Shipping Container Home Construction
The pros and cons of building a home in Costa Rica
Using shipping containers as the main building block for your home is not a “cheap” method of building.
When you are working with steel building blocks that require transportation, heavy metal work, framing out with wood, insulating and then installing with a crane, the cost of construction can be quite high.
With wallboard, electricity, plumbing, tiles for the bathroom and kitchen, etc, the price naturally goes up some more.
This can be as expensive as building a standard cement and timber home.
Here are the reasons why we recommend you build a home using shipping containers:
1. The majority of your materials will be considered recycled. This of course is better for the environment and uses much less materials, energy and time.
2. Site preparation. We prefabricate each individual container at our factory in San Ramon, and then install it in a few days. Rather than having a team of construction workers on your property for several months.
3. We save you money by reusing the steel cutouts from the windows and door as protective security bars for the windows and doors. (On a standard home, this will save you between $5000-$7000)
4. The Shipping Container Home is Steel. Basically impenetrable and therefore much safer.
5. Another way to save money is to go vertical. The roof can support 60,000 lbs of pressure. So your roof becomes a floor for a current roof deck and a future second floor.
In Costa Rica the construction prices have skyrocket and many people have land in remote locations, sometimes with no public water and or electricity. These remote locations create a challenge for a flatbed truck and a crane to access.
In Costa Rica, many home construction companies will tell you exactly what you want to hear, just to get the project up and running. The truth is, that there is an enormous amount of paperwork that is required to first break ground.
The majority of construction companies ignore many important documents that can lead into future problems for the homeowner. Not just in the construction of your home but the Topographer assessment, Municipality taxes, construction employee insurance, etc.
The government can actually show up at your house years later and ask for a document that is required for your home and land to exist legally.
I know this because it has happen to myself and some my friends many times in the past 11 years I have lived here in Costa Rica.
The bottom line is that buying and building in Costa Rica is a long process and does cost money.
So prepare yourself!
Thank you for your interest in Shipping Container Homes
Jimmy Lee
Hello from ContainerHomes.Net,
We have completed our book on shipping container home construction.
The book is “what we did”, not “how to do it”.
It is filled with lots of photos and designs.
Here is a general outline:
1. A brief History of shipping containers
2. How to buy a shipping container
3. Inspection
4. Unloading
5. Foundation
6. Internal Designs
7. Prep and paint
8. Cut Outs
9. Framing Cut outs
10. Frame out
11. Sealing
12. Windows
13. Steel bars/Shutters
14. Doors
15. Locks/Security
16. Electricity
17. Water
18. Wallboard/Insulation
19. Floor
20. Deck Construction
21. Bathroom
22. Kitchen
23. Maintenance
24. Merging and/or stacking two containers
The price on the book including all taxes and shipping is: $37.
Pay through PayPal.
Click on the following link to purchase the book:
“…We here at ContainerHouse.Info would love to hear any comments about Used Shipping Containers…”
Please visit our NEW SHIPPING CONTAINER FORUM @:
Http://ContainerHouse.Info/Forum
“…It is FREE to join and we really would love to see you there commenting and sharing your opinions not only about used shipping container questions and ideas but also any environmental issues as well…
See You There !…”
Http://ContainerHouse.Info/Forum
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Home Construction News
Thanks for the effort you took to expand upon this topic so thoroughly. I look forward to future posts.
There are various sea vessels involved in shipping to trinidad. It may include box boats or container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, ferries, cable layers, dredgers and barges.
hi i am interested in a container home i will like to recieve pix and size and also design tku
thank you for your interest. i have sent you an email
If the book is a “what we did,” and not “how to do it,” why does the cover graphic for the book say, “How to recycle a few cargo containers into a modern minimalist dream home”? Where can one purchase a “how-to” book? Thanks.
thanks for your interest. the photo you speak of is another book that has nothing to do with the other CD that is for sale. My apologies if you were confused.
if you were to click on the “buy now” button, you would be brought to a screen that has that item listed as a CD and not a book.
Thank You,
D Lee
You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material.
Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent
thanks Fash, keep coming back !
I couldn’t agree with you more, anyway l love your site layout. Is nice and clean.
Thanks Cam. Stay with us here at ContainerHouse.info. Even better posts are coming your way soon !
D Lee.
Hi,
I came upon your website as I was researching shipping containers for a school project. We own a decent sized but inclined lot in Santa Maria de Dota about an hour outside of
Cartago on the highway towards San Ysidro de General. We would love to build a container home on this lot. Can you give us more info? What is the average cost of the containers? Can we buy them directly from you? Will you deliver to that area? Any info will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Pegah Kamali
mutantbrainchild@hotmail.com
(808) 371-5587
Hellow Pegah Kamali. I know that (808) area code! Thats Hawaii ! I lived in Waikiki , Oahu for 5 years. Aloha my friend !
As for your reply, I sent you a personal email !
Thanks,
D Lee.
I’ve learned result-oriented things through your web site regarding Shipping Container Home Construction and Container Homes.
Thank you for your information ! i look forward to more container home related articles !