Foundations are critical for any type of home, but they’re especially important for shipping container homes.
The right foundation will ensure your home is stable and safe, while the wrong one could lead to disaster. So, what is the best foundation for a shipping container home? Read on to find out.
The Best Foundation for a Shipping Container Home
There is no one best foundation. The foundation that is the best for your container home can depend on multiple factors like your budget, the condition of the soil, the state you live in, and the size of your home.
So, let’s talk about different foundations to help you decide which one is suitable for your home.
- Pier Foundation
These are the most inexpensive and widely used foundations for shipping container homes. They are concrete blocks of 50 cubic cm area.
Four of them are used for the four corners, and two stay in the middle to create a balance. So, they can also provide greater access to fixing and setting up utility lines.
Due to their setting, they are really convenient. But it comes at the cost of not being able to take a lot of weight.
- Slab Foundation
This type of foundation is an appropriate option if the soil is soft. They are slabs made of concrete on which your shipping container home will sit.
This is a solid foundation and much more suitable for large-scale homes. So, if you are planning to build a big home capable of withstanding a lot of weight, this is going to be the best foundation.
However, there are some downsides. For starters, the cost will go up considerably compared to the pier foundation.
Also, the access to fixing utility lines will be greatly limited. If there arise any issues in the utility lines, the concrete has to be broken, which can be a great hassle.
- Pile Foundation
This is a great option if the soil is too weak for a pier foundation. The cylindrical structures are forged into the grounds, and the home sits on them. They are hammered until a more stable ground is found.
The biggest con of this foundation is the high cost. And the biggest pro is the ease of fixing the utility lines.
So, they’re suitable for a larger container home where the upper layer of the soil isn’t too firm. But the only downside is the stress they cause to your wallet.
- Strip Foundation
Strip foundations are strips of concrete that go around the perimeter. The strips are usually 2 feet wide and 4 feet deep which can be changed as per the size of the containers.
A downside to them is the difficulty in fixing utility lines. Because once the container sits on the strips, fixing lines under the home can be troublesome.
Overall, they are great replacements for slab foundations if you are on a budget though they are not as durable as a slab. So, if you plan to make a medium-sized home, they can be excellent.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you found the answer to the question; What is the best foundation for a shipping container home? The best foundation is the one that fulfills your requirements.
Knowing all about them, now you can pick the one for your own container, home-keeping both your mind and wallet satisfied.
