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ToSlow

ToSlow

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I,m think of making some kind of cottage in NS. Was wondering if anyone has any experience on shipping containers?

What’s the cost what is all involved in making them into livable space
 
Shipping containers are in high demand right now so that will obviously increase your price.

But I think it’s a solid plan and love what some have done with them.
 
mimico_polak said:
Shipping containers are in high demand right now so that will obviously increase your price.

But I think it’s a solid plan and love what some have done with them.
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Shipping containers, sea cans, have a limited life and have to be "certified"... sorta like a car.
There are lots of un-certified cans out there. Last time I looked there were 20' cans being advertised for about $2000 delivered to the GTA.

If you know where and when you can get cans for a lot less.

OP: The first thing I would do is find out if the township you are looking at will allow a residence built with shipping cans. The pre-filing on the building permit may kill the whole idea.
 
bitzz said:
Shipping containers, sea cans, have a limited life and have to be "certified"... sorta like a car.
There are lots of un-certified cans out there. Last time I looked there were 20' cans being advertised for about $2000 delivered to the GTA.

If you know where and when you can get cans for a lot less.

OP: The first thing I would do is find out if the township you are looking at will allow a residence built with shipping cans. The pre-filing on the building permit may kill the whole idea.
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This will be in NS. I already have a house on site, But it’s getting run down.

I was thinking putting a couple of 40 footers together and making it work.
 
If you need a building permit, the town planners are gonna want more than
ToSlow said:
I was thinking putting a couple of 40 footers together and making it work
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Town planners, in my experience, are pretty conservative and REALLY don't like seeing something they haven't seen a million times before.
NEW design requires a TON of expensive engineering reports.
 
I was hoping cause the house is already on the property it would or might make it a little easier
 
ToSlow said:
I was hoping cause the house is already on the property it would or might make it a little easier
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Its a 12-18 month process on a good day with a normal plan.
 
bitzz said:
Shipping containers, sea cans, have a limited life and have to be "certified"... sorta like a car.
There are lots of un-certified cans out there. Last time I looked there were 20' cans being advertised for about $2000 delivered to the GTA.

If you know where and when you can get cans for a lot less.

OP: The first thing I would do is find out if the township you are looking at will allow a residence built with shipping cans. The pre-filing on the building permit may kill the whole idea.
Click to expand...

An architect I knew complained that it took forever for him to get a drawing approved but a lady who was barely understandable with four screaming children in tow could get plans written on butcher paper in crayon approved in 15 minutes.

If budget is the #1 criteria keep in mind that a cheap shell still needs windows, door, cabinets, electrics, plumbing. The prices for those are the same as a conventionally built dwelling. The money edge may get compromised if special flashings and fittings are needed to accommodate the tin shell. Large openings may need expensive structural supports.

A friend was fixing up a place near Guysborough NS and the building codes around there, according to him, were anally restrictive.

If you had a 80 year old building with single glazed windows that leaked like a sieve it was OK to live in the house. If you could get some free 10 year old good quality windows from a neighbour doing a renovation you couldn't use them because they didn't have the appropriate energy star rating. Improving meant going whole hog.

The container home IMO is a fad that in the long term doesn't work. The many dimensional restrictions and upkeep issues are problematic. One basic dimension is eight feet.

How do you get your house rust proofed.
 
I’m not looking for full time residency. Just something for when I go home
 
Getting containers installed on a property as storage.

They will be far enough back in that no one ought to care what I am doing with them. They will be usable bunkies, just no amenities. Luckily there is a usable well back there and bio outhouse.
 
meme said:
Getting containers installed on a property as storage.

They will be far enough back in that no one ought to care what I am doing with them. They will be usable bunkies, just no amenities. Luckily there is a usable well back there and bio outhouse.
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I'm not claustrophobic but once got locked into a hallway due to an inept locksmith latching the doors the wrong way. I would either have an escape hatch or padlock the doors open when I was inside.
 
I was thinking that containers come on trucks. You buy one, fix it up nice and along comes someone with a truck.
 
Interesting Video

YouTube "7 reasons why container homes are a SCAM"


BTW I did a BS estimate of building a 8 X 40 foot box, basically a long garden shed and it was $4K to $5K naked and a lot easier to window and door than a metal box. I wonder if @jc100 has the costs on his shed.

it would need siding and interior fix ups but with a lot less special work compared to a metal box.
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