OG shipping container home.
- Thread starter Silent Earth
- Start date
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Containers are the quickest way to keep the water and wind off with sturdy walls but if you intend to finish it out to look like a normal home on the inside it wont really be any cheaper than a normal home, especially if you have others do the work for you.
From what I have seen it is easier to work with the 20 foot containers since they can be moved with a smaller vehicle, a smaller crane or forklift, many times they can be moved around with a roll on/off truck,
Same thing with burying them,
From what I have seen it is easier to work with the 20 foot containers since they can be moved with a smaller vehicle, a smaller crane or forklift, many times they can be moved around with a roll on/off truck,
Same thing with burying them,
There's an old thread on the topic of burying them. They really don't bury well as the sides will cave in. They are really strong vertically, but it dosent take much to bow in the walls.
They might stop a .22 but not much more.
yes that's what I read somewhere. the metal is quite thin isn't it, I've seen a few programmes where they have been made into above ground living quarters and it dosent seem to take much to make a hole in it or take out a bit for a window or door.
When you get down to it they are sturdier than a conventional stick framed house, and are fire resistant, but I still don't see it as even close to a bunker. A show over here 'doomsday castle' had a guy building with 12" thick block, reinforced with rebar and filled with concrete. That's what I call bunker material! I kind of agree with not liking the idea of living underground either, but think any visible structure is vulnerable. Something that goes unnoticed is truly the most secure.
I saw a three story office building made of mirrors in Ormond beach Fla. It had natural landscaping and trees around it and literally disappeared in it all. Really cool design. However for a shelter it wouldn't do well at night as it would reflect any light shone towards it, making it stand out.
wouldn't be my first choice.
Too expensive, and not practicle for prepping. Was just intended to get the wheels turning.
I am thinking of an underground structure but not to live in - maybe for a few days or couple of weeks, if necessary - but as a low energy way to keep goods cool and secure, if not downright chilled. A container, as mentioned, cannot just be buried underground. I was thinking of putting a half circle of heavy duty culvert on the top to make a domed roof - would give me a small attic - and then putting insulation and concrete on the sides...maybe painting the whole steel box with several coats of a good hard primer, then something like plastic roofing cement. Maybe it is not the cheapest way, but there is just something about using a steel box....
This probably out of the price range for many us but check these out:
https://survive-a-storm.com/survival-bunkers-panic-rooms/#2
http://www.risingsbunkers.com/layouts-pricing-bunkers/
https://survive-a-storm.com/survival-bunkers-panic-rooms/#2
http://www.risingsbunkers.com/layouts-pricing-bunkers/
Shipping containers are said to be toxic. Unless you know what they were used for shipping, buyer beware.
http://www.archdaily.com/160892/the-pros-and-cons-of-cargo-container-architecture/
Heres an article that explains how to make used containers safe for living in.
http://www.containerhomeplans.org/2015/04/are-shipping-container-homes-dangerous-to-live-in/
http://www.containerhomeplans.org/2015/04/are-shipping-container-homes-dangerous-to-live-in/
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I thought about getting one for a tornado shelter and after reading up on them,I decided to pass ,I don't think they would be all that safe
If you want a container that is ready to be buried you want a school bus, depending upon the dirt in your area you can put up to 3ft of dirt on the roof with no additional structure strengthening,
or just run a line of vertical 4x4's down the center of the roof to double the roof strength, you just need to put some metal or wood to cover the windows,
with their internal ribbed roof/sides they can take being buried easily, every 30 inches they have internal structural beams to hold the roof up and keep the walls from bowing in.
is easy to get used ones for 3000 to 5000 dollars that are ready to drive,
if you have the time/skill to part it out it would be cheaper,
you will block the 2 main frame pieces under the bus as well as running some blocks along either side of the bus since the 8ft long frame cross bars wont be able to take the weight of the bus and dirt forever.
or just run a line of vertical 4x4's down the center of the roof to double the roof strength, you just need to put some metal or wood to cover the windows,
with their internal ribbed roof/sides they can take being buried easily, every 30 inches they have internal structural beams to hold the roof up and keep the walls from bowing in.
is easy to get used ones for 3000 to 5000 dollars that are ready to drive,
if you have the time/skill to part it out it would be cheaper,
you will block the 2 main frame pieces under the bus as well as running some blocks along either side of the bus since the 8ft long frame cross bars wont be able to take the weight of the bus and dirt forever.
