Container Cabin Build

[Steiny77]

Neat project but not fond of the narrow floor plan.

I'd be curious to see the all in price of the project once you have it in place, hooked up to water, sewer, electric, etc.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[HowaHunter]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Robert N]

I love these build threads! In the end you are going to have something so much better than the typical RV that gets parked somewhere.

 

[npaden]

Last bit was getting some site prep work done. The place where these will be going it is very sandy. I got some quotes on materials and turn key options on putting in a 40x60 pad to place both of the containers on. One guy that is local quoted $500 per semi for some millings and dirt mixed that he said would work perfect for a foundation for these plus some parking in front. He said 4 loads would be plenty to build it up 6" and for $1,500 he would smooth it out and pack it down. Ended up with a surprise of an extra $400 to water it down as they spread and packed it in lifts but still don't think that was terrible. I could have done the spreading and packing but not sure he would have given me the same price of the material delivered if he didn't smooth and pack it and I doubt they would have waited a couple hours between loads for me to get it smoothed and packed. So $3,900 for the site preparation.

They had some truck trouble so I ended up leaving before they started delivering the gravel/millings/dirt mix but my trail camera got some pictures of it. The trail camera got overloaded with pictures so I didn't get the last load being delivered and watered in but they told me it was 4 loads and I believe them. Still haven't been able to go up there and see the finished product yet. This weekend is going to be a true labor day for me and have at least one trip up there planned so will get some pictures of it although it might already have both containers parked on it by then.

Anyway here's some pictures of the site prep.

2,000 gallons of water to help pack it down. They used every drop.



Maybe a little overkill on the size of the dozer. There was a little confusion that they were going to take some trees down so very glad that I was up there to show them exactly where I wanted it.



Just getting it leveled out a bit before the material comes in. That's my truck and trailer in the background, I hauled my tractor up there for some other chores.


Was interesting seeing them getting the semis in and out of there. They sure can get them in and out of some tight spots. Here is one of the trucks dumping after it went around the grain silo. I wasn't there so not sure if the truck got stuck and the dozer had to help it out or what.



Smoothing out the dirt.


Watering it down.


Last picture I got before the camera got overloaded with pictures. They had one more load after this.


Not sure what "millings" were in there - I thought that would be asphalt but obviously this wasn't asphalt. He said that it would set up very firm and for sure it it was better than the loose sand that was there.

Last big decision on this part of it is how far apart to set the containers. Right now I'm leaning toward 23'4" so if I wanted to down the road I could set some 24' rafters between the containers for shade and a parking area.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Really getting close to caught up now. These are all from this weekend.

Got the paneling all put up for the walls, got the cabinets screwed to the wall and shimmed. That gap at the top of the last piece of shiplap is giant but I double checked and my 1x2 trim will JUST cover it. I wanted to match the shiplap lines up and that was about the only way to do it only using 2 sheets.

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Got the countertop down and the backsplash on. The cinder blocks are holding the backsplash tight against the wall as the only thing holding it on is silicone. Got the wall cabinet hung.View attachment 415866
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Big mistake this weekend was putting the backsplash on BEFORE cutting the hole out for the sink. Because I put it on there first, my jigsaw couldn't get close enough to the back of the counter to get the hole cut. I tried moving the template forward far enough to get my jigsaw back there but then it was too far forward and didn't stay on the inside of the cabinet. Cutting the rest of the counter out took like 3 or 4 minutes. Cutting the back 33" out took me almost an hour with the oscillating saw. Cutting through a 1 1/2" laminate countertop with an oscillating saw isn't fun.

View attachment 415889

But I got it done. Got the paneling up in the bathroom also and the 1x2 trim around most of the ceiling. Bathroom vanity isn't installed, just checking how it is going to look.

View attachment 415868
T

Screw a long thin board on the line where the bottom of the top cabinets will be. Just a screw at each end is enough. That is easier to get straight and all level on the same line.

Then put up one cabinet at a time setting on the "helper" stick. With minimum screws. Then screw the cabinets together and put the rest of the screws in the wall.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Cool. I wouldnt change a thing - looks great.

 

[The_Jim]

Looks nice! Even though I have no plans on doing any of these builds I love to watch what everyone is putting together.

 

[npaden]

One last post and then I'll go back and answer questions.

Here's the latest 3D renderings of the it with pretty much the current planned layout.


This is correct for the sleeping part except the middle twin bunkbed is going to be a loft with a futon under it.



Actually picked up this queen bunk bed setup with mattresses that was practically brand new for $400 off Facebook Marketplace.



And here is the loft bed I got. Found it on Marketplace for $50.


For the dining table I bought another 52" long laminate butcher block countertop that I'm going to put some legs on and use for a table. Keeping it narrow is for sure the requirement there. I looked into making it a drop down table but just didn't think it would be sturdy enough.

Got a propane outdoor instant water heater that I spent too much on but seems like most of those are junk reading the reviews so figured it would be worth it to go with good one right off the bat instead of messing around with the crappy ones.

Have a 12,000 btu 230v mini split that will go on that accent wall at the end of the kitchen. Did the precharged but still have to pull a vacuum type one.

Have about talked myself into putting in my own septic. That's legal in Texas and I have the excavator so might as well put it to use. With the sandy soil the perc is very good but still probably going to overkill it a little with a 1,000g tank and 60' of chambers. Have to trench about 100' further than I would have thought to clear an old abandoned well just to be safe.

Might try to put the floor down tonight. Might not.

Oh yeah, on my other container I ended up springing the big bucks for a people door on it too.



Kind of patriotic looking!

Also decided to try some of the white elastomeric roof coating on the non cabin one to keep the temperature down in it. Guy with the containers quoted me $500 to put it on for me. Roof has some rust spots so having him put some rust converter on it first before the roof coating.



Think that's it. Have a bunch I need to get done today but was nice to get sidetracked for a bit posting this.

 

[npaden]

I love these show as you go threads.

Would you ever consider a cover over your house to add summer time shade?

I'm looking forward to considerations given to awnings, porch, exterior lighting and electrical as well.

Thanks. I'm trying to plan for some type of cover between the 2 containers. Not sure I will do it right away but don't want to have to try to move them around down the road if I do. Right now planning on them being 23'4" apart so that I could put a 24' roof on them if that's what I decide to do. Was originally planning on 20' between them but decided that might not be quite wide enough.

I have never seen 2x4's like that before. Looks like a great start to a cabin. Between work and age I am getting into the era where I don't mind paying to have stuff done also especially if it will save me some time

I think they are called engineered 2x4's. I don't think they are quite as good but I think they are pretty close. For this project they really aren't doing anything other than providing something to screw OSB into and hide electrical wire and plumbing so I think they will be more than adequate. I also find that paying to get it done sometimes is the way to go.

Looks great. Looks like price wise it beats about any option to have a cabin short of cutting logs on site.

I do think you sold yourself a bit short on the interior drawing. Likely a little bit less furniture will fit than your drawing shows.

I know the container houses can come out well. A lot of job sites here have ones they buy commercially made. Very common for onsite offices but bunk units also are common in construction.

I might be a little aggressive there but have also been looking at it in 3D. The toughest part to visualize is going to be that little sitting/congregating area to the left of where you come in the door. I may have to play around with some actual furniture pieces there to figure out what works. Having a small shelf or something there will give you something to set stuff on when you come in so it doesn't immediately go on a couch or chair.

I think when it is all said and done with the excellent pricing the container guy has given me on the labor I'm going to come in at about 1/2 the price I've seen the commercial versions selling for and it has features that I like better.

Looks cool! Any reason you didn’t put a window in the sleeping area? Seems that would be a good idea both for full compartment ventilation and airflow, as well as fire safety.

I kind of thought it would be nice to have it darker back there but I went back and forth. At the time I was making my decision on the windows my drawing looked like this:

Looking at it now I probably should have added one on the other side of the electrical box. Hopefully with the door right in the middle no one should have to go through a window to get out. From ventilation perspective I doubt the windows are open very often but they could be in the fall.

Very nice, I love the container stuff that people do now....I only see one issue, I think you should have used 2 of them and not just one, but that is the great thing, you can add on another one later if you like. It just seems a little cramped.

It will be a little cramped. Not planning on living there full time. Seems kind of luxurious compared to a tent or even a travel trailer. I'll have another one for storage. I did look briefly at tying 2 of these together but by that time you might as well build a barndominium.

Why can you not hide that cut under a piece of base as well? If it were me, I would run 2 pieces of trim vertically as door stops, creating a channel for the pocket door to close into. You could run them floor to ceiling and then butt your base into them. Pocket doors don't seal up very well anyway, so that would help immensely with privacy in the bathroom.

I went back and edited it, I had a brain fart there. I do plan on having the channel for the pocket door to close into. Just running them as high as the door though.

Neat project but not fond of the narrow floor plan.

I'd be curious to see the all in price of the project once you have it in place, hooked up to water, sewer, electric, etc.

Hope it works out for you.

I would love it if they made some "wide body" containers, even an extra 6" would be very nice. The main reason for the container is that they are rodent proof. Seems like mice are always a problem for rural cabins or trailers and trying to avoid that with the container. I'm thinking in the ballpark of $35k for everything including the 2nd container for storage. Probably going to end up closer to $40k though.

I love these build threads! In the end you are going to have something so much better than the typical RV that gets parked somewhere.

That's one other reason that I'm doing the container. I just bought this land by Paducah and am not 100% it is my forever land. If I find something somewhere else it really won't be that big of a chore to get it picked up and move it.

 

[Wyoming270]

I think your beating out the commercial units for sure. And you could start simple for a roof, some joints and sheet steel or tarps. you put a sturdy roof between them, then do a couple simple sides at the end, that might enough for parking your 4 wheeler on its own. make a great workshop or covered sitting area for sure.