Shipping container construction in Miami

[Martha Bueno]

Hello BP community, I am curious about using shipping containers to build a small home in my backyard. I live on a large lot, and would like to add an in-laws quarter. I like the idea of shipping container because it seems less expensive than traditional methods, and great for hurricanes. Does anyone have any experience, and know of costs, or companies that can help do it? Thank you!

[Gilbert Dominguez]

Once you have obtained the shipping contains you calculate you will need the rest of the construction is pretty standard, ceilings, flooring, insulation, walls, plumbing, electrical etc. 

What is unique about working with shipping containers is that they are units. You will proably need the use of a crane to move the units in place. You can either have the construction all done on site of you can rent a warehouse space somewhere and take a more factory approach to much of the interior construction and simply bring the units on site and fit them in place plus fastening everything together. You will want to be working with an architect and structural engineer. 

How much under normal construction costs you will achieve depends on your planning , strategy, and process for  finsihed product. Most definitely shipping container contruction time can be significantly reduced. 

One particular savings can be realized because foundation cost can be significantly lower as shipping containers can be set in place and even stacked on top of earh other readily since they have already been engineered for that. 

However one cost most people cannot avoid is the engineering costs of creating open spaces as most shipping containers are not more than 8 feet wide in the interior, then when they are joined to create a residential living space the units much be welded together. 

You can search out your own sources but if you like I can design a residential unit for you using shipping containers. I am an architectural designer with over 30 years experience as a previously licensed building contractor. I am sort of semi retired now, but still involved in designing residential projects and in fact in the middle of my own residential development, a small one not more than 10 units, one, a mansion with a swimming pool and private tennis court and the other 9 units to be 3 bedroom 2 bath units stacked on top of each other using shipping containers. 

One trade which you will need to hire that normal residential projects do not is a qualified welder. Even if you have a project designed for you the design still needs to be brought to a structural engineer for structural calculations and structural drawings in order to present your project to your local building department for approval. You might also think to search for a local energy consultant or engineer as I am sure your local building department will also ask for that. 

One thing I would recommend is that you find a supplier for a product called, " perma-therm" It is an insulating paint like product you spay on the outside of your unit and supposedly will bounce off or reflect about 90%+ of all the heat hitting your unit. Shipping containers contain a lot of metal which is known to absorb heat very efficiently and long lived. You do not want people in your unit to feel like they are in an oven. 

Be careful about selecting used units as they are frequently spayed with pesticides especially on the floor area and these chemicals can be harmful to human beings who are exposed to them long term. I deal directly with manufacturers of shipping containers who will produce shipping containers to my specifications. 

There is one other well known investor on Biggerpockets and his name is Jay Hinrichs. You might contact him and consult with him. I believe he also knows about this subject and has connections in this field.