Container Storage

rgannon4

We are in desperate need of additional storage on our land - mainly for horse equipment etc and it needs to be pretty secure. A lot of our friends have old shipping containers on their land and I have had quotes of around £8pw for a 20ft one.

They capable enough depending on the condition but they look awful. So that leads me to my question! Has anybody had a container converted for their needs and what sort of prices were you given? The most suitable one I have seen so far is this...

http://www.containercare.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=-converting-containers-into-storage-units

and after speaking to company, it seems they build them to order with a typical cost is £3,300. I have no idea if this is good value or not but would be keen to see if anyone has commissioned something similar?

suisidevw

There was a house on Grand Designs a couple of weeks ago - made out of 4 shipping containers!

PasturesNew

they are used for a lot of permanent uses these days.

£8/week is £400/year. If it's your land and if you have the money then I'd consider going down the "buy it/own it" route as it'll pay for itself in about 6 years. You can always pretty them up, if you wish, by painting them, or cladding them.

rgannon4

PasturesNew wrote: »

they are used for a lot of permanent uses these days.

£8/week is £400/year. If it's your land and if you have the money then I'd consider going down the "buy it/own it" route as it'll pay for itself in about 6 years. You can always pretty them up, if you wish, by painting them, or cladding them.

Yes, they did say to me about cladding, but for now I just need to keep the costs low. I suppose you're right - the purchase cost could pay for itself over time.

rgannon4

suisidevw wrote: »

There was a house on Grand Designs a couple of weeks ago - made out of 4 shipping containers!

I actually seen that! Not sure I could live in one though but it did look rather innovative! The more I look into this - its really surprising how popular shipping containers are!

SailorSam

When i left school and started work the first place i started use to repair containers coming off and on the ships, down by the docks.

Davesnave

rgannon4 wrote: »

Yes, they did say to me about cladding,

Carefully placed trees/bushes and an equally careful choice of paint will help to disguise the worst aspects of a container.

I'm not necessarily talking leylandii. For example, I have cotoneasters grown from seed obtained in a park, and they'll make a couple of old vehicles parked just outside my land vanish in about two years flat.

I've already made the neighbours disappear in 4 years, using bought-in beech seedlings. Beech hold their leaves most of the winter and are horse friendly.

force_ten

have a look at e bay there is loads on there for sale from £750 up see if any are local to you and get it shipped to your land which will add to the cost but at £8.00 p/w you will soon be quids in

and at some point down the line cover it in rustic wood cladding to make it look a bit better

leveller2911

I would mention that many of the 2nd hand ones for sale will be up for sale because they are no longer water tight. If this isn't a problem then go for it.

Are they classed as a tempory structure so not requiring planning permission?.

rgannon4

I suppose i am going to buy one - its got to be watertight and obviously I can do what I want to it.

I spoke to Container Care again and they're based in Liverpool which isn't to far away.They also have the used ones for sale, its just a case going over there and picking one (believe it or not). Again the prices are dependent on the condition - similar to ebay i would expect.

Anyway, I think I'm heading for the converted unit - with a plan to cladding it like this....

Cladded container image

But will probably attempt to do it myself - unless they can visit our stables with a good price.

Furts

This may seem random but do a Google search on Queenstown, New Zealand. After the earthquake a few years ago this became container land. There is shopping arcade built out of shipping containers, shipping containers are used elsewhere as retaining walls, they are used stacked beside roads to give traffic protection from rock falls, indeed some people were living in them. There is a vast array of colours, cladding, openings, windows and doors.

And also follow a rule of thumb from the construction industry. Always try to avoid hireing a shipping container, or a site storage shed, or a secure lock up steel shed. Plant Hire is great but not for these items. The answer is to buy them.