Jimmy’s Container Home Update
Jimmy from Costa Rica contacted me about a new home he has developed for his business ContainerHome.net which we covered in a post back in July. There seems to be lots of container homes being developed lately, it’s good to see these used containers being recycled.
A 20ft standard ISO shipping container converted into a small apartment.
A shipping container with a giant unfolding door. The size of the opening of the unit can be done with several options depending on the client’s budget.
We will be installing the motor next month, so for now we are using a long cable and my truck to open the sidewall. A 12V wench should lift the 1000lb sidewall. This is the total weight of the cutout, the reinforced steel and the wooden deck. With this particular project, we are going with a pulley system most commonly used for small bridges and very large doors. Continue Reading »
Shipping Container Homes in Costa Rica
Are you looking to become an expat in Costa Rica? How about living in a shipping container? You can do both in one tidy package from Container Homes by Jimmy Lee. Lee designs and delivers surprisingly airy and open shipping container homes with a full kitchen, bedroom and a small bathroom.
Jimmy Lee and his shipping container home
Each of his homes is earthquake, fire and hurricane proof. And since they do stay within Costa Rica, you probably don’t have to worry about heating the place. He is selling a 45 x 8 x 9 foot finished home for $17,000, and a land and home package for $60,000. You can also order the raw containers from his company and build your own house. A 20 x 8 x 8 foot container sells for $2,700 and a 40 x 8 x 8 foot container sells for $3,600 to $4,100. Transportation costs are extra, but he can have a home delivered to you in 3-5 weeks.
This might be the best time to purchase one of these home/land packages. Costa Rica is no longer an undiscovered paradise. When I visited the country about 10 years ago it was just starting to cater to travelers, and now it’s a refuge for American and European expatriates. Prices are only going to go up.
Before opening up his business, Jimmy worked as a Greenpeace team leader for six years in Washington, D.C. He left Greenpeace to study to become a chiropractor. Weeks after receiving his Doctorate he moved to Costa Rica where he has been established for ten years as a chiropractor in the town of San Ramon, Costa Rica. He is also a yoga instructor.
He believes that shipping container homes are the most environmentally sound form of home construction on the market. It’s been estimated that 85 percent of the building materials used in each shipping container home have been recycled. Also, the foundation design is less expensive, uses much less material and is faster to install. The infrastructure for transport already exists, so the container homes can be easily moved by ship, truck or train. This component reduces the amount of transport time. Everything is delivered in one trip. You don’t have to pay for multiple deliveries of separate construction materials. Additionally, no building permits are required. Because the unit is on its wheels, it is referred to as a “non-permanent” structure.
The 45 foot container home includes:
- The wheels. This unit is attached permanently to its base
- Total insulation on all walls and the ceiling, backed by fibrolite board
- All bathroom fixtures. Shower, toilet, sink, mirror, shelves and tile
- Kitchen counter, sink and faucet, shelves, breakfast bar with two benches
- Bedroom rug, shelves and bamboo curtain rod installed
- All windows and doors are equipped with metal bars
- Ceiling fan in master bedroom and lighting
- All electrical outlets and light switches
- Interior and exterior paint
The home does not include the following. However Jimmy’s company could supply the following for an additional cost:
- Furniture and appliances
- Second bedroom if requested
- Transportation to your destination
- Solar power
- Rainwater catchment system
- Hot water pump
- Bamboo roofing (the container naturally has its own roof, this would be on top of that)
- Deck
The first step to ordering from Jimmy is to visit the prototype and decide what changes you would like to make. If you cannot visit, and wish to place an order, you can do so and then as soon as the model home is picture ready he will send you the photos. A deposit of 50% is required to begin the building of your portable home. Estimated time to completion is between 3-6 weeks.
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Recycled homes, one box at a time
Magoline Hazelton is used to people driving by her home just to take a look. She’s also known as the “house lady” by her fellow residents in North Charleston, South Carolina.
From the outside, Hazelton’s home doesn’t seem much different from the rest of the neighborhood. But there’s one big difference. Her house is made from cargo shipping containers.
Using containers to build homes has increasingly become a trend in the past several years because it can be cheaper and faster than using traditional construction methods. There are also plenty of containers at most major ports. Read full article »
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Shipping Containers
Shipping Containers
‘Dream’ Homes for Thousands
I was planning on writing about composting toilets today but came across an article on the CNN website that I just had to share with everyone. So toilets will have to wait for another day.
It was a side trip through a destitute, ramshackle neighborhood in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that detoured Brian McCarthy from building houses in Albuquerque to an idea to offer the very poor a chance to own a home.
PFNC stands for “Por Fin Nuestra Casa.” Translated in English this simply means “Finally, a home of our own.” These words are the foundation of PFNC, whose goal is to provide housing to those who most desperately need it around the globe.
PFNC utilizes surplus shipping containers resulting from the United States’ consistent trade deficit. These containers serve as the building block of PFNC housing, but go through an extensive conversion process to make them a home. PFNC offers an affordable housing solution that is scalable and fully portable. Each PFNC unit includes 1st world amenities for a price of less than $10,000 (US).
Though considered sparse by American standards, these tiny houses have everything a person needs to live a simple life. I personally would like to promote this company for what they are attempting to do and I hope they have great success. I am contacting them to learn more on how to help get these to people who really need a new home.
To learn more go to the PFNC site. Watch the video NBC has put together on PFNC and watch the walk through video as well. I would encourage you also to read the CNN article.
Floorplan
Prototype Construction
Exterior Construction
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
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