Shipping container homes are not only one of the most cost-effective ways to tackle the housing crisis, but they are also one of the most efficient ways to build a new home. However, there is a common misconception that shipping container homes get overheated. If you’re thinking of living in a shipping container or want to know if your home gets hot, this article can help!
How do shipping container homes deal with heat?
Shipping containers are normally built of durable steel that transmits heat effectively, but maintaining a container cool in a warm place is simple with a few creative design decisions. Select a larger-than-necessary rooftop to shade openings from glaring sunshine to span the home.
How to keep container homes cool in hot weather?
There are many strategies out there for cooling down a shipping container home. We’ve collected 3 of our favorites:
Build a roof deck on top of your shipping container
It will give you access to natural light and airflow, which is hard to achieve if your entire home is built out of metal.
Get creative with landscaping
Landscaping can improve the air quality and temperature surrounding your home. If you’re planning to have a garden, consider building it near windows so that you can open them and let the cool air in.
Use of fans and dehumidifiers
Use fans and dehumidifiers as temporary solutions when it’s especially hot outside. Dehumidifiers can reduce the humidity in the air, making the heat less intense, while fans help circulate that cooler air throughout your home.
Why insulate a container home?
The insulation in your container home is very important. It is the barrier that keeps the summer heat and cold winter outside your living space. There are many different approaches to insulate a container home, but we will look at only two here. The first is spray foam insulation, and the second is fiberglass batts.
Insulation with Spray Foam
Spray foam comes in two parts combined under pressure once they leave the gun. It expands as it dries to fill every little nook and cranny in a structure. This makes it great for filling in all the tiny gaps between sheets of metal that make up the walls of a shipping container. It can be expensive, but when done properly can last for years and years without needing additional maintenance or repairs.
Insulation with fiberglass batts
It is the most common way of insulating a steel container home. There are also other types of insulation such as rigid polystyrene foam board, polyester and wool batts, but we will focus on fiberglass as it is the most common. Fiberglass insulation has an R-Value of up to 3.2 per 25mm thickness. It is important to note that the R-value will vary depending on the climate in which you live.
Conclusion
The short answer is no, and shipping container homes shouldn’t get hot. Two main factors determine this: insulation and air circulation. If you choose strong enough insulation and design your home cleverly, the temperatures levels of a shipping container will remain relatively even throughout the day.
