipping containers as they were solvent-based. These proved to be toxic to human beings when inhaled. Now you may question how we can prevent it. Try building a house with new shipping containers. But if you are unsure about it, paint the entire space with rust-free paints. Usually, direct-to-metal paint coats are safe and do not harm humans as they are free of harmful chemicals. Take care to follow the steps mentioned here before repainting.

• Remove rust, even if it is found only in smaller areas.
• Apply primers before using rust-prevention paints.
• Spray rust-prevention paint coats to the exterior of the containers.
• Make it a routine to apply rust-prevention coats once a year to areas that are in direct contact with rain or sun.

3. Add an Exterior Siding

An exterior siding escalates the appearance of the entire container home and offers a cozy feel. The elements of the siding increase the life of a container home. As the containers are steel, you must pay attention to the methods used in attaching the siding.

Wood siding will be ideal if you attach metal panels with mechanical fasteners without making cuts or holes in the container’s exterior. But most people make a few welds or cuts in the container and attach the siding (composite or vinyl) with adhesives. A few of the other best sidings are composite wood and fiber cement. Whatever may be the material of the siding, consider the following installation tips for best results.

• Properly seal, paint and treat the cuts with rust-prevention paint.
• Ensure that all the sidings are overlapped to make the entire space waterproof.
• The primary siding layer must not come in contact with the ground.

4. Make the Foundation Strong

A sturdy foundation is compulsory for any building structure. A strong foundation will offer a perfectly leveled plane for a home. Proper foundations will keep the entire container from making its way to the ground level with time. Another essential factor to consider while laying a foundation is the nature of the ground in that particular area. Accordingly, you will have to choose the proper foundation. If the soil is clay or soft, you must invest in an extra foundation to support the building. This additional foundation support will take care that the container does not sink for 10 to 20 years. Renowned foundation choices are made of reinforced concrete or cement. They differ in style, and some of the popular ones are:

• Concrete piers
• Concrete slab
• Inverted concrete slab with a raft structure and extra support
• Blocks

5. Seal Modifications, If Any

A container home developed with a smaller number of welds and cuts are always better. You may want to make your space look cool and not mind welding and cutting to create a unique space. Whatever you do, ensure to seal all the openings properly. Doors and windows have to be made through cuts. You have to give extra attention here as they may serve as prime spaces for moisture to seep in and result in rusting of both interior and exterior areas. You can treat it with silicone or insulate the walls to prevent moisture seepage. If you are looking for a better option, consider spray foam, as it will adhere well to the container’s corrugated wall. Spray foam does not permit condensation, unlike other insulations.

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6. Clean Your Container Home Regularly

Cleaning plays a significant role in improving the life of a container home drastically. As containers do not have flat surfaces and are corrugated, it collects a lot of water, debris, and snow on their top surface. Remove the dust and dirt at least twice every year. You will have to get rid of leaf piles that will attract moisture near the home’s foundation if left unattended for a long time. If you live in a tropical area, perform this cleaning procedure immediately after the monsoon season or a hurricane. Continuously check for siding or roof cracks and damage. While cleaning, you can check the roof for leaks and clear the solar panels if installed. Being proactive while spotting leaks and cracks will prevent stopping corrosion in the early stages itself.

Key Takeaway

Good maintenance is the key to a container home’s longevity. When the ideas mentioned above are adequately followed with secure siding and foundation, you can live comfortably in your container home for many years. Reach out to Supertech if you want to invest in a good container house in Dubai with a considerable life span.