Tips on Turning Shipping Containers for Sale into Great Guestrooms

1. July 4, 2017 Tips on Turning Shipping Containers for Sale into Great Guestrooms Family occasions, holidays, or even emergencies, may prompt relatives and friends to drop by and maybe stay for a night or two. But sometimes, you’re not that prepared to accommodate them because you lack an extra guestroom. You can decide to construct one or a small guesthouse, but that might incur a great expense. If you’re on a tight budget but want a great place for guests, here are tips on how to convert shipping containers into an additional livable space. Page | 1

2. Why Choose Used Shipping Containers for Sale For a guest room, you’d want to buy used shipping containers for sale to get good prices. Containers are more affordable than making a new house from scratch because of the availability of containers and the existing metal frame decreases construction costs and build time. Around 700,000 to millions of used containers are sitting in yards and warehouses as it will cost shippers more for these boxes to be shipped back than to buy new ones. Furthermore, using these boxes is considered good for the environment since you’re recycling materials. Basic Steps of Making a Shipping Container Guestroom Several fundamental steps are needed for turning a shipping container into a good guest room. First, make a plan or plan for the entire container with an architect who’s familiar with shipping container houses. Next, determine applicable building codes to comply with relevant laws. Also, never set the container on bare soil as the moisture could ruin the metal. In addition, shipping containers should not be set directly on the ground to avoid the deck rusting. You can use concrete slabs or recycled materials, such as a foundation made of recycled telephone poles like what Poteet Architects did in San Antonio, Texas. Setting a container home on a firm foundation also improves stability. Subsequently, get an expert welder to cut the openings for doors, windows, and other fixtures. Likewise, don't forget to weatherproof exposed metals. You can use a spray foam to insulate the interior walls and apply ceramic coating outside for additional insulation. Walling the container with bamboo plywood inside can provide another layer of protection from heat and cold too. Finally, you can make the guest room more environmentally-friendly by installing a composting toilet and turning the roof into a garden. Water from sinks and showers can be collected for a sustainable way of ensuring roof irrigation. A roof garden can improve air circulation in the container, plus it can provide food if you plant vegetables too! Page | 2

3. You can build an affordable, but beautiful and energy-efficient guest room using shipping containers for sale. An extra guest house will make having more people during special occasions less stressful and a lot more convenient and pleasant for you and your visitors. About Equipment Management Services: As one of the top providers of shipping containers in the U.S., we sell new, used, or modified boxes. As a one-stop shop, we can deliver containers directly to you as well as customize them according to your specifications. Sources: “Container Guest House / Poteet Architects,” ArchDaily.com “Home Sweet Shipping Container?” ABCNews.Go.com Page | 3