The most economical option for a house is to build a container house. The process of building a container house can be done in a variety of ways and will depend on the experience of the builder and the materials that are available to them. The first step in building a container house is to find or buy an empty shipping container. Once you have located an empty shipping container, remove all of the doors from the front and back of your shipping container. Next, place four wooden beams on each side of your shipping container. Then, put up some wood slats over top of these beams so that there is no gap between them at all; this will help to keep out any bugs or other pests that might otherwise come through those gaps during construction time.
The next step involves installing insulation inside your new home using either foam boards or spray foam insulation products before installing drywall on top of that insulation layer as well as painting over top with white paint (or light colors) so that it looks more attractive inside than outside when viewed from outside from far away distances away from homeowners who want more privacy from neighbors living across street apartments nearby condos
Buying a container home is cool and trendy, but building one yourself can be even more fun. You can build a small, efficient house that saves you money every month on utilities and mortgage payments. But how much does it cost to build a container house from scratch? This post will walk you through everything you need to know about the cost of building one yourself so you can decide if it’s right for your budget — or if it’s worth hiring someone else to do the work for you.
Cost To Build A Container House
The average cost to build a container house is between $20,000 and $60,000.
The average cost to build a container home is between $25,000 and $90,000.
The average cost to build a shipping container home is between $40 and $100 per square foot (for used containers).
The average cost to build a used shipping container house is anywhere from $5,000 to as high as $200K for something spectacularly designed and installed by a contractor with experience in this area.
Try to buy the used container(s) for cheap.
The first thing to do is find out how much real estate you’ll need, and then start looking for a used shipping container. Luckily, there are many options available depending on your budget and location:
- Buy from a supplier. You’ll want to look into buying your shipping containers from an established company that sells them in bulk, such as Container Solutions or Tuff Stuff Industries. The benefits of buying this way include getting a good price on the units and having them delivered straight to your doorstep, but there’s also the risk that these companies may not have the exact model or color that you’re looking for.
- Buy from a container yard. If you’re willing to drive around town searching for what you need, consider visiting one of these yards instead—they usually have more variety than suppliers do. However, this option can be somewhat risky if you don’t know what exactly kind of shape those containers are in beforehand: they might be too worn out (or even damaged), which will cost extra repairs later down the line when building starts up again (and trust us—you don’t want things falling apart during construction). If possible though…try not
Do all the work yourself.
If you truly like the idea of building your own container house, but don’t think you have the time or money to do so, there’s one alternative that can save you lots and lots of money: Do all the work yourself.
You’ll need help from friends and family (or perhaps even strangers) with some parts of the construction process. But if you’re up for a challenge, doing it yourself can be rewarding—and definitely cheaper than hiring someone else to do it for you.
If this sounds like something that appeals to you, here are some tips for how best to get started:
Build a one story.
The pros of building a one-story container house are many. It’s easier to build, it reduces construction costs, the structure is easier to heat and cool, and it’s more maintenance-friendly in general. As for the cons: you’ll have to find a way to deal with stairs if you need them. Plus, there aren’t as many ways to arrange your space—you’re limited by the ground floor height (which can be anywhere from 8’6”–9′). But if these are things that don’t concern you too much then there really isn’t any reason not to go with a single-story container home.
Build it small.
The cost to build a container home is considerably less than building a conventional home.
- Smaller homes are cheaper to build: A smaller structure requires fewer materials, which means the overall cost of construction is lower.
- Smaller homes are cheaper to heat and cool: In addition to having less square footage, container houses also tend to be built with more insulation than most traditional homes. This helps keep temperatures within reasonable levels during hot summer months or cold winter nights.
- Smaller homes are easier to maintain: The fact that these structures have fewer parts makes them easier for homeowners – or even renters – who may lack experience in home maintenance tasks or repairs.
Build on a flat piece of land.
- Build on a flat piece of land. If you’re building your container home in a low-lying area, like the suburbs or a rural area, this should be easy enough to do. But if you’re going for the height advantage and want to build up high on a hillside or mountain top (or even the side of an incline), do not do this.
- Don’t build on a hill. If your site is too steep to build safely without planning for it upfront via retaining walls or other means, there’s no shame in admitting defeat and moving elsewhere—especially if safety is an issue at stake here; nobody wants their container home falling down into their neighbor’s yard.
- Don’t build on a slope. The negative effects of not leveling out your land before building can make itself known immediately—and they won’t be pleasant ones either: unevenly-spaced wall panels could cause cracks throughout your structure; doors might not open properly due to uneven flooring heights; windows might leak condensation because they were installed incorrectly…the list goes on.
Limit the number of windows and skylights.
One of the most important things to know is that windows and skylights are expensive, so it’s best to limit the number that you add. This way, you can start out with only a few windows and skylights, then add more as budget allows or when needed.
Choose low-cost options for appliances, flooring, etc…
To save money, consider using low-cost options for appliances, flooring, etc…
- Use reclaimed materials. If you can find used items in good condition rather than purchasing new ones it will be less expensive.
- Use recycled materials. This is especially important when working with wood because of the high cost of lumber these days and also if you’re trying to go “green” in your building process. Reclaimed wood often has some character to it that makes it more appealing than new lumber anyways.
Buy used containers and do most of the work yourself to minimize costs.
If you’re on a budget, buying used containers and doing most of the work yourself is the most cost-effective way to go. Of course, there’s some risk involved in this approach as well—you may end up spending more time than you’d like on maintenance and repairs. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, it can save thousands of dollars per container house.
Conclusion
With careful planning and budgeting, building a container home can be a reasonable option for many people. It can be done on a budget of $20,000 or less for those who do most of the work themselves.
