Over recent years alternative housing options have become increasingly common. One of the most well-known is the tiny house on wheels, but another solution that’s also been gaining popularity is the shipping container home. These are homes that use shipping containers as the modular structure of a house. They can be refurbished and stacked on top of each other to make the ultimate industrial home. But shipping container homes and tiny houses are often confused, and, while there are some similarities, there are key differences that are important to consider before deciding which one’s right for you.
Movability
One of the most notable differences between tiny houses on wheels and shipping container homes is how easy they are to move. Tiny houses on wheels are specifically built on trailers so they can be towed with relative ease. While they’re not designed to be constantly on the move, they are built within the legal size requirements to drive on Australian roads. If you do decide to move location, just hook it up to a car (with the right towing capacity) and it can be towed wherever you need.
Shipping container homes can also be moved but, unfortunately, it’s a much bigger process. Unless you own a large truck, moving one yourself is out of the question. This means you’ll need to pay for it to be transported by truck or train. The costs of this can vary significantly depending on the transportation method, company and distance but can range from $800 to $10,000.
If you own your own land and want to build a largely permanent structure, a shipping container might be right for you. If, however, you’ll be renting land or may need to move every few years, a tiny house is probably your better option.
Size flexibility
There’s no doubt about it, both shipping containers and tiny homes are very small. However, with the ability to stack them on top of each other, shipping containers do offer much more size flexibility. Individually, shipping containers come in a variety of sizes but they’re typically 2.44m wide, 2.6m high and either 3m, 6.06m or 12.2m in length. While it’s certainly possible to design a home with one shipping container, these measurements are quite restrictive, so many people choose to use multiple shipping containers instead. In doing so, it’s possible to design a shipping container home that’s as big, if not bigger, than your standard house.
On the other hand, tiny houses on wheels have strict size requirements to ensure they can be driven on the road. These limit them to a maximum of 2.5m wide, 4.3m high and 12.5m long. While this is larger than most shipping containers, it’s rare to put more than two tiny houses together as they’d be much harder to move and can’t be stacked on top of each other.
If you hate the idea of living in a small space, stacking multiple shipping containers to make a larger home is likely the way to go.
Safety
When bought through a building company like Aussie Tiny Houses, tiny houses on wheels are designed to the same, if not better, standards as normal houses. The structure, material choices and finishes are all chosen specifically for residential living. In contrast, shipping containers are designed to store and transport goods. With this in mind, even a new container will need significant adjustments to make it suitable for living. The flat container roofs are susceptible to bowing in the middle from snow or rain build-up, so a runoff system will need to be developed. In addition, shipping containers are designed to be stacked on top of each other with most weight on the corners. If you want to stack them any other way, significant reinforcement will need to be added.
For recycled containers, it’s also important to consider how it was used in the past. Many become damaged and structurally unsafe after being moved around many times, while others are used to transport toxic substances, remnants of which you probably don’t want inside your home.
Sustainability
Both tiny houses on wheels and shipping container homes are viewed as more eco-friendly alternatives to your standard home. In a small space, less energy is needed for heating, cooling and lighting. The common use of recycled materials is another plus, with many people buying used shipping containers and using recycled materials in their tiny homes.
However, shipping containers often end up being less sustainable than they seem. Due to the previously mentioned safety issues of used containers, many shipping container home builders only use new containers, removing the recycled element. And, even if you do choose a recycled container, the process of making it safe to live in will likely result in lots of hazardous waste. Containers need to be sandblasted to remove toxic paints and the flooring must be completely replaced to remove harmful chemicals.
On top of this, energy usage isn’t as good as it might seem. The metal structure attracts heat, making them very unpleasant in hot climates without significant air conditioning—which, as we know, isn’t great for the environment.
Tiny houses, however, can be designed to be as sustainable as you want them to be. They can be built with completely recycled materials, and as they’re built to the same (or better) standards as normal homes, their size does help to significantly reduce their energy usage.
Council approval
The way councils in Australia view and treat shipping container homes is very different to how they view tiny houses on wheels. Shipping container homes are typically viewed as fixed structures and, therefore, need the same approvals as any other building or granny flat. Tiny houses, however, are classified as caravans. For this reason, they don’t need council approval to be built, although it’s important to consider council laws surrounding caravans and how long you can live in one. If in doubt, contact your council directly, and there’s a good chance they’ll understand the difference.
While there are similarities between shipping container homes and tiny houses on wheels, it’s important to be aware of the differences. If you’re still not sure which one’s right for you, it might be time to see one in person. Book your visit to our tiny house workshop today.
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