What is a Shipping Container?
The Best of 2014 – Our Favourite Shipping Container Blog Posts
It’s been a big year on the blog with over 40 articles published and thousands of visitors getting the latest insights in container shipping, storage, modification and construction. We’ve checked the statistics, counted the comments, shares and tweets and have curated our top 10 container blog posts of the year.
Our Top Ten Shipping Container Blog Posts of 2014:
1. How to Build a Shipping Container Swimming Pool
This has been our most popular post for the entire year, with thousands of readers each and every month. Inspired by images we’d seen of swimming pools constructed by second hand shipping containers, we searched high and low to put together a simple guide on how you can build your own. It’s been so popular that we’ve received phone calls each and every week asking if we can build one for customers. Sorry guys – this is strictly a do it yourself project, though we are more than happy to provide you with a 20 foot or 40 foot shipping container to get you started.
2. Disaster Prepping: Build a Bunker from a Shipping Container
By: David Berry
Our second most popular post of the year was another DIY project – how to build an underground bunker from a shipping container. This topic tends to create a bit of controversy in the disaster prepping community as shipping containers are designed to take pressure from the top rather than the sides of the box. Always consult with an engineer before undertaking a project like this to ensure that the weight of the earth is properly supported and you’ll have an awesome zombie proof bunker – or underground wine cellar to show off to friends and family.
3. The GCS Guide to Purchasing Your First Shipping Container
Purchasing a shipping container seems simple, until you realise how many different options for containers are available, including size, layout and condition – that’s before you even look at custom container modifications. This simple guide will help you understand everything you need to know when purchasing your first second hand shipping container from Gateway Container Sales.
4. 8 Simple Steps to Build a Wine Cellar from a Shipping Container
Image Credit: Pentagram
This one was inspired by our underground disaster prepping article. Find out in 8 simple steps how to build either an above or below ground wine cellar to keep your precious collection fresh and tasty. We also profile three great examples of wine cellars constructed from customised former reefer shipping containers from around the world.
5. How to Understand Different Grades of Shipping Containers
This one is short, but sweet – and a throwback to 2012. Still popular enough to rank in our top 5 blog posts, it covers everything you need to know about the different grades of shipping containers that are available on the second hand market. A must read for anyone wanting to purchase a used container.
6. Zieglerbuild’s Unique Shipping Container Home
The largest shipping container home in Australia, this amazing mansion was constructed from 31 shipping containers supplied by the team here at Gateway Container Sales. This flood proof home eventually went on the market and sold for over $1.5 million dollars – not bad for a home constructed from recycled shipping containers. But the team didn’t stop there, they kept going and built a brand new shipping container office. A must read for anyone looking for high end container living and inspiration for their own custom build.
7. Secure Storage for Navy Cadets
Earlier in 2014, the Navy Cadets of Training Ship Walrus were dealing with a spate of break in incidents and needed a secure way to storing their training equipment. Gateway Container Sales came to the rescue with a 20 foot secure shipping container. Since it was installed they have not had any further loss of training gear. Gateway committed to upgrading their container free of charge once we hit a certain amount of Facebook ‘likes’, and were able to replace their 20 foot with a 40 foot container giving them even more room to utilise for youth training and development.
8. 12 Simple Steps to Building your Shipping Container Home
Image Source: Small House Bliss
Building a shipping container home is relatively straight forward if you have a good plan and know what you are doing. We give a complete step by step guide to what you need to do when constructing your new shipping container home, from selecting the right container, all the way to putting the finishing touches on. A must read for anyone considering constructing their own house from modified shipping containers.
9. Modified Shipping Containers are Popping Up Everywhere in Retail
Modified shipping containers make the ideal building block for constructing your own mobile pop up retail store. We profile a wide variety of retail locations including Re:Start in New Zealand, a popup market in the United States, Ikea in Bangkok and more. We even include five reasons why shipping containers are perfect for retail uses.
10. Modified Shipping Containers: Military & Defense Applications
Shipping containers were originally designed for military use – something we forget when we see them being used to transport goods and services around the world. Of course shipping containers have a wide range of defense applications – far more than just moving things. We look into these including: MOUT Training facilities, various uses in forward operating bases as well as the storage of explosives and ammunition.
Pretty Cool, Huh?
And there you have it – our top 10 posts for 2014, with everything from swimming pools to army bases. We aren’t finished yet, and have a heap of awesome articles in the pipeline for 2015, covering new modification ideas, tips for storage and case studies on interesting projects happening in Australia and around the world.
If these inspire you then get in touch. Our team of shipping container experts are always on hand to help out with whatever shipping container enquiry you might have – contact us now!
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