Outdoor sheds are conventionally built from scratch, but only until custom shipping containers came into the picture.

We used to build outdoor sheds from the bottom to the top using materials like wood, steel, plastic, or concrete. When buyers started to appear in the market for shipping containers, it provided another alternative for building backyard sheds and other kinds of shelter systems.

As it turns out, repurposed shipping containers have many advantages over traditional sheds. They’re made of durable structures that can withstand harsh conditions even with minimal maintenance. Plus, it has an exciting touch of modernity that offers lots of creative possibilities.

What You Need To Know About Sheds Made of Shipping Containers

Are shipping containers durable enough to serve as sheds?

Shipping containers are among the most well-built equipment across many industries. They’re made from weathering steel, also known as COR-TEN steel from the U.S. trademark name.

The COR-TEN steel is a combined group of steels specifically developed to become resistant to atmospheric corrosion better than regular steels. It’s even used to build bridges and buildings. If that same material is present in shipping containers, it only proves that it has the kind of durability that can pass on for outdoor sheds.

Is the construction of shipping containers viable for shelters?

The steels used in manufacturing shipping containers are uniquely cut in equivalent sizes before they’re corrugated. The corrugation process provides additional strength for the equipment. The undercarriage is also made of reinforced steel beams.

A shipping container has a construction quality that does not depreciate quickly. Even after years of usage, it’s still viable to be repurposed as containerized shelters.

The only downside to steel is that it’s prone to rust formation. To prevent or at least slow down the formation of rust, you only have to put an outer layer of protection. A good paint job will cover all of its imperfections.

How much is the weight capacity of a shipping container shed?

A piece of equipment that has to carry tons of weight must also have loads of tare weight. The tare weight can determine the weight of goods it can carry.

For example, a 20-foot shipping container weighs about 1.8 to 2.2 metric tonnes or 3,970 to 4,850 pounds. Approximately, it can carry 50,000 to 60,000 pounds.

Imagine all the things you can do to your shed with such capacity.

How many times can a shipping container be used?

We’ll have to look at the usability of shipping containers in terms of years. Typically, a brand-new shipping container is used in the shipping service for 10 to 12 years. In the aftermarket, they can be repurposed for more or less than ten years, depending on the condition of the container.

What is the best type of shipping container used for building sheds?

There’s this one type of shipping container called the “One Trip” container, which is not used for multiple shipping services. They get loaded with one batch of cargo, and then they’re shipped back to the U.S. The companies intend to sell this type of container for storage markets or other purposes.

They’re the best type of shipping containers to be repurposed as custom sheds because they can be useful for over 25 years.

What are the advantages of converting shipping containers to custom sheds?

Aside from the facts about the durability and functionality of repurposed shipping containers, they have a long list of advantages.