What to Consider When Buying a Shipping Container

Whilst they may not popularity in the shipping industry, shipping containers are cheap and many. But they are not only useful for shipping cargo. By making a few minor adjustments, you can repurpose a cargo container for use as a storage space, a temporary office, or even a house  shipping containers. And since cargo containers can be purchased very cheaply, it is very tempting to use one for your next building project. However, there are few things think about before you purchase a shipping container.

First, you will need to consider what size container will best meet building needs. Cargo containers come in many ISO (International Shipping Organization) sizes. Shipping containers have been 8 feet wide and 8. 5 feet tall, but they come in varying lengths, such as 10 feet, 20 feet, and 40 feet. You can figure out the size you need by first considering the purpose of your building project.

A 10 foot long container is about 80 square feet, that makes it best for backyard storage or a small temporary building like a ticket unit. Twenty foot long containers provide 160 square feet of space, so are good for bigger storage spaces for small businesses, and temporary offices. A 40 foot long container provides the most space of all — 320 square feet. These containers are best for building homes and industrial storage spaces. You can even customize and attach shipping containers together for even larger building projects.

Secondly, you should decide whether to buy a used or new shipping container. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. A new cargo container will probably be problem-free and clean, but may cost a little extra cash. Used cargo containers can be purchased for about 35 to fifty percent less than new containers, but may have some damage and wear whilst they may not previous use. If the nature of your project requires a pristine and damage-free structure, and you don’t want to make any repairs to bring your container up to code, you should definitely purchase a new container.

The peace of mind that accompanies a brand-new container will replace with the markup in price. However, if you are on a tight budget, or anticipate making some modifications to your shipping container, a used container might be the way to go. You can save quite a bit of money this way, and if you are going to customize and repair the container anyway, you should purchase a used container. However, you will need to vigilantly inspect your used shipping container for flaws like rust spots, spaces, and holes before you use it. Problems like these may seem minor, but if left unrestrained they could cause damage to the items stored inside, or cause structural damage later on if you anticipate deploying it for a home or other type of building.

Lastly, you will need to determine what options and extras you’ll want in your shipping container. Many shipping containers come with a variety of options due to the nature of shipping they are used to store. You can purchase a shipping container that is wired for electricity, or under refrigeration using an HVAC system. If you need easy access to your container, think about getting a container with doors at both ends or on one of the sides. For containers intended for storage, look for a container with shelving or dividers pre-installed. Also, make sure that your cargo container has sturdy cam locks for the of all doors to keep the items stored inside safe and secure.

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