Global Portable Buildings
If your looking for that house for under $20k, look no further than Global Portable Buildings, Inc. of Santa Rosa, California. They make a standard storage container into a very livable structure, which is also very affordable.
Global Portable Buildings, Inc. build the “Ultimate” with its modern finished kitchen, bathroom and extra room (8′ x 40′ model).
Their most complete portable building. Standard features include kitchen, bathroom (with shower, toilet, sink), AC electrical system, telephone/internet connection, 2″ rigid insulated finished walls and ceiling, windows, entrance door, finished linoleum/vinyl floor and utility room.
Unlike most of their competition, these are available now and all you need to do is place an order. They can be shipped anywhere around the world. These are not just fancy drawings and renditions of ideas.
According to Sean Taylor Vice President of Sales & Marketing. These can not officially be called homes, but what people do with them is their business. Although aimed at the construction industry, you the buyer will need to verify with your area what permits etc. are required.
Some suggested uses are: hunting cabin, guest cabins, mother-in-law cottages, retreats. These are very affordable with the 8 x 20 starting at $16,500 and the 8 x 40 starting at $23,500. Plus shipping to your destination.
Additional options such as solar are available.
Visit their site for a virtual tour and a movie by CBS news.
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15 Responses to “Global Portable Buildings”
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what’s the difference between this and just a plain old single wide mobile home? I fail to see the appeal. The interior is nice but you could easily pickup and older 1980 Governor and revamp it and get the same effect for cheaper.
Hi Tyler,
It’s really just another option. These are extremely sturdy, and there is no reason you could not buy or get a free storage container and convert one yourself. These are different than a mobile home in the way they are built and transported.
I agree with you on finding an old single wide and revamping it would be another great option.
Kent
I’ve been sent off to Afghanistan and on my way there now, At some of the smaller bases, they use extra storage containers and convert them into rooms for everybody. But, nothing looks this good over there.
These ones have a much cleaner look to them.
Hi Daniel,
It sounds like the army needs to be directed to this company. Our soldiers should have the best in my opinion. Good luck in Afghanistan!
Kent
Good points Kent, like I said the interior is quite nice. I wonder what the possibilities would be of rotating them end over end and establishing a second story element or a loft?
Good luck to you Daniel, come home safe.
Hey Tyler – You might want to check out this site on making second story elements. I was planning on writing a post on it when it gets near completion. I think you will find it interesting.
http://www.fabprefab.net/smf/index.php?topic=1439.0
Kent
The advantage of container housing over mobile homes is they are sturdier construction from the shell. They are enormously stronger in the event of very high winds, i.e., tornado.
If constructed properly, they are also very secure from break-in.
Also, they can be moved on a wrecker, no need for a permit to transport.
I suggest you search more this method of recycling the vast quantity of these containers entering the USA.
Thanks Gus for your input on container construction. You have had personal experience with it and I have not and I appreciate your perspective on the subject.
Kent
What is the R value? Is this suitable for Canadian winters?
Although there are different types of saunas, steam (traditional) saunas are what most people think of when saunas are mentioned. Traditional steam saunas have been used for hundreds of years by many different societies for many different reasons and are relatively new to the United States. Today traditional saunas fall in the same luxury category as hot-tubs and are becoming somewhat more affordable starting roughly at US $2500.
Does anyone know the approximate ball park range of these international shipping containers? I am thinking of the 48′ ones with the 9′6″ ceilings…
hey Daniel
Are you still in Afghanistan?
I just came back a few weeks ago. I was sent over to become a certified sea can inspector, but the company I was working for failed to register me for the exam (written once a year only), so I came back to Canada. I didn’t see any soldiers living in sea cans, but there are a lot of them being used for offices. The new Canadian soldiers living quarters are ISO huts, I however lived in a weather haven tent.
Colette ?? As in Ryan & Colette ??
Make sure you check the local bylaws. In Haliburton Highlands East where my property is located I wouldn’t be able to bring in one of these huts. Maybe if I approached the municipality they would grant me a permit, but I doubt it very much.
I have done some design work for these units. I helped a buddy pick one up for 1600 (new 8×40) and pay 200 for delivery. Cost 450 to hoist into place on concrete pylons. This unit is in the mountians and must maintain a 50 lbs. per sq ft snow load. Fleshing out the interior with VERY nice appointments (think old fashion study with custom furnature) cost approximately 20k. With land, construction, etc, grand total was 45k. When sealed it is wind proof to 110mph winds, semi fire proof (10 min direct contact), water proof to sustained flooding, and can take approximatley 32,000 lb vertical load.
It is a lego block… just awaiting your imagination.
Good luck
-Jason
G’day,
Check these guys out in Oz, that are doing the second story homes from shipping containers http://www.royalwolf.com.au/products/accommodation.aspx and these guys at Outdoors Direct do a great job in the interior department http://www.outdoordirect.com.au/relocatable_buildings.html
Cheers Maz
Containerized Living Units (CLU) have been around for many years. I first saw them in the middle east in the 80’s. In 2003 they began to use CLU’s extensively in Iraq for the military, and still use them today. They are not used in Afghanistan at this time, at least not common.
They are great as you can easily haul them, or stack one on the other, they are durable, and can take much more punishment than a standard single wide.
The last one I lived in was in Baghdad, it was a 40 footer, I had a kitchen, very nice bathroom (shower no tub), room for a queen size bed, desk, shelving units, AC with heating element for colder weather, walls were finished to with paneling.
We powered them from generators, just like 99% of all CLUs in Iraq.
Once we got our “trailers” we felt we were living high on the hog. lol Sure beat the tents with dozens of bed mates.