First Name: Holly
Last Name: Fxxxxx
Your Email Address: Undisclosed
Project Budget: £65,000
Project Location: Cornwall
Project Description: A self build project using 8 x 40' shipping containers. To build a simple detached 3/4 bedroom family home with green roof and external soft wood cladding. 5 shipping containers on ground floor, 3 shipping containers on top. Total square foot 2560.
What would you like help with?
The budget, since shipping containers have gone up a lot in the last 18 months, is this still a build possible on such a small budget?
BUDGET FOR THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT YOU ARE CONSIDERING IS CONSIDERABLY LOW. HATE TO SAY ANYTHING IS NOT DO-ABLE. BUT THAT'S TOO MUCH HOUSE FOR THE BUDGET. 2560 SQUARE FEET FOR $100,000(US) COMES OUT TO ABOUT $39 PSF. BEST CASE SCENARIO (GREAT SOIL BEARING CAPACITY, TEMPERATE CLIMATE, SPARTAN INTERIORS, RAW EXPOSED AESTHETIC, AND COMPLETE PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLING) FOR CONTAINER BUILDING IS AROUND $80-$110 PSF (NOT INCLUDING SITE COSTS).
THAT BEING SAID, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER A STRATEGY OF STAGED CONSTRUCTION. BUILDING THE COMPLETE HOUSE IN PORTIONS OVER TIME AS MORE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO CONSIDER LESS CONTAINERS FOR THE HOUSE. A MORE FREE/OPEN PLAN DESIGN WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONTAINERS/WALLS. SORT OF MONASTIC APPROACH. SMALL COMPACT BEDROOMS/BATHS IN THE CONTAINERS AND THEN OPEN COMMUNAL SPACE BETWEEN?
Also any info on type of foundations? and reinforcing the roof to take roof garden?
MORE INFORMATION ON FOUNDATION DESIGN IS AVAILABLE AT THE Shipping Container House Foundations LINK. MORE INFORMATION ON ROOF REINFORCEMENT AND GREEN ROOFS IS AVAILABLE AT THE Container Home Green Roof and Framing LINK.
This would be my first purchase and first build. I have researched for two years and this site is fantastic! Would be grateful for any insights.
Many thanks,
Holly.