5 Things to Know Before Buying 10ft Expandable Container Home

Expandable container houses have become a popular residential housing choice due to their low cost, beauty, versatility, and durability.

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China’s expandable container houses are more famous in the world, do you want to know more about expandable container houses? Are you interested in buying expandable container house? We will share with you everything related to Expandable Container House, please follow us to continue reading!

Table of Contents

• Why Expandable Container House Is So Popular?
• What Expandable Container Houses We Offer?
• Expandable Container House Installation Steps
• How to determine if it is right for you?
• Is expandable container housing worth investing in?
• Why Choose Us?

Why Expandable Container House Is So Popular?

1. Low cost: compared to traditional building, Expandable Container House costs a lot less.
2. Fast Installation: It is a prefabricated building, which is assembled in the factory, so it is easy and fast to install at the customer’s site.
3. Good heat preservation and insulation performance: the inner and outer wall panels are made of 50mm-75mm EPS color steel composite panels, which solves the problems of heat preservation, insulation and sound insulation.
4. Multiple sizes: Includes different sizes such as 10ft, 20ft, 30ft, 40ft, etc.; multiple layouts, including 1-4 bedroom layouts are available.
5. High flexibility: belonging to modularized building, it can be turned into multi-storey residence, office, store, etc. through splicing and stacking.
6. Highly customizable: interior layout, interior decoration, electrics, plumbing, etc. can be customized, and the electrics can meet the national standards to which the customer belongs.

These are the advantages of our expandable container house, if you are interested in customized expandable container house, you can contact us for details.

Interior layout of 40ft double wing expandable container house show

What Expandable Container Houses We Offer?

Container houses include monolithic container houses, folding container houses, modular container houses, among which expandable container houses are the most popular modular container houses at present.

We can supply all the above three types of container houses, among which the double-wing expandable container houses are our popular products, the double-wing expandable houses include the sizes of 10ft, 20ft, 30ft, 40ft.

Expandable Container House Installation Steps

Preparation of tools and personnel

Due to the large weight of the product, it needs crane, 4-5 personnel to assist the installation, and tools such as electric drill and cross drill bit.

Choose a suitable installation site

Confirm the geological conditions of the installation site (e.g. bearing capacity, drainage), and choose a compacted and level ground to place or install the products.

Placement of container house

Lift the product accurately to the determined installation location with a crane, and use a level to calibrate to ensure that the box is perfectly level.

Unfolding the container house

As the container house is folded during transportation, we need to unfold the container house.

Find the fixed panel on the side, loosen the screws on the fixed panel, and then unfold it outward. Generally the right side is unfolded first, and then the left side is unfolded, the unfolding steps can refer to the video below:

Screw fixing

The screw holes reserved on the roof, internal and external walls are fixed with self-tapping screws to ensure all connections are secure.

Sealing

Paste waterproof adhesive tape at the joints between the main box and the expansion board, and apply structural adhesive at the joints between the side base and the side wall to ensure sealing and waterproofing.

Electrical system connection

• The main cable (cross-sectional area ≥6mm²) is connected to the distribution box through waterproof connector, and an earth leakage protector (action current ≤30mA) must be installed.
• The box prefabrication has pre-buried PVC wiring pipe (lighting, socket circuit separation), the site needs to expand the area lamps and lanterns (such as LED flat panel light) and the main box distribution box connection, zero line and ground line need to be differentiated by color (zero line blue, ground line yellow-green dual-color).

Water supply and drainage installation

• Water supply pipe: PPR pipe (hot melt connection), cold water and hot water pipe spacing ≥ 15cm, expanding the bathroom faucet and the main box water tank connection.
• Drainage system: floor drains and toilet sewage pipes in the expansion area are connected to the main box sewage pipe (110mm in diameter), and the slope is controlled at 2%-3%.

Functional debugging and safety inspection

• Structural safety check: check all bolts, welding points and the stability of the expansion mechanism.
• Functionality test: check the water and electricity system for water and electricity leakage.

How to determine if it is right for you?

1. Budget assessment:Although the initial cost is 30-50% lower than traditional construction, the need for high-end customization (e.g. intelligent systems, special materials) may make the total price exceed expectations.
2. Space and site requirements: different sizes of single expandable container house covers an area of 18 square meters -76 square meters, if you need more than one for the combination, the area required will be larger.
3. Policy support: Although most of the over support, but it is best to determine whether your country supports the construction of containerized housing.

Is expandable container housing worth investing in?

The answer is yes. Expandable container housing is an innovative choice with great investment value.

Green and sustainable development

• More than 90% of materials can be recycled, and construction waste is reduced by more than 90%, which is in line with the global carbon neutrality goal.
• Integrate green technologies such as solar panels and rainwater collection systems to reduce long-term operating energy consumption.

Significant cost-effectiveness

• The initial investment is 40%-60% lower than that of traditional buildings, and the construction period is shortened by 90%.
• The modular design is easy to reuse, and the long-term use cost is reduced by more than 50%.

Wide range of applications

Expandable container houses can be seen from residential areas to commercial operations, public services, etc.

Why Choose Us?

• Years of industry experience, to develop high-quality, cost-effective solutions for customers.
• Various sizes, different configurations, house layouts, basic models to customized models, can be supplied.
• A complete supply chain, from raw materials to finished products, is strictly tested to ensure product quality.

Modular Labour Housing0anchor_by_mishk_4o Know Before Building A Shipping Container Home

One of the more niche trends in sustainable design of the past few years has been the re-use of shipping containers in order to create the structure of a building. Due to their convenient size, shipping containers are well-suited for use in houses and their appeal lies in their apparent simplicity: you get a room delivered in one piece, and you can stack them together to make multiple rooms or join them up to make larger rooms.

But of course, things are never so simple, and using shipping containers to make a house is still fraught with challenges - particularly as the idea is still relatively new, so there are few people with the expertise required to build one without a hitch. That's why the folks over at Container Home Plans reached out to 23 experts from around the world - designers and owners who have overcome the challenges to build their own container houses - to ask them what they wish they'd known before taking on this challenge. Check out their 11 top tips after the break.

1. Make Sure You See The Containers You're Buying

"The one thing that I wished I had not done was buy my containers without seeing them - I took the company’s word that they would be in good shape. They were beat all to heck."

2. Or, Spend A Little Extra On A One-Trip Container

"I wish I had known that it doesn’t cost that much more for a One-Trip container and they are like brand new."

3. Read Up On Your Local Rules

"Every country has its own sets of rules and standards. This means a container house in US does not look like a container house in Denmark. That is something most people do not think about. The container is a generic product, but climate, fire regulations etc are not…"

4. Find A Contractor That Can Do It All

"The one thing we would have done differently would have been to find one contractor to help the whole process versus having one for getting and modifying the containers, and another to finish out the interior."

5. Know Your Shipping Container Market

"I wish I knew that there were containers that are taller than 8 foot."

6. Understand The Shipping Container's Structure

"I think understanding how the structural integrity of them works is very important- i.e. the two long walls are both load bearing and bracing so if you were to cut a hole in one it needs to be compensated."

7. Don't Expect To Make A Huge Saving

"What I wish I had known is that building a house from shipping containers cost me a similar amount as a stick built house."

8. Minimize The Required Welding

"Welding takes a long time and is expensive, so try to keep it to a minimum."

9. Know How To Insulate

"I wish I knew how to insulate the shipping container, we ended up soldering elements on the walls and then sprayed them with a foam anti-fire insulation."

"We wish we’d known in cold countries above all, you need to ensure you have proper insulation to protect against condensation."

10. Plan Ahead For Plumbing

"One thing that would have made a big difference would have been to have all of the plumbing chases cut out of the container floors and ceilings to easily run pipe once they were stacked."

11. Have A Strategy To Cope With Wind

"We did not expect so much wind in the site and are now having to screen off the wind with vegetation as the container makes a bit of noise when there are large gusts of wind."

What to Know About Container Homes and Costs

With the cost of real estate these days, people have gotten creative in property ownership. From the soaring popularity of tiny homes to manufactured ones, there are more ways to own a “house” than ever. One unusual and increasingly popular types of homes are shipping containers.

Yes, shipping containers.

According to HomeGuide, the average cost to build and install a container home is $25,000 to $250,000. While that’s no small chunk of change, it’s significantly less than you’d expect to pay for a traditional house in most parts of the country. Let’s explore the costs associated with shipping container homes so you can decide if one is right for you.

For more information, please visit 10ft Expandable Container Home.

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What is a container home?

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First off, let’s more accurately define a container home. A container home is a house that’s built with one or more shipping containers. Shipping containers are designed to transport cargo across the world on ships, so they’re built to be extremely durable and weather-resistant, making them solid foundations for a home.

Shipping container homes are not the same as manufactured homes. Unlike manufactured houses, shipping container homes must meet traditional building codes. Successfully constructed, a shipping container home may last 25 to 30 years without needing significant maintenance. Of course, that duration is dependent upon how well you treat it and the local climate.

How much is a pre-built shipping container home?

Building a shipping container home is a lot of work, and depending on the features you’d like, it might not be that much more affordable than building a traditional home. Buying a pre-built shipping container home won’t give you the same custom experience, but it’ll probably save you a lot of money.

The average pre-built shipping container home costs between $20,000 and $50,000 from a company that specializes in these types of home. Obviously, that’s significantly less expensive than a traditional home or building a shipping container home from scratch.

That said, there are fewer investment benefits of a shipping container home. The market likely isn’t going to rise dramatically for these types of homes any time soon, so there’s less high-end investment opportunity. You trade affordability for a stagnant investment.

How much does a shipping container home cost to build?

As we mentioned at the start, HomeGuide estimates that a shipping container home costs anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000 to build, and will take anywhere from three to six months to complete. The wide net is because there are many, many factors that impact how much a shipping container home will cost. 

Here’s a look at some of the primary factors that impact the cost of building a shipping container home.

Number and size of containers

While you can certainly build a home with a single shipping container, you don’t have to settle for a studio apartment. Shipping containers are 8 feet wide by 8.5 feet high and are available in 10-foot, 20-foot, and 40-foot lengths. Containers cost $1,200 to $10,000.

The average cost to build a shipping container breaks down to about $150 to $350 per square foot, depending on the features you incorporate. You can build a shipping container home that’s greater than 2,000 square feet, just expect to spend more the larger the home gets.

For reference, the average cost to build a house is a little under $400,000, so even if you build a larger shipping container home, you’re probably doing it for cheaper than it would cost to build a new traditional house.

Custom vs. prefabricated

There is a shipping container home industry, which means you can buy prefabricated containers or entire container homes for a set price. Prefab container homes generally cost $120 to $300 per square foot. Customer-designed homes are more on the $250 to $400 per square foot range.

Generally, prefabricated containers are single-story and single-container. Custom homes can be configured to include multiple stories and be laid out any way you like.

Prefab containers are popular as extra structures on the same property to be used as a home office, in-law suite, or rental unit. In most states, a single-container unit qualifies as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).

Land, permits, and zoning

If you already own the land where you want your shipping container house to sit, that’s great! You’ll save some money. Otherwise, expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $18,000 per acre of land.

Because shipping container homes are typically placed on a permanent foundation, you also need to ensure that local regulations permit you to put a shipping container home on your land. That will entail land surveys and work permits to prep the land for construction.

‍Land surveys cost anywhere from $200 to $1,200 while land clearing, permits for new construction cost $500 to $2,000, and excavation will cost between $2,500 and $9,000. If you have to grade the land, expect to pay a little more.

In many cities, you can’t build shipping container homes, so make sure to check local zoning regulations before starting your project.

Design

Sure, a shipping container isn’t exactly silly putty, but there’s a still a lot you can do design-wise with a shipping container home, especially if you’re building it fully custom. Hiring an architect will cost 8% to 15% of the construction cost, but will help you create a home you’re truly proud of and that meets all of your specific needs.

Basic construction

Appliances and fixtures

Shipping container homes tend to be smaller than traditional ones, so you may opt for smaller appliances to maximize the space in your home. You can save some money by getting a smaller range, refrigerator, laundry machine, and other typical appliances.

Likewise, multi-purpose furniture is very popular in container homes, like futons, fold-down tables, furniture built into walls, and more. This is another area where you can save money by investing in utility over style or design.

Utilities

Finally, you’ll have to connect your shipping container home to water and electrical services. Installing a new water main costs $32 to $53 per linear foot, but you may have to pay as much as $3,000 for a new water meter.

If you’re connecting to the sewer line, that costs $40 to $180 per linear foot. Otherwise, a septic tank system costs $3,500 to $8,500 to install.

Connecting to the local electrical grid will cost $250 to $1,500 depending on the distance to the nearest utility pole. If you need to run new power lines to the home, it could cost another $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Many shipping container homes opt for solar power due to its more affordable nature and the tax credits you can receive for installing panels. If you’re going to pay to get on the electrical grid anyway, it makes more sense to pay for solar panels, get a tax credit, and save on future utility bills.

→ Read more about the value of solar panels

Taxes and insurance

Just like traditional homes, you must pay property taxes and have homeowners insurance for a shipping container home. Homeowners insurance tends to cost from $50 to $150 per month, but you’ll likely have to shop a bit to find an insurance company that offers a suitable option.

Should I get a shipping container home?

There are many benefits of building or buying a shipping container home rather than buying a traditional home or tiny house. They’re not the right option for everybody but there are several key benefits to consider.

Affordability

Buying a shipping container home may cost just a little more than a year’s rent on an apartment, and you’re likely getting a larger living space. You’d still need to buy the land to put it on, of course, but putting a container on a plot of land is a much more accessible path to homeownership than buying a traditional home.

They also tend to be more affordable than even some tiny homes, especially if you purchase prefabricated containers.

Learn more about the hidden costs of buying a home

Durability

As we’ve mentioned before, shipping containers are built to endure the absolute worst weather the planet has to offer. They’re often stacked on top of one another without damage to the container or the contents within. These things are tough. The typical container home can last for 25 to 30 years with regular maintenance and may withstand storms and other severe weather even better than a house.

Versatility

Local zoning regulations permitting, you can put a shipping container home basically anywhere. So, if you really love an area, all you have to do is buy the land and you can drop a container home on it. Since these homes are built to ship, you can get a container home delivered practically anywhere with relative ease and put it down on the exact spot you want.

Because of their standardized nature, you can build one far faster than you could build a traditional home. Sometimes, you can design and build one in as little as ten weeks.

Eco-friendliness

If you’re concerned about waste and the environment, shipping container homes are a great option. By buying a shipping container, you’re recycling it rather than letting it simply go to waste in a junkyard somewhere. Plus, they’re extremely flexible, allowing you to add energy-efficient features and green building materials like spray foam insulation, green roofing, solar panels, or Energy Star appliances.

For more 40ft Expandable Container Houseinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.