7 tips you should know for using a shipping container

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Too many new and old shipping containers appearing, no wonder why their use can be expanded. Many people are repurposing the containers into commercial and residential use. These containers can stand severe weather conditions like wind and be easily transferred from one place to another. We should not forget their cost-efficiency, providing a safe transport of any inventory with enough space for the truck to be maneuvered.

If you plan on purchasing a shipping container, there are a few things you should know to be sure that your storage items are being safe and kept in good condition.

Choose your delivery method

Delivery of shipping containers can be done using two methods: Tilt-bed, most known as roll-off, and a flatbed. The second one goes with lower costs than the tilt bed one. If you don’t have a forklift to place the container, then this might not be the best option for you.

If your location and the container depot are distanced more than 100 miles, you should consider the cost of hiring a forklift. Make a research on the costs and decide smartly. If the costs are lower, choose to hire a forklift locally, and if the costs happen to be higher then your best option would be to choose a roll-off truck.

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Building permits

In North America, you won’t need a permit for any type of structure that doesn’t have a permanent foundation. That means if you want to build a shed or barn you will need a permit, and you won’t need it if you are setting your container on a concrete footing and railroad ties.

Costs for setup and maintaining

When you compare the costs of building a wood structure and purchasing a container, the costs for concrete or wood structure might be lower. But if you calculate the costs for building the construction, the time you will invest in the process and the related fees, you will definitely choose a shipping container. Additionally, wood and concrete are not durable as containers that can survive any weather condition.

Set up a solid foundation

Setting up a foundation for your container is important to extend the container’s life. If you place the container directly on the floor there couldn’t be any chance for ventilation and moisture drainage, which might lead to corrosion and decay. The best options for container foundation are railroad ties, concrete piles, and slab-on-grade.

Proper ventilation

If your shipping container is located in an area where the temperatures are fluctuating with a big difference, it might lead to condensation which can damage the inside of the container, including the storage items. The ideal option would be to install a ventilation system inside the container.

Secure your containers

Although many new containers come with lockboxes, that is not the case with use shipping containers and you need to secure them. You should consider getting a bolt-on lockbox if your container doesn’t have one. It will increase the security of all sides of the container, excluding the bottom and it is impossible to cut the shank.

Find the best container

Depending on the use of the container, when buying one, you should decide whether you are going to buy a new or used container. If you are buying a used one, you should check whether the condition of it justifies the amount of money you will pay. Cheapest containers are not always the best option, even though they are very affordable. On the other side, new containers come with standard features and options. You may want to check the best shipping containers for sale in Toronto and find the one that will best meet your personal or business storage needs.