Standard shipping containers arrive in one piece, which means access for delivery needs to be unhampered by obstacles. This can be especially tricky if you are planning to site a container in your garden where trees, fences, over-head cables and neighbouring properties might get in the way of a delivery involving a large lorry with a crane. Flat pack containers are delivered on a flat-bed truck which removes the need to worry about these obstacles. They are also man-portable, meaning they can be carried from the truck by hand to reach the desired location for assembly. There are very few restrictions to delivering a flat pack container, giving them the reputation as the most flexible shipping container on the market.Sizes of flat pack containers start at just 2.1m long and wide, so you don't require acres of space to site one. For this reason they are very popular with back gardens, allotments and schools.
If it’s hard to move, its expensive to move.
For more information, please visit Hongyu Dinghao.
For starters, shipping containers are big, heavy, and expensive to move. This comes as no surprise though, as a run-of-the-mill 20 ft shipping container will weigh anywhere between 1.8-2.2 tonnes and require a crane or hiab (with access to the site). Our range of flat pack buildings and containers solves these problems by being able to move each component by hand to site. This is essential for places where access is likely to be via alleyways like London, or even back gardens where access is often way too tight to even think about using something like a shipping container.
The temperatures inside can be a problem.
Secondly, temperatures inside a shipping container can be a problem. As you’ll know, steel conducts heat very well, meaning in direct sunlight it’ll get very hot and vice versa in the shade. This is a bad idea for storing things that are sensitive to changes in humidity or temperature such as technology, wooden furniture or food. We solved this problem with our flat packed XPandaStore by making a simple “snap in” insulation kit that you could install into your existing unit in around 10 minutes. After we found the need/want for insulated units was higher than we anticipated, we redesigned the XPandastore to have fully insulated wall and roof panels straight out of the factory so they look and function even better.
The possibility of rust and corrosion
If you’re thinking of repurposing or converting your old shipping container, you need to be aware of the fact they require a lot of maintenance. They are not corrosion or rust proof at this point, and perform best in a moderate climate with little rainfall. Our flat pack containers and cabins are fully galvanized and waterproof so you don’t need to worry about corrosion. You’ll not need to lift a finger to maintain your flat pack container either to make sure it stays rust free and waterproof.
Be aware of toxic exposure when repurposing
Most shipping containers will need to be treated with multiple insecticides to meet the global import and export regulations and procedures. If you plan on converting your shipping container to an office space or work space, you could face toxic exposure. Of course, you don’t want to risk your health or anyone else’s, so it’s strongly recommended you remove the containers wooden floor where these insecticides can harbour. Our XPanda range of buildings however, are not exposed to any insecticides of any sort as they don’t need to be.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Flat Packing Container House.