How to Turn a Shipping Container into a Workshop
Shipping Containers: The Perfect Barn Solution for Aussie Farms
Are you an Aussie farmer in need of a quick and easy barn or storage solution? A shipping container is probably the fastest, most cost effective and reliable solution. Shipping container barns are springing up around the world and are at home as much on a sheep station as in the Aussie outback. If you’ve watched movies about the Amish in America, you’ve probably seen them take part in “Barn Raising” where a barn is built from start to finish in one or two days by the local community. By using second hand shipping containers like giant building blocks it’s possible to build a barn an record time.
It’s time to do a little barn raising of your own
Shipping container barns are popping up all over the world, and it’s no surprise why when you consider how easy it is to get hold of some second hand shipping containers, transport them onsite and build a barn structure in a few days. Let’s look at what’s required:
- The part that will take the longest – getting approval from your local council for building a structure on your property.
- Work out how big you want your barn to be and purchase your shipping containers accordingly. Most examples we’ve seen use a pair of 40 foot high cube shipping containers as the basis of the structure.
- Work out whether you are going to build your roof from scratch, or purchase a prebuilt kit. This will give you the dimensions of your barn, allowing you to lay the foundations for your shipping containers in the correct place on your site.
- Make any modifications that are required for the shipping containers, depending on the intended use. This could include electrical fitout for lighting, plumbing if you need water for stock, doors for ease of access or shelving for storage. The options are limitless.
- Transport the containers to your site from where your purchased them and place them firmly on the foundations.
- Construct your own roof, or use one of the many prebuilt roofing kits available “off the shelf” – a quick search on google brings up PodRoof ($3950 AUD and up), EZYFrame and Shipping Container Roof, all of whom build specialised roofing systems that are designed to withstand strong wind – up to the power of a cyclone. The best bit, they are all based in Australia.
- Install the roofing securely by attaching it to the shipping containers.
- Install front doors and a rear wall if required, and presto – your brand new barn is built, probably in under a couple of days.
Now that the logistics are out of the way – let’s look at some of our favourite (or interesting) examples of shipping container barns from around the world.
Tack Boxes and Horse Stables
One of the simplest container ‘barns’ you can make is a stable building constructed from a single shipping container such as this one from Container Home Consultants in the United States. This tack box has room for horses to be stabled safely at night, as well as a secure room for related equipment and horse feed. The beauty of this design is it can be transported from location to location as your stock are moved. A simple and effective way for horse owners to stable their horses, without the excessive cost of stable building. (Basic horse stables start at around $5000 on the internet).
Shipping container barn made from 40 foot high cube containers
Another example from Container Home Consultants, this shipping container barn was constructed in under a week from two 40 foot high cube shipping containers. Salvaged highway dividers were used for the foundations while a concrete slab was used for the garage floor. A sloping roof and attic was added along with cladding to make the whole design and appearance of the barn nice and clean.
Shipping Container Barn in Tennessee
Another American barn, this one spotted in Tennessee by the Big Boom Design blog. There isn’t any information on their website, but from the look of it, it’s been constructed from five 40 foot shipping containers, two stacked on each other with one in the middle. A traditional American style barn roof has then been built from wooden planks and corrugated iron roofing material. This design is interesting as it uses the additional container in the middle, which is very different (and slightly less practical) than other designs we’ve seen.
Huge Shipping Container Shed from Shipping Container Roof
This Australian example appears to be housing one large amount of grain and is constructed by six 40 foot shipping containers stacked in three piles of two each. On top of this are two roofing units securely attached to the shipping containers. Their designs allow for a span of anywhere from 6 to 22 meters between containers, providing a very large amount of storage space. With a massive covered space like this, it makes an ideal shed for storing hay, machinery or other bulky items.
Shipping Container Barn in Florida
This project by Metaworld used shipping containers both as a construction material and to transport everything else used to build the barn. Containers greatly reduced the cost and time taken to build the barn as they were used to anchor the rest of the structure. All of the trusses supporting the roof were connected to the containers making for a far stronger barn than traditional pole designs.
Looking for more shipping container barn inspiration? why not check out Pinterest, where there are hundreds more great images of shipping container barns from around the world that can be tailored according to the needs of Australian farmers.
It’s time to get started on your new barn
Contact the team of shipping container experts at Gateway Container Sales and Hire and we’ll get to work helping you plan your new farm buildings. Whether it’s a simple shed or a full scale barn project, we’ve got you covered when it comes to supplying the best quality shipping container at the right price. Give us a call now and let’s work together on a quote to get your project started.
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