Shipping Containers are being used to build homes. You've likely read online, viewed on TV, or talked with people about this recently developing trend of building a house with shipping containers. Initially gaining traction on the Western and Eastern coasts of Canada, Ontario is beginning to see more and more of these unconventional builds popping up in cities and neighbourhoods across the province.
(Above: CSR Customer Sandor Abri's Container Home build in Lakeshore, Ontario. 2019.)
Why all the hype? There are two main schools of thought for building Container Homes: Design vs. Sustainability. For some homeowners, there is the desire to build something truly unique; something that "breaks the mold" and is not conventional. However, depending on how the home is clad and the materials used, you may not even see the container(s) when the project is finished. Depending on the size of the home, a minimalistic approach to a home can often seem very appealing to the average clutter-filled Canadian home. It is also quite possible, however, that these home builds can come at a very steep cost; like many conventionally built homes.
For others, there's an attraction to sustainability and eco-friendly building. Since the 1950s, shipping containers have become one of the largest intermodal freight transport systems used on a global scale. Rail, truck, or ship- containers are used to store and ship freight practically everywhere. Today, it's estimated that there are over 20 million containers in existence and there are some individuals who are drawn to the idea of repurposing these containers in an attempt to reduce concrete, lumber, and other building materials traditionally considered to have a negative toll on our environment. These individuals may look at building a home from shipping containers as a process of "recycling". Container homes aiming to be eco-friendly often utilize solar panels/arrays and are built using radiant heating (I.E.: Heated Floors) as opposed to less energy efficient forced air cooling and heating systems.
With 2019 upon us, CSR is excited and thankful to be working on several container-home builds locally. For more information on shipping containers and container modifications, visit us online at www.CSRcoxons.com or call our team at (866) 251-0331.
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