DIY Shipping Container Projects Around the Home
- By Cory Levins
- 9 jun 2017
You may not think much of your typical shipping container—it’s just a big metal box, right? While many of us see this basic item only for its original purpose, many people see it as the beginning of a great project.
Shipping containers are sturdy, well-built, and extremely reliable, making them a natural resource for anyone with a home improvement project they’re excited to try. If you have the urge to do some creative work with a basic, big metal box, these unique projects will inspire you to get going.
A shipping container pool? Hey, why not? Their basic shape makes them perfect for a lot of backyards, and their structural integrity makes them easy to work with as you build your pool.
You will have to add a bit to the original box. For instance, this pool creator painted the inside of his pool with anti-corrosion paint and also lined it with foam padding to make sure no one hurt their feet as they kicked across.
A shipping container pool has a very distinct look and can be a bit limited in size but, if you and your family are anxious for a pool and but don’t have a lot of space, this can be perfect for you. It’s a low-cost, basic project that most beginners could tackle.
A basic rectangle of water can turn your backyard into an oasis with a little planning. Give it a shot.
Raising a barn is no small feat—ask any farmer, and they’ll tell you these projects can take months and come with high stakes. If you don’t have a good space for your equipment or your horses before winter hits, you are in for a tough season.
Some farmers are solving the time problem by using shipping containers as poultry houses, stables, or the barns themselves. The containers work for the main parts of the barn and are then connected with a top wall and a roof.
Barn building is an intense project that requires a team of workers, serious equipment, and money. While this is a major undertaking, it is doable. Some builders have posted videos of their process online, and you can check out how they managed to get it done.
Much like a barn, a shed can be essential for anyone working with a lot of timber or large tools, or who just needs some extra storage.
By combining two containers with the help of some color bond sheeting, the two containers connect across an open space which is perfect for a workshop or just tool storage. Tractors and other small machines fit inside the containers on either side.
Why have machinery and tools unorganized and spread out all over your property? With this easy project, you can have a great shed to keep it all tucked away. Best of all, this project can be completed in a day or two.
If you are up for it, this is a fun project. This page shows how to take a hole in the ground and, little by little, make it the perfect place for an underground shelter or, in this case, a wine cellar.
If you want to tackle this one, you will have to take precautions against rust and make sure the dirt isn’t gradually pushing in on the sides of your container over time. With the right plan and design, your underground space can be very safe and extremely useful.
A lot of people have designed these underground spaces as emergency bunkers should the worst happen, but they can be a lot of things. Maybe you just want a little man cave so you can get some alone time, or you just want a back storehouse of food or other supplies and don’t want to stack it all up in the garage.
Whatever your inspiration or intention, a basic shipping container is the ultimate shelter. Be sure to get a group of professionals to place the container in its new spot so that it is straight and to help you check the space around it so you don’t have the coffin effect.
This project is not cheap, but, if you are lucky enough to have some handy friends and a large property, it is well worth the cost. An underground space can be immensely useful for hundreds of years.
What other uses have you found for a shipping container? Have you tried out any projects yourself? What do you love about these basic rectangles and how would you like to see them used? Give these questions some consideration and try one of these or one of your own DIY projects using shipping containers.
Shipping containers are sturdy, well-built, and extremely reliable, making them a natural resource for anyone with a home improvement project they’re excited to try. If you have the urge to do some creative work with a basic, big metal box, these unique projects will inspire you to get going.
A Swimming Pool
A shipping container pool? Hey, why not? Their basic shape makes them perfect for a lot of backyards, and their structural integrity makes them easy to work with as you build your pool.
You will have to add a bit to the original box. For instance, this pool creator painted the inside of his pool with anti-corrosion paint and also lined it with foam padding to make sure no one hurt their feet as they kicked across.
A shipping container pool has a very distinct look and can be a bit limited in size but, if you and your family are anxious for a pool and but don’t have a lot of space, this can be perfect for you. It’s a low-cost, basic project that most beginners could tackle.
A basic rectangle of water can turn your backyard into an oasis with a little planning. Give it a shot.
A Barn
Raising a barn is no small feat—ask any farmer, and they’ll tell you these projects can take months and come with high stakes. If you don’t have a good space for your equipment or your horses before winter hits, you are in for a tough season.
Some farmers are solving the time problem by using shipping containers as poultry houses, stables, or the barns themselves. The containers work for the main parts of the barn and are then connected with a top wall and a roof.
Barn building is an intense project that requires a team of workers, serious equipment, and money. While this is a major undertaking, it is doable. Some builders have posted videos of their process online, and you can check out how they managed to get it done.
A Shed
Much like a barn, a shed can be essential for anyone working with a lot of timber or large tools, or who just needs some extra storage.
By combining two containers with the help of some color bond sheeting, the two containers connect across an open space which is perfect for a workshop or just tool storage. Tractors and other small machines fit inside the containers on either side.
Why have machinery and tools unorganized and spread out all over your property? With this easy project, you can have a great shed to keep it all tucked away. Best of all, this project can be completed in a day or two.
Underground Cellar or Shelter
If you are up for it, this is a fun project. This page shows how to take a hole in the ground and, little by little, make it the perfect place for an underground shelter or, in this case, a wine cellar.
If you want to tackle this one, you will have to take precautions against rust and make sure the dirt isn’t gradually pushing in on the sides of your container over time. With the right plan and design, your underground space can be very safe and extremely useful.
A lot of people have designed these underground spaces as emergency bunkers should the worst happen, but they can be a lot of things. Maybe you just want a little man cave so you can get some alone time, or you just want a back storehouse of food or other supplies and don’t want to stack it all up in the garage.
Whatever your inspiration or intention, a basic shipping container is the ultimate shelter. Be sure to get a group of professionals to place the container in its new spot so that it is straight and to help you check the space around it so you don’t have the coffin effect.
This project is not cheap, but, if you are lucky enough to have some handy friends and a large property, it is well worth the cost. An underground space can be immensely useful for hundreds of years.
What other uses have you found for a shipping container? Have you tried out any projects yourself? What do you love about these basic rectangles and how would you like to see them used? Give these questions some consideration and try one of these or one of your own DIY projects using shipping containers.
