Shipping Container Parts Storage Layouts

[chris vickery]

Further to my early comments.
Ultimately, I have a plan to purchase a second sea can identical to my first.
I would like to put them beside each other with a space in between, maybe 12-14ft or so. Overall this would be a footprint of 28/30ft x 40ft. I am thinking of adding a roof to this structure so the center would act as extra storage or even shop space in the future. Initially I'd put down gravel but eventually perhaps a concrete slab, especially if it turned into a semi indoor/ outdoor work shop area. This in in addition to the 1200sq ft shop that I already have, which is full btw...

[Matthew P]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Further to my early comments.
Ultimately, I have a plan to purchase a second sea can identical to my first.
I would like to put them beside each other with a space in between, maybe 12-14ft or so. Overall this would be a footprint of 28/30ft x 40ft. I am thinking of adding a roof to this structure so the center would act as extra storage or even shop space in the future. Initially I'd put down gravel but eventually perhaps a concrete slab, especially if it turned into a semi indoor/ outdoor work shop area. This in in addition to the 1200sq ft shop that I already have, which is full btw...

That's pretty popular in the States. There's even some enterprising pre-fab metal shed/garage makers who sell kits sized for mounting to shipping containers. The center space is great for large equipment because of the clear span and height.

Matt

[Lynn Eades]

Chris, If you slab it first, you container shouldn't sink (in the wrong place) and have water running back to the covered area. We have an old set up like that at work. The roofs are rotten where the shelter sits on the edge of the containers.

[motto]

I was very fortunate to be able to acquire base units and rails for a compactus rolling shelf set up that was no longer required by a city book store. I came away with a truck load of the stuff.
The units are six feet long and about 32" wide. I installed 17 foot rails in a 20 foot container and built shelves on a number of base units which leaves me with a walkway down one side and one empty space that can be opened up between any of the rolling shelf units. It is the optimum use of space as it only has one lengthways aisle and one crossways. The 3 foot shelving at the far end is fixed.
I would not have a container for storage without a roof of some sort over it. this is for two reasons. One is that there is no runoff and water will inevitably pool in some areas and the other being a bad tendency for containers to sweat and promote surface rust on any unprotected steel or iron. I once opened a container in Melbourne that had been packed in the UK and of course had to pass through the tropics. it looked like someone had hosed the underside of the roof.
A friend packed his workshop into a container in Darwin and had it shipped to Victoria where it sat for some months. When he opened it the rust had really taken hold.

David

[Paul Singleton]

In some areas you will be taxed on your property taxes for using shipping containers. It would be something that you should check into first, especially if you put a roof on top of a pair of containers. The tax man would consider them permanent if they can’t be moved.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Paul Singleton

In some areas you will be taxed on your property taxes for using shipping containers. It would be something that you should check into first, especially if you put a roof on top of a pair of containers. The tax man would consider them permanent if they can’t be moved.

Hello Paul,

Not sure about taxation of shipping containers here in Australia; or in Queensland. I do know that some local councils will not allow shipping containers on private property. This is something that I have to check with my mob here.

We also have a limit of roof space for sheds on each property. This is not per ... shed per property; it is an overall percentage of all shed roof-space to square measurement of land. If a shed/s exceed that size it has to go before a Environment and Planning meeting with the local council for approval. Yes, and you pay for such a pleasure; even if they deny you permission. Yes, this has to happen even when your property is rated as "rural".

Kind regards
Lionel