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Aloha Puna folks,
Anyone know anyone who does container homes? I don't generally deal with making a container into a house - just as storage on ag lots.
This guy already has three containers and he wants to get them made into a permitted house. Two are steel, one is aluminum and at least one of them is high cube, so it should be tall enough to become a dwelling.
I've already had a steep learning curve on the 2006 IBC building codes, don't wanna do the same thing for a container house.
I'm also not sure on the details of how to attach siding and interiors to a steel or aluminum box. Just frame inside like a regular double wall sorta thing?
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Posts: 1,727
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Joined: Feb 2006
Thanks Kalakoa!
I'll forward the info on to the people inquiring about container houses. I've got enough 'regular' houses to draw up at the moment that I don't need to learn about how to make a container fit within the 2006 International Building Code.
Anyone know who their draftsman is who does the drawings? This guy already has the containers and is planning on doing all the work himself. He doesn't really need a contractor, he just needs a draftsman.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 14,138
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Anyone know who their draftsman is who does the drawings?
No clue, but from their website, they know how to get a container house finaled...
I've been meaning to visit them next time I'm on Oahu, check out their techniques, especially the drywall-over-welded-metal-studs trick.
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I'm guessing they just do a stud frame inside the container and then go like usual, but that's gonna take out about 8" out of an already too narrow room. Maybe if they'd use a 2" x 2" stud frame they'd still have room for plumbing & electrical behind the walls and have something to hang drywall on.
I don't have the numbers to determine load capacity of steel walls, not sure how to calculate required braced walls, etc. so it's not a project I want to deal with. Plus, IMHO, the end result is more expensive and more effort than stick building - at least, if you pick the right sticks. It's also too limiting because of the size of the containers, but again, it's not my project.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 14,138
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Maybe if they'd use a 2" x 2" stud frame
The words "low-profile" appeared somewhere in there -- maybe they're running them in the "low" of the corrugated container skin, so the overall loss is only 1-2".
more expensive and more effort than stick building
If you convert the container, sure. I've always wanted to weld metal decking over the top of two containers, then build conventional stick-frame on top -- haven't penciled it out, but it's probably cost-effective (or nearly so).
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The problem I encountered was the added expense of furring out the walls to accept insulation, as well as having to add steel posts wherever I cut the walls for openings to keep the structural strength. A "high cube" container is needed to achieve the minimum ceiling height of 7'6" once ceiling framed for insulation.
If I had to do it again, I would take two 20 foot containers and space them a container width apart, then build and "A" frame cabin on top, with the open area below as the lanai or garage, and utilize the containers as storage/workshop.
Community begins with Aloha
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The advantage I see with having a 40' connex, is you could potentially tow it out of danger if it were ever in the path of lava, with minimal effort.
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Can't get a permit using the containers to hold up a house or a portion of a house, I don't think? Are there numbers for structural engineers to use to calculate loads? The containers could be used as a non-structural wall, I suppose. But that's not overly cost effective.
But, in any case, it's way steeper of a learning curve than I wanna get involved with for a one shot drafting job.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 14,138
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Can't get a permit using the containers to hold up a house or a portion of a house, I don't think?
Yes, because permits are the most important part of any home. Just ask those nice people in Leilani.
