What is a shipping container associated with? For most people, the imagination draws, at best, some kind of dirty construction change house, in which chaos and disorder reign. However, today, thanks to the efforts of architects and designers, container houses are comfortable dwellings of incredible beauty and functionality. At the same time, the construction of such a mansion will be much cheaper than the construction of a soulless box of reinforced concrete.
A trip to history
It is not known who is the author of the idea and the pioneer. But the extreme popularity of houses from sea containers is due to the American architect Adam Culkin. This man designed and built a house, the fame of which spread throughout the world. It took only three shipping containers to implement the idea. The house of them turned out to be surprisingly beautiful and original. Kalkin's creative experiment was not only a success, but was presented to the public with a huge sensation. The idea was picked up by many architects around the world.
At first, container houses were in demand in US territories that were often devastated by hurricanes. The elements often hit the coast and broke people's houses like houses of cards. Thus, people needed to quickly resolve the housing issue. Building a container house is a matter of just one week, while building a conventional house can take almost years.
Today, many people prefer container buildings not only for reasons of practicality, but also to emphasize their own individuality, to surprise their friends and colleagues. The potential of this industry is far from being exhausted: the emergence of new building materials on the market encourages architects to create more and more advanced projects.
Basic design principles for container houses
Containers, of course, are unified and are manufactured according to the same industry standards. They are small (20 feet, capacity 11 pallets), medium (40 feet, 25 or 30 pallets depending on the modification) and large (45 feet, capacity 33 pallets). When creating a project, container sizes are taken into account.
In the conditions of our winter, such a house will have to be insulated both outside and inside. This leads to a decrease in the usable area: the insulation takes about 0.2 m per side. But the ceiling is also insulated withfloor. This will also lead to additional costs. And yet the construction is cost-effective and expedient.
You can make the facade more original by connecting several blocks to each other. The combined walls will play the role of an interior partition. They need to cut a hole for the doorway. A house made of containers placed in this way will look great. Another technique is the spacing of containers at a certain distance, which is given under the living room. This space is glazed, and a panoramic room is obtained.
As a rule, two bedrooms are placed in one container, and the other is given over to the utility unit (kitchen, toilet, shower room). Often containers are covered by a common roof.
For a large family, two containers will obviously not be enough. Therefore, you can not be limited to just a couple of blocks and use 4 or more. Often containers are placed around the perimeter to form a patio. Such a venue will be a great place for family celebrations and events.
Sometimes an architectural design includes a glass dome over a building. This is both a decorative element and at the same time a protective barrier against precipitation.
It is allowed to install containers in several levels. Thus, you can build a house with several floors. Moreover, the lower containers do not need to be reinforced with stiffeners: they are designed in such a way that they are able to withstand significant loads. But if the design of the lower container underwent significant changes (large pieces of metal were cut out, the supports were weakened), then forsecurity will require expertise and complex engineering calculations.
Interior finishes
The most popular decorative materials are lining and drywall sheets. The house from the containers in the photo is sheathed just with clapboard. Looks stylish, solid and expensive. It is recommended not to abuse dark shades in the decoration: the dimensions of the rooms are already quite small, and the room will seem even smaller.
A common technique is hanging walls with large mirrors. They greatly expand the space.
Development of design and construction documentation
The project can be both elementary simple (for example, when building a house from a container with your own hands), and very complex and large-scale (multi-storey buildings with all the necessary communications). In the second case, the involvement of design organizations and numerous approvals from supervisory authorities are required.
Advantages of Container Homes
Houses from blocks (containers) have proven themselves very well. In the absence of large stained-glass windows, you can discard the fear that strangers can get into the house. Thus, the container house fully meets the security requirements.
Building a house is inexpensive. Used containers can be purchased fora small amount. If you use simple materials for insulation and finishing work (mineral wool, plywood), then you can meet a very modest budget. This is also an important advantage.
The container does not require a capital foundation. But this is a significant item of expenditure in the construction of housing. It is enough to install four metal supports or even just put cinder blocks.
The construction of such a house will not be delayed. All work can be done independently if a person can work with a grinder and a welding machine.
The container has a sufficiently large margin of safety, so it will serve as a reliable home and shelter from bad weather for many years.
Heating system
In the event that gas is not supplied to the site, the room is heated by an ordinary stove on coal or wood. It is desirable that the loading of solid fuel into the furnace is carried out from the outside. Thanks to this solution, the room will not smoke. With gas, it is easier and more practical - a boiler is installed that allows you to regulate the temperature in the room and make it optimal.
Technology of construction works
Construction of houses from containers is relatively simple and consists of the following steps: cleaning the surface of containers and anti-corrosion treatment, the actual installation of blocks, laying electricity networks, installing sewers and, finally, the final step - interior decoration.
Anti-corrosion treatment of containers
Before construction starts,containers are thoroughly cleaned of dirt and rust by sandblasting. After cleaning, the surface is treated with a solution of orthophosphoric acid and, after complete drying, it is primed. This provides corrosion protection. This step is very important, as the container will constantly be exposed to aggressive environments.
Installation of blocks
In the case of a foundation, the installation of blocks is allowed only after 22 days after it has been poured. It is impossible to cope with such a task without a crane. After installation, the containers are welded together. Then, with a cutting torch, door and window openings are cut out, into which double-glazed windows are installed.
A constructor is assembled from sea containers. The project and the photo of the house are starting to come to life. At the same time, you can give free rein to your imagination and install the blocks the way you want: two or three floors, at an angle, on all kinds of supports. When building a house on your own, it is better to limit yourself to one floor. Otherwise, the complexity of the work increases significantly, and it is very difficult to cope with them yourself.
Laying communications
After assembling the frame of the future house, it's time to conduct electrical wiring, sewerage and, possibly, water. You must first mark and cut holes for pipes and cables with a gas cutter. Carrying out these works is strictly regulated and regulated. Therefore, it is better to entrust these works to a team of professionals.
Copper wires are better than aluminum wires, and therefore preference should be given to them. Copper, unlike aluminum, does not oxidize in air and moreplastic, which determines its good performance characteristics. At the same time, copper wire can power more appliances without overheating.
The procedure is as follows: a schematic diagram is being developed and planned, the most suitable place for mounting the switchboard is indicated, walls and ceiling are marked, wiring is laid, sockets are installed, the switchboard is installed, and the system is tested.
Internal and external finishing, insulation
It is also better to entrust the decoration of the premises to specialists. Especially if there is no experience in carrying out such work.
Gypsum board is the most commonly used because it is much cheaper than other materials. It is allowed to insulate the walls in parallel and fasten sheets of drywall. This is how time is won. Interior partitions are also made of drywall in accordance with the layout of the room. Although more and more often metal sheet is used as a material for walls.
Spotlights are often installed in drywall sheets. This gives personality to the interior decoration of the house.
There are no differences when finishing plasterboard walls and ceilings: the same principle and mechanism of fastening are used. However, stretch ceilings are often mounted. Due to the low height of the container, multi-level ceilings are not recommended.
Polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam or mineral wool are used as insulation materials. Cotton wool loses its ability to retain heat after 10 yearsoperation. Therefore, its use is undesirable and is permissible only if the budget is limited. Other materials are an order of magnitude superior to cotton wool: the service life is at least 20 years. In addition, their installation is much easier. Thermal insulation sits on the adhesive to the inner metal surface of the container. The insulation is covered with a polyethylene film that acts as a vapor barrier.
Exterior finishing materials are siding, plaster, plastic panels, stone (natural or artificial) and block house.
For the installation of plastic, block house and siding, a wooden crate is needed. The wood of the lattice is impregnated with stain or painted with varnish. So it won't rot. Decorative plaster is applied to the surface with a spatula, but marble slabs must be glued with special glue.
Photos and designs of container houses are amazing. There is a desire to take and build such a house for yourself, in order to while away the long winter evenings by the fireplace.
