Let’s separate fact from fiction and tell you what that means to you if you are buying containers.

Myth:

Here are some of the most popular myths about containers:

• Containers are free.
• They have so many of them at the port you can’t see the sun.
• The railroads just leave them by the side of the tracks.
• My personal favorite – the $500 container.

None of these are true.

Containers at a depot

Fact:

Let’s take those claims one at a time.

• Containers are made of steel and are a commodity.  So naturally they have a value.  If they didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this right now.  They are traded just like everything else you buy.
• Ports may have many containers near them, but that does not mean that they are empty or available.  Shipping lines own those containers to provide to their own customers.  The containers you see at ports are either full, and are on their way to the customer who will unload them, or they are empty on their way to be loaded by a shipping line customer.  The shipping lines do sell their containers to brokers in the industry, and we in turn sell them to you.  But those sales make up a very small percentage of the containers that you see at the ports.
• Railroads do no such thing.  First of all, why would they stop the train?  Second, how would they dump them along the side of the tracks?  Even if you go to a rail ramp, containers move more quickly in and out the same way they do at the ports, often on behalf of the shipping lines.
• The $500 container.  That may have been true 10-15 years ago.  But containers are subject to inflation just like everything else.  The steel alone is worth more than that these days.  And in recent years, there have been more and more uses for containers beyond shipping lines.  That increase demand for used containers has only brought the price up.

So what does this mean for you?

Containers are a great option.  But, you are going to have to pay for them just like you would pay for anything else for your home or business.  Increasing your flexibility regarding where your container comes from, or getting on waiting lists for containers in your city are ways to cut down on costs.  Start looking for a container before you need it so you have time to get one in stock.  And whatever you do, don’t tell us you can get one for $500.

1)       Zoning. Are there any state, county, or city zoning laws that would restrict where or how you bury a container?  This may vary depending on where you are, what the ground is like in your area, and how far into the ground you want to go. You can go the range from buried underground, nestled into a hill or embedding the container just far enough into the ground to be secure. Either way, zoning rules may apply. Start with a quick search of your city and county websites, then follow up with phone calls to offices listed on the sites. Take notes on the calls—and as decisions are made, “get it in writing” if you can.

2)      Placement. Is your plan to bury the container completely? Just far enough that a tornado won’t send it to Oz? In working out placement details, be sure to think through how you will use your container. If it will be a root cellar, will you build your container into a hill with steps and a door? If it will be an underground storm shelter, how will you provide access in and out? Keep in mind that the more deeply a container is buried, the greater the planning.

3)      Structure. If you will bury your container, even partially, how will you ensure that it withstands the pressure of earth? Containers were made not to be buried, but to be stacked on a ship. Only the four corner posts of a container are load bearing, with the sides strong enough to support only the roof. You’ll need to plan on building a retaining wall around the container location. Be sure to include drainage so that heavy rains won’t leave your container submerged in water. If your cellar or shelter calls for completely covering your container’s roof, you’ll also need to build a platform to push all the weight to the 4 corner posts (products are on the market to do this). Never simply bury a container or it will collapse.

4)      Moisture. Containers are wind and water tight, but think about how you will prep your buried container against earthen moisture. The container floor has treated plywood on steel cross-members. You will want to seal under the floor—and probably will want to set it on a cement slab foundation. In addition, you will need to seal your container with roofing tar, plastic tarps, or truck bedliners (such as RhinoLinings). A little research will help you find the most cost-effective solution for your container use and location.

5)      Ventilation. If you’re turning your container into a storm shelter, you’ll want to make sure it will have good ventilation and air flow for the people who will use it. You’ll also want to add an extra door—ideally a man-door with a panic bar so it can be opened safely from inside and so that no one can be accidentally locked in.

For an example of one being installed, see this video.  They approached some of the issues listed above a little differently, but it still provides some great ideas.

Once you have your container cellar or shelter in place, the rest is pretty easy—making sure your root cellar has the right humidity level for vegetables or that your shelter is outfitted to work well as a storm refuge. If you’re just beginning to start your cellar or shelter project, please keep in mind that SuperCubes offers a variety of kits to help you modify your container—and we’re always happy to provide friendly advice as well.

1)       Bright Hope International.  Bright Hope is sending off their second shipment to Haiti.  Bright Hope had already been helping build the Haitian economy with microloans before the earthquake.  Since the earthquake, they have been sending supplies and increasing their microloan efforts to help Haitians get back on their feet, while continuing to ship needed supplies.  Visit their website for more information: www.BrightHope.org

2)       Arizona correctional facility.  One of our customers is using one of our containers for storing office supplies and furniture at their facility.

Extra office furniture storage

3)      Florida retreat.  Another customer purchased a 20’ container for his land in Florida.  After getting the container, he painted it and is planning on camouflaging it this summer.  See it while you can!

Used 20' container in Florida

Painting it makes it blend in more

4)      Goat farm.  A client in Maryland needed a container on their hobby farm.  Even the goat likes it!

Send us your container pictures.  Even if you didn’t buy it from us, we still like to give people ideas on how to use these versatile containers.

What are the options?

There’s that ready-to-assemble shed you saw at Home Depot … or that pole barn kit from something-dot-com … and those portable storage PODS occasionally trucked on and off neighbors’ driveways.

But wait—what about a steel container? If it’s not on your list, maybe it should be. Yeah, we admit we’re biased. But it’s a fact that steel containers have many advantages compared to other storage solutions.

You know your storage situation best, but hopefully this table can help if you were on the fence about which style to go with.  If you want more information on containers, please visit our website (www.SuperCubes.com) or call us (877-374-5452)!

But how do you know for sure if a steel container is the right choice? Here are six questions you need to ask when you’re container shopping:

1) Do I have space for a container? Standard steel container sizes: 8’ wide, 8’6” tall, and either 20’ or 40’ long. Space needed to get the container trucked in: Usually 110-120 feet of straight clearance (including where the container will go.)

2) What size do I need? A 20’ container can hold the furnishings of a 3-bedroom home. A 40’container can hold about 24 3-foot-wide pallets (or cars and boats). The 40’ is usually a better value for the money. But if you plan on moving the container around, go for the 20’—it will save you many headaches.

3) Do I need modifications?

Security. Containers are made of Corten (weatherizing) steel, so they’re impenetrable. Levers work the doors—snap on a padlock and you’re good to go. If your container will reside at a remote cabin or construction site, consider adding a metal lockbox to protect your padlock.

Upkeep and appearance. The Corten steel inhibits rust, but all steel will rust eventually. A used container will already show some rust. Paint is an inexpensive option that can extend container life—and make your container blend into your site (as much as a massive steel box can!)

Modifications. An extra door (“man-door” or roll-up), a window, or extra vents are easy vendor add-ons. If you can weld, you can do it yourself with a kit!

4) What container quality do I need?

New/one-trip containers: Manufactured in Asia; shipped to the U.S. for sale. Generally gray, tan, or green. Rust-free and dent-free. Most won’t have shipping-line markings.

Cargo-worthy containers: Used containers certified as structurally sound for overseas shipping. The best-quality used containers on the market. Some rust, dents, and shipping markings.

Wind- and watertight containers: A small step down from cargo-worthy, but still good, solid containers. Their cargo-worthy status may have expired or they may have a defect that does not affect storage performance, but would not meet the standards for overseas shipping.

As-is containers: have known problems—a hole, bad floors, a bad roof. Generally are very close in price to a wind- and watertight container. Frankly will cost more to repair than are worth it. Note: An as-is container is NOT the same as a wind- and water-tight container sold “as is” with no warranties (vendors cannot warranty a container once it is delivered).

5) How do I get a container delivered? Empty containers are stored at distribution centers across the country. Your vendor will locate an empty container as close to you as possible and then put it on a truck. The truck will back the container off right where you want it—all you need is a straight and firm patch of ground (paved, gravel, packed dirt are all fine).

Want to offload the container yourself? That can lower delivery costs—but only if you happen to own a crane, backhoe or forklift.

Rail delivery? Not practical in most cases. Your most cost-effective solution is almost always going to be having your vendor find the closest container to you and put it on a truck. (If you see containers near a rail yard or port, be aware that they are neither empty nor free.)

Shipping overseas? Discuss delivery with your container vendor and shipping line.

6) What should my container cost? When shopping vendors, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Look at the total price including delivery, and make sure quotes are for the same quality of container. Three tips:

Location matters: Container prices are usually cheaper on the coasts than inland.

Quality matters: A cargo-worthy container costs more than a wind- and water-tight container. But used 20’ and 40’ containers should be similar in price.

Delivery details matter: Final costs are determined by how far you are from the closest container and by your specific delivery needs.

As a container vendor, this is obviously a concern as well.  There is a sense among container buyers that containers are a never-ending resource that simply fall off of trains in unlikely areas or are simply sitting in yards near ports and rail yards, there for anyone who cares to come in with a truck.  This simply is not true.

Containers are a commodity like anything else.  They are manufactured in Asia and used to ship goods all over the world.  They are available for purchase in certain cities throughout the United States.  They are made of steel and a lot of money has been put into moving them around, which means they are not free, or cheaper than the cost of scrap metal.  Most importantly, as Americans export more and import less, the availability of containers will dry up.

What does this mean to people who want to buy containers?  You will need to be careful with your purchases.  As there are fewer containers, prices will go up.  Containers that are wind- and water-tight, won’t leak, are going to be in higher demand.  There will probably be a few more containers that are not in good condition that will be sold for old prices, which will disappoint those buyers who are set on finding a “good deal”.  There will also be more scams.   Buyers will need to do more homework on the companies they are buying on and realize that the days of very low-cost containers are gone.

Hopefully as the economy improves, we’ll see a return to plentiful containers and better prices.  In the meantime, be ready to see prices go up a bit and to do your homework to make sure you end up with a good container that will meet your needs.

Bright Hope International has been committed to helping Haiti over the past 15 years.  When the earthquake hit, they were engaged with their Hope4Haiti program which brings hope to children and families in Pignon, Haiti, by providing food and school supplies as well as microloan and job skills programs.  That was before the earthquake.

Now they are working with their partners in the U.S. and Haiti to send relief supplies to Haiti, including their MedPacks – packages of medical supplies, clothes, blankets food and water.  They are currently filling cargo containers with these supplies and sending them to Haiti.  For more information, please visit their website:  www.BrightHope.org .  If you are in the Chicago area, they have various volunteer opportunities, but they are also seeking donations from across the country.

When disasters like this hit, it is sometimes hard to know how to help out.  Bright Hope International makes it easy to know that you are directly helping people in need. Super Cubes has been lucky to be able to assist this worthy agency in obtaining containers. Your donation can help fill them.

Whether it’s food and hunting supplies in a little retreat in the woods or pigs in a farm shelter, there are some interesting things showing up in steel shipping containers. Here are a few more examples of how people are using their containers:

• Microsoft’s  Cloud Computer Data Center
• Cabin
• Modern root cellar; the container is buried in a hill and holds veggies and a plow.
• 8 minis (yes 8 cars, sans wheels, in a 40′ container)
• Burn building used by a fire department to train firefighters.
• Car port; two shipping containers set up for storage with a roof between the two.  Talk about storage space!
• Warehouse space.
• Sides of a barn; containers provide lockable storage areas.
• Large barn.

• a home bar (see Gail & Paul’s Barnacle Bar)
• a portable store

• ATV and other toy storage.
• Storm cellar; with survival supplies.
• Repair shop.
• Stuff I can’t identify.
• Tools and garden stuff
• Employees, guests, normal folk
• Minnesota brothers
• Shopkeepers
• Traveling art
• a cafe
• Workshops, labs

Before you purchase your own steel shipping container to use for your own creative purposes, be sure to check your local codes. A few communities have special requirements if the containers are going to be buried, hold food, or house humans.

Everyone has storage problems. Shipping containers probably won’t help with all those shoes cluttering your closets. You can’t store you baby sister until she grows up either. But you could store you old car until it’s old enough to qualify as a collectible instead of junk.

What’s in your storage container?

What would you like to see in your container?

Do you think Santa has 40′ steel containers on each continent to keep toys safe for Christmas?

1. Generally speaking the break-even point financially is about 18 months, depending on where you are located.  If you think you are going to need your container for 1-2 years, you are probably better off purchasing your container.
2. You always need to store longer than you think. Everyone is hopeful that their project is only going to last a year, but once you get used to the convenience of a container, you will continue to find new things to store in it.  Your original project may finish, but your storage needs may not.
3. Even if you are only close to your break-even point financially, you have a container at the end of your project. Super Cubes will buy back most containers, so you make something on your purchase.  Often friends, family and neighbors have noticed your container.  If you are ready to get rid of it, you will find people lining up to buy it from you.  Let Super Cubes help you move it from your location to your buyer’s location.
4. Modifications are easier on a container you own. Whether you want to paint the container to match your location or to show your logo, convert it into an office, or just add doors so it is easier for you to use, making modifications on a container you own is easy.  However, most container rental locations will not allow such modifications for rental.

Please call us or visit our website for more information on containers:  877.374.5452, www.SuperCubes.com.  We will help you find the best container to fit your needs and budget.

Please feel free to share pictures of your container(s), questions and comments!