The demand for housing has increased dramatically within the recent years, due to the housing shortage in The United States. The current supply of new homes has not kept up with the demand, resulting in America’s current housing shortage. The result has led to rising housing costs, increased homelessness, and other social and economic problems. This crisis has affected millions of Americans to the point architects developed affordable methods to create housing, such as Pre-Fabricated or Pre-Fab Homes (the Container Home design being one of them).

What is a Pre-Fab home?

Pre-Fab houses are defined as homes built in a factory instead of on the land it will sit on. There are multiple types of prefab homes you can consider such as Container Homes being one of them.

Pre- Fab Home Styles

Modular homes: These homes are constructed from factory-made pieces and can feature customizable floor plans. The main difference between modular and manufactured homes is that the former are built and transported in complete sections before being assembled on the home site.

Manufactured homes: Also known by the outdated term “mobile homes,” manufactured homes are built entirely in the factory before being transported to the site where they'll rest. Manufactured homes must adhere to strict building codes laid out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Kit homes: Similar to modular homes, a kit home is assembled from precut pieces and can be assembled by the homeowners themselves.

Some Styles Of Pre-Fab Homes

Prefab homes average between 10%-20% cheaper than the traditional home. Some companies make shopping for a Pre-Fab home effortlessly by providing a budget calculator to ensure you stay within your budget. Other companies take care of all the other hard work such as making sure you have electricity or water, for your new dream home. Many people often ask if financing or obtaining a mortgage is possible, and the answer is yes. It just varies on the company, so be sure to read through the companies site thoroughly and make sure to ask your most concerning questions prior.

What Is The Process To Obtain A Container Home

Step 1- Look for land to purchase. You will need to do this prior to building a container home.

Step 2- Plan your Project . As stated before some Pre-Fab house making companies have a budget calculator. In some cases you can choose to work with an architect, structural engineer, or contractor with experience in container home build, draw up the plans yourself, or select a home design offered by the Pre-Fab company you’re looking for. It’s always recommended you have a project budget with a 20% contingency fund.

Step 3- Get approval for building plans. Container home builders must meet all the applicable building codes for occupancy. Zoning regulations cover where you are allowed to build and the type of permitted buildings. Your State may have a category for storage container homes, or it may come under non-traditional structures.

Step 4- Prep your site. Before you start your container home build, you need a stable, level foundation that supports your home. If your land is not even you may need to hire someone to even it out.

Step 5- If you are choosing a Container Home from the housing catelog or company website you’re looking at, its as simple as select a design> email> and wait. If you are building your home from scratch you must purchase your container home and wait for its delivery.

Step 6- The final step we’ve been waiting for! Installation!

What are the Pros & Cons to a Container Home?

Container homes are entirely more affordable than traditional housing. You can purchase a container home for as low as $10,000. They are typically more cost-effective than conventional housing because they require fewer building materials and labor to construct. You can lower the cost of customizing your container housing by renovating the dwelling using your DIY skills.

• They’re quick to construct. Some contractors can build a shipping container home in under a month. However, hiring a professional to build your container dream home can be pricey. To avoid hefty construction costs altogether, you can purchase a prefabricated container home from a growing list of companies specializing in building prefab homes off-site.

• They’re modular homes. Shipping container homes are easy to modify. You can build a home with a mix of 20- and 40-foot containers. You can also combine multiple containers to create a larger home with a living room, dining room, extra bedrooms, a second floor, or even a container guesthouse.

• They’re durable. Manufacturers typically use corten steel to build shipping containers. This self-healing steel protects cargo during transport across bodies of water. Shipping container homes made from weathering steel can likely withstand inclement weather conditions better than traditional housing.

• They can be mobile. You can use a dedicated shipping transportation service to pick up and relocate an off-the-grid single-container house anywhere in the world.

  
  
  

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Container Home?

• Obtaining building permits can be difficult. Obtaining the necessary permits to build your shipping container house in some regions. However, there are several places in the United States (including Texas, California, Colorado, and Oregon) and abroad (including China, New Zealand, and Costa Rica) that host shipping container homes and have regulations in place. Ask your local city planning office for more information about building codes, zoning restrictions, and permitting requirements for container housing.

• Shipping containers are not always eco-friendly. Many people market container living as eco-friendly, but some home buyers prefer to convert new containers into housing. Used shipping containers are more eco-friendly, depending on the history of use.

• Modern appliances can be difficult. If you plan to live off-grid, you will need to find a reliable licensed electrician who is familiar with shipping container architecture to design and install custom electrical setups for your house. You’ll also need to hire a plumber to install the necessary plumbing work. If your location doesn’t have access to electricity, you may need to hire a contractor to install solar panels onto the roof.

• They often need reinforcements. While storage containers are built out of durable steel, you can compromise their structural integrity with certain modifications—for instance, cutting holes for a door or large windows. While shipping containers can withstand certain weather conditions, the weight from heavy snow can cause the roof to bow if the corner castings aren’t strong enough. You will need to hire a contractor to reinforce load-bearing walls or install a sloped rooftop.

  For what it’s worth, I would say the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. At the end of the day you’re going based off your budget, but one should expect to invest into making a container home more luxurious. Even if you were to purchase a regular home you would be investing it, the only difference is a Container Home would be more affordable. One could argue about the inconvenience in waiting for the permit, however looking at the big picture you are technically investing time and less money into a Container Home.
  
  

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