Sos Roofline Systems

If you have a hobby chances are you will need additional storage to stop your hobby taking over the house. Secure storage can be found in a shipping container which can either be stored on your own property or in a yard or depot nearby. When thinking about storage container sales(or even hire) there are quite a few items you should consider. Here are 10 that you might want to keep in mind.

1. The cheapest containers to buy are 20ft Shipping Containers or 40ft Shipping Containers. This is for the reason that these are the most common sizes used by the Shipping Lines/Transport Companies etc and therefore the most readily obtainable. Sizes such as 10ft etc are often cut down from bigger containers and, due to the labour involved, are generally more expensive.
2. Your shipping container should be made out of corten steel. This is a highly rust resistant and robust material that is weather resistant. If you are considering buying second hand shipping container then it will probaby come painted in the colours of a Shipping Line Company. There will probably be areas where the paint has been scraped and a brown surface layer will have formed. This is not rust! Corten steel forms this patina to stop rust getting to the underneath. Your steel container should last another 10-15 years.
3. You should make sure that your container comes with a wind and watertight guarantee. When you take delivery of your shipping container, walk inside it and look for any holes in the sides – and don’t forget to look up and check the roof! This should be easy in the daylight as the sunlight will show through any holes there might be.
4. The floor of a standard shipping container is made out of 27mm timber. Make sure that there are no soft spots in the floor that might give way when the container is loaded.
5. Make sure that your shipping container is placed on level ground. This means that the doors will open smoothly. When the container is empty this potential problem is often not obvious as the doors will probably open easily. However, once the container is loaded if the container is not sited on the level then the doors will stick.
6. If you are going to make use of your container for shipping then confirm it has a CSC certificate or plate. This will make sure that your container is cargo worthy and that you have no difficulties when delivering it to the port for shipping. Bear in mind that a lot of people choose to buy their container rather than hire is so they can make use of it as a shipping container conversion once they arrive at their new country.
7. If you have any worries about the security of your container have a lock cowl or lockbox attached at the depot before delivery. This is a metal box that is welded on to the container doors to guard the padlock from illegal access and tampering from bolt croppers or angle grinders etc.
8. Some insurance companies offer a premium discount if you use an insurance approved heavy duty container padlock such as CISA. It is worth asking the insurance company you use to insure your container’s contents if they do.
9. If you are concerned about condensation then it may be worth considering lining the container. This can be carried out at the depot and can be done in a variety of ways. The most common is to use ply either without or without the addition of rockwool behind. You could also consider using a “thermal blanket” – the method used by a large number of the shipping lines themselves. A less expensive alternative to the problem of condensation is a moisture trap. These last for 4 months and suck up 2.5 litres of water. They are extremely effective but you do have to keep replacing them.
10. Finally, make sure that when you arrange delivery of your container you take into account the access to your site. If there are overhanging trees, low cables or the lorry has to cross a field then the lorry might not be able to deliver your container and you will be charged for unnecessary transport. It is always worth checking at the time of purchasing your container and, if there are concerns, sending photographs of the site or arranging a site visit to make sure that your container can be delivered.