The construction of a small country house from a used container that was bought at a low price attracts many owners of suburban areas. After all, you can find a "roof over your head" in a matter of days. The purchased container can only be brought to the country house and installed in the space reserved for the house, using loading and unloading equipment. A little more time will be left if the summer resident wants to conduct insulation and decoration of the container house. In this case, it will turn out not just temporary housing, but a full-fledged country house with all amenities.
There are many options for dividing the total container area into functional zones, from which the most suitable layout is selected, taking into account the number of residents, the seasonal use of the country house, design preferences and other considerations known only to you.
Using modern finishing materials, you can change the appearance of a conventional freight container beyond recognition. No one would think that a cozy country house turned out to be a decommissioned 40-tonnage. Significantly increase the useful area of the object by building a country house from several containers, placed right next to each other or at an angle, as well as two floors. In the latter case, it is still possible to make a carport and an open terrace for relaxation due to the displacement of the upper container by several meters to the side relative to the lower block.
Using the life-affirming color of the container, we managed to get a cheerful country house, complemented by a wooden terrace and a hinged tent
Standard Cargo Container Sizes
For the construction of country houses from all existing types of container containers, universal large-capacity containers are usually used:
- 20 feet (dry freight)
- 40 ft (dry freight or high high cube);
- 45ft (dry freight or high high cube).
Standard high cube containers are distinguished from conventional dry freight modules by their increased height and greater capacity. To make the ceilings in the house higher, it is better to purchase containers of this type.
It should be noted that the width of all types of containers is the same and amounts to 2350 mm. The length of a 20-foot module is 5898 mm, and 40-foot - 12032 mm. The height of both the one and the other container is 2393 mm. In the High Cube container, this parameter is 300 mm larger. The dimensions of the 45-foot are several millimeters larger than the dimensions of the 40-foot module.
We also recommend that you read the article “Requirements for the distance from the fence to the buildings”: //diz-cafe.com/plan/rasstoyanie-ot-zabora-do-postrojki.html
An interesting project of a two-story country house built of several containers, with a provided open terrace on one of the modules
Features of the design of large containers
A summer house built from a container will not be accessible to lovers of other people's property, constantly visiting the territory of garden societies. After all, the design of the container is not only simple, but also reliable.
Hard frame
It is based on a sturdy frame welded from steel beams. The lower base of the frame is the longitudinal and transverse beams to which side ribs are welded at the corners. The upper plane forming the roof of the container is also defined by transverse and longitudinal bearing beams.
Steel cladding
The lining of the cargo modules is made of corrugated steel anti-corrosion steel sheets made of high-quality alloy steel of the brand COR-TEN steel.
The thickness of the galvanized walls of the container varies from 1.5 to 2.0 mm, so the design is solid and quite rigid. High-quality paintwork applied to the walls of the container around the perimeter, reliably protect the metal from the negative effects of the environment and corrosive processes.
Plywood flooring
Extruded plywood, the thickness of which reaches 40 mm, is most often used as a floor in large-capacity containers. This material is additionally impregnated with a special composition that prevents the development of fungi and mold.
The use of plywood and other types of lumber for flooring provides:
- resistance of the wooden base to mechanical damage;
- good elasticity of the material;
- maintainability and easy replacement of the flooring;
- high coefficient of friction during cargo transportation.
When finishing the floor in a container adapted for a country house, often a concrete screed of a small thickness is poured over the existing base, into which the electric heating system is hidden.
Swing Doors
Standard containers are equipped with swing type doors that are hung on strong hinges. Doors are opened using special handles that actuate the locking mechanisms. A sealing gum is used to seal the doorway around the entire perimeter.
The swinging doors of the containers are welded, while the entrance to the house is provided through glass sliding doors built into the panoramic glazing of the wall
Foundation Requirements
Despite the large overall dimensions, containers weigh quite a bit. The weight of a 20-foot module is 2200 kg, and 45-foot - 4590 kg. Therefore, under such a lightweight construction, it is not necessary to erect a powerful strip foundation with strapping.
It is enough to put the container house on piles, the length of which depends on the type of soil, the depth of groundwater, the complexity of the terrain, the likelihood of flooding during spring floods and other factors specific to this region. The foundation may be:
- ordinary blocks;
- reinforced concrete pillars;
- screw piles;
- TISE piles with an extension at the bottom in the form of a sole;
- concrete pillars poured into the formwork;
- large diameter pipes, etc.
It is necessary to weld a steel supporting platform to the reinforcing cage of each foundation pillar. This area is needed in order to firmly weld the container to it. This will protect the country house from thieves who can steal the entire building with a view to its further use or resale.
Installation of a used container on a pile foundation using special lifting equipment is carried out with extreme caution.
Country house from a standard six-meter
The budget option of building a house from one standard 20-foot (six-meter) container implies the presence of:
- one pivoting window from single-chamber PVC with a double-glazed window;
- external door;
- individual heating;
- thermal insulation;
- internal sheathing made of PVC panels (ceiling) and MDF boards (walls);
- household linoleum used as flooring.
- Artificial lighting is organized by two fluorescent lamps.
- There is one outlet and one switch.
Reconfiguration of a standard container into a country house will cost a little more if PVC panels sheathe not only the ceiling, but also the walls. Replace household linoleum with a semi-commercial one. Install plumbing: toilet, washbasin and shower, as well as a 200-liter boiler for heating water for household needs.
One of the options for arranging the inner space of the container house. The usable area of the room is increased by removing the walls of adjacent containers
You will have to spend even more if you design two windows in a container, replace the finish from PVC panels with laminated chipboards of a color you like, arrange heating with an electric heater equipped with a thermostat, conduct hidden electrical wiring using euro outlets and euro switches. Tile the floor, and order special furniture that fits into the narrow and long space of the container.
A more exclusive design involves the presence of panoramic windows, sliding doors, allowing to expand the internal space due to the house terrace, exterior decoration, roof construction.
You can learn more about how to build a terrace in the country from the material: //diz-cafe.com/postroiki/terrasa-na-dache-svoimi-rukami.html
Thermal insulation: inside or outside?
Insulating a metal container from the outside is only possible if you intend to operate a country house throughout the year. In this case, the container will not freeze, which means that no condensation will form on the internal walls of the house. If you want to use the country house mainly in the summer, and in winter to visit on occasion, it is necessary to perform thermal insulation from the inside.
In what order do the work? And like this:
- First, cut out all window and door openings in accordance with the container modernization project, as well as openings for ventilation and chimneys.
- Weld to the sheathing pointwise on both sides of each cut-out opening of a square pipe that will run from floor to ceiling. To them, weld with a continuous seam horizontal pipes, launched above the opening and under it. So you will restore the structural strength of the container wall, weakened by violating the continuity of the stiffeners.
- Brew the swing doors of the container, and clean its surface from traces of rust, if any.
- From wooden bars 5-10 cm thick, make a vertical crate that will serve as a beacon when spraying polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam, which well fills the profiles in the walls of the container.
- Spray the insulation and cut off its excess on the exposed bars-beacons.
- Similarly, perform the insulation of the ceiling.
- Then tighten the walls and ceiling of the container with a vapor barrier membrane, shooting it against the bars of the crate with a construction stapler.
- Finish with lining, gypsum board, wood chipboards, pvc panels and other materials.
- Insulate the floor using the same spraying or polystyrene plates. Light cast concrete screed is not forbidden. It is undesirable to use mineral wool as floor insulation, which retains moisture for a long time when water gets in, which can cause rusting of the bottom of the container, as well as the formation of mold and fungus.
It should also be noted that when installing a fireplace, stove, chimney device, it is necessary to use 5-10 cm basalt cotton wool to isolate places of possible contact with hot surfaces.
Do-it-yourself material will also be useful on arranging a summer kitchen in a summer house: //diz-cafe.com/postroiki/letnyaya-kuxnya-na-dache-svoimi-rukami.html
The insulation is sprayed on the walls and ceiling of the container in a protective mask and special disposable work clothing
Construction of a country house from several containers
A much larger and more interesting country house is obtained, erected from several containers. You can arrange the modules relative to each other in different ways, getting open terraces, small courtyards, carports, recreation and privacy areas, guest rooms. Piles that can be bought ready-made or cast using disposable cardboard cylindrical formwork act as the foundation in this case. Installation of piles on a site with a complex relief is carried out taking into account the need for their alignment in a single level. The installation pitch of piles is 3 meters.
An insulated basement is built directly from the concrete under the bathroom, which houses a pumping station with a hydraulic accumulator, filters for cleaning water from the well, as well as other important elements of the autonomous water supply system of a country house.
About the features of the water supply device from the well: //diz-cafe.com/voda/vodosnabzheniya-zagorodnogo-doma-iz-kolodca.html
A low gable roof is erected above all containers, which allows to perceive stand-alone modules as a single ensemble. In addition to the decorative effect, such a roof contributes to additional heat and waterproofing of the roof space of the house.
Natural lighting inside the cottage is provided not only through panoramic windows installed in the walls of the container, but also anti-aircraft windows mounted on the ceiling with access to the roof through light wells. These windows also allow you to organize the ventilation of the inner space of the country house.
It is better to use the "Warm floor" system as heating a country house from several containers. The heating cable is laid in a spiral pattern throughout the house, and is poured with a screed. Under the cable, it is advisable to first put foil foamed polyethylene protected by lavsan. This will reduce the amount of heat loss through the floor of the metal container. When pouring the screed, it is necessary to provide for the presence of expansion joints that do not allow its surface to crack under temperature fluctuations. The resulting concrete floor can then be sanded, painted and varnished.
To create a common space, openings of different widths are cut out in the walls of neighboring containers, while using racks and beams from an I-beam to strengthen the structure. The walls of the containers are sheathed with metal guides for spraying insulation - polyurethane foam. Before spraying the insulation, wiring is laid according to a selective scheme using RCDs. It is mandatory that there is a common busbar and grounding between all the metal parts of the house.
The partitions inside the container house are installed from a metal profile, to which a gyro board or drywall is screwed. The seams between the sheets of gypsum board are glued with a serpentine tape, which holds the applied putty non-shrinking solution well. The walls of the containers are sheathed with plasterboard sheets, which will then be plastered and painted in bright colors, allowing you to visually expand the living space.
The rails are hemmed onto the ceiling of the containers, and then the wiring is laid to organize the artificial lighting of the country house. For the decoration of the ceiling space we use a tree of natural tones that contrast well with the light walls of the house and visually increase the height of the ceilings.
We paint the outer walls of the containers in one or several matching colors, but we do not save on paint, otherwise we will have to admire the shabby facade of the country house in three years. It is better to use high-quality marine enamel paint for this purpose. Here's how you can easily build a house from several containers with your own hands.
A large country house of several containers, painted in different contrasting colors, occupies part of the site, forming a cozy patio
Steps or a ramp, which is easily cleared of snow in winter, usually lead to the doors of such a house. A utility room can be made out of a small container, in which all summer and garden equipment will be stored.
Interesting too! How to build a frame summer house: //diz-cafe.com/postroiki/dachnyj-domik-svoimi-rukami.html
In the photographs posted in the article, you see that the country house from the containers turns out to be beautiful and functional. If outside such a house is sheathed with siding or wood, then it is unlikely to distinguish it from other summer cottages. At the same time, it will take you much less time and money to build a house.
