PREP The cheapest house.....

[Laurane]

you can build, with this new system of Hook & Build.......just a 40 foot container and wood.......and the roof line (though a bit odd) would certainly help provide runoff for water storage. These were for tsunami relief, but could be used anywhere. My daughter is looking into building a Hook and Build Timber frame 2 storey house using this system (not the container type) - doing the Shell house and finishing it as they can afford it.

http://web.mac.com/wwilbert1/Hook&Build™Building_System/Container_Housing.html

 

[Cardinal]

Co$t?

 

[Taz]

I am impressed. But I know there are no areas in Fl where you could get a permit and you have to have a permit to even fence a piece of property, let alone build on it.

 

[Oldotaku]

Gee, I don't know about having the roof sloping inwards. Keeping those two joins dry between the peaked roof and flat cargo container ceiling look like a disaster waiting to happen, even if the roofing material is metal.

 

[Laurane]

The cost.....

is mainly the wood and the finishing inside. You can buy a container for a few $s....then the timber can be rough cut and hung with the fasteners. It has to sit on a concret slab obviously as the container needs something solid to site it on, where the wood and container will not move.

The the roof would be metal or shingle......can you recycle/use asphalt shingles? Places where timber is milled would be cheaper than shipping it in......but the engineer shipped the timber in the container, then used the container for the house.

If you look at the whole website, his emphasis is on building strong houses, even dome homes......he wants to change the way N. Americans build and get away from the more flimsy stick-built houses. And one of those building is right near us - hope I can get to see inside it soon.

 

[rafter]

We looked into containers around here and they want $3500!! Cheaper to build the same size in stick!

 

[Laurane]

I wondered about the possible leakage.....

especially in monsoon like rains.....but what about running one of those rubber barriers that are placed in showers under the slab along the length of the container and up the roof line a bit, seal it and then cover with metal roofing?......maybe have an overhang a bit on the ends with openings (soffits) where it could drain if necessary.

Maybe better suited to the desert??

Just thought the Hook & Build fasteners were the interesting part of this whole concept....like building with lego and can be done with just a ratchet - no power tools needed for erecting the frame.

 

[ceeblue]

It wouldn't work where it snows much.

 

[Laurane]

They were built for the Tsunami victims......

it doesn't snow much there

But some people posted about Container homes a while back, and I thought I would add to that. If it is a Container, is it a home, even if you live in it??

More like a Storage house so you wouldn't need a permit to build.

 

[Handyman]

if your going to use that much lumber why the shipping container core? makes little sense if you ask me,

 

[Yarnball]

Totally cool! I'm going to research this further.

yarnball

 

[Micro]

Is the roof designed for water collection?

 

[Imaginethat!]

That made four units. Where the idea works, that would be a good idea for a family that has grown children. They could share the cost for a home, and still be independent.

Imaginethat!

 

[Y2kO]

Houses are empty all over the US. Check with the officials in the county where you want to live. Indianapolis is selling them for $2000. You can buy most for the back-taxes at sheriff sales.

 

[Y2kO]

Is the roof designed for water collection?

It looks like it. They need to slope those additions away from the center or put a new roof over the entire thing. Those metal roofs just rust out anyway.