Ways to Repurpose Shipping Containers

Featured image by ppa

These days, shipping containers aren’t just used to ship products across oceans or through the country on big trucks. These spaces are large enough to be functional while small enough to not need ample property space to use them. So, while shipping containers are great for their intended purposes, more and more people are using these structures to create homes or even businesses.

Shipping containers can be a cost-effective way to build a tiny home or even sell products and services. Many people worldwide are repurposing shipping containers to create the home or business of their dreams. So, if you have been thinking about possibly using shipping containers for your personal or professional goals, here’s what you need to know before purchasing shipping containers for sale.

Converting a Shipping Container into a Small Home

The most common way to modify a shipping container is to make it into a tiny home. While there are other things to do with shipping containers, the tiny home route is a great one for many people.

As the costs of owning and renting soar, tiny houses are a great way to have your own space while maintaining affordability.

While the process isn’t necessarily as easy as 1,2,3, you can follow some general tips to get started if you want to use a shipping container as a home:

1. Design and Plan

If you’re a great builder yourself, you might be able to do most of the build-out yourself. But, most people need to hire an engineer for at least some of the renovations. Many people also enjoy learning how to do DIY along the process.

2. Get the Land Ready

You’ll also need a place to keep the shipping container long-term. Before setting the container in place, you’ll need a foundation area to ensure that you can install your tiny home easily.

3. Find a Supplier

It can take a long time to get the container shipped to you. So, you might want to start this process relatively early on. If possible, buying a used container is a great route. You might need to make some additions, such as adding shipping container wall panels, but the overall cost will likely be cheaper than building a tiny house from scratch.

Consider Business Opportunities

Quite a few business opportunities make perfect sense to run out of a shipping container. If you’re lucky, you can find a shipping container that’s already been repurposed to some extent and then make some changes from there. But, even if you have to buy a new container and do all the build-out yourself, you’ll likely save time and money instead of renting a space or building a larger area. Some ways to use a shipping container as a business include:

Beach-Front Bar or Eatery

The small size of a shipping container makes it perfect for a beachy area. This option functions like a food truck but just in a more permanent location.

Rental Space

Many people already rent out their homes or apartments on room share sites. A shipping container tiny home appeals to many adventurous travelers who like to stay in more exciting places.

Coffee Shop

A coffee shop with a small indoor and large patio space is ideal for a shipping container. You can easily decorate the container and the outdoor area to appeal to a younger crowd.

Use a Shipping Container for Extra Space

Finally, in the wake of COVID-19, more and more people are looking for ways to create extra private space around their homes. A separate office, shed, or project space is easy to make with a shipping container. This route is great because it doesn’t require as much engineering and construction as a tiny home or business. Instead, you can make more cosmetic changes to cultivate a separate workspace for yourself.