Storage containers are cheap until they are not. It's important to know that leveling a shipping container starts with where you put it. Or what you put in the container.
Question: Crushed concrete or gravel? (Leveling Shipping Containers)
The Absolute Minimum For A Storage Container On The Homestead
You can land a container on floating piers, gravel, or a concrete pad. What you use depends on your budget, zoning, use, and equipment.
I have a container on gravel piers with capstone blocks. That's an 18″ column in the ground with packed No. 57 rock, square blue stone.
The stone is a solid cinder block. These columns are only under the corners. There will be moisture if I don't keep water away from the foundation.
Everything was done by hand. This is the tan container.
Building A Level Pad For Your Shipping Container
For the red container featured in the video “What to know about leveling a shipping container?“, additional equipment was needed. However, it is a more durable foundation.
The red containers are on a gravel pad, 6″ to 8″ deep. No need to cover. There is a weep around the perimeter that is 8″ with a center of 6″, and two types of stone.
The pad is compacted. The surrounding area is graded to prevent water accumulation. I don't know if that video is online. The weep is dug around the foundation.
After the site is prepared, then No. 357 road base, then No. 57, both with compaction in the pad. Then, solid cinder blocks are placed under the corners with the delivery driver's cooperation.
This design keeps water from splashing from the ground onto the storage container. To limit frost heaving and help water evaporate after rain events. Works well in a temperate climate.
Compaction was done by an excavator, a skid-steer, and a dump truck. Money was spent, but not as much as on concrete piers.
Using a compact stone pad reduces moisture under your container. But there must be air space. In any case, I'll need a crane to reset containers.
If you opt for a concrete pad, you might as well put up a pole barn. A concrete pad, parking lot, or driveway is great for the short term. I don't plan on moving these containers again.
How To Level A Shipping Container For Temporary Use
Always start with a level surface to put it on. Make sure the place is twice the length of the container. And there is at least a four-foot parameter around the container once installed.
While you can temporarily place a container on railroad ties. It isn't a good idea for long-term storage. But for a year, it's okay.
If you are going to build a shipping container home, then there is more to consider. What you see here is suitable for farm dry storage.
Even as storage, I need to adjust the level as the container settles. Something like this cannot be installed in the rainy season.
There is a lot to be said about the site. What is your climate? How much rain do you get? What is the slope, or is the site level? Will you ever put anything on top of the container?
Depending on zoning, you may not be able to place it anywhere. This site is a working farm. Do you have a design plan together? What are your offsets?
Shipping containers are durable, but I want mine to stay dry and easy to open. I don't want to have to empty it out to replace floor boards.
If it's for short-term storage or a job site, then talk to the guys who do rentals. They will tell you what they expect. I visited two storage sites before committing to this design.
If you're using the container as part of a farm structure, schedule a call to talk specifics.
How To Avoid An Expensive Shipping Container Install
Containers get expensive when they shift, leak, or the floor rots out. They get expensive if they fall over or have to be moved.
While used containers are typically lower cost, they may have holes and dents and create extra work during installation. Buying new containers at a fair price depends on many factors.
The biggest expense with containers is getting screwed over. Reputable suppliers will offer advice on what they expect when delivering.
They won't ask for money in advance, maybe a deposit, but they accept credit cards and checks.
The driver will be professional, arriving on time and accepting the remaining balance before unloading. I checked references. There are shipping container scammers out there.
If you get your pad together in advance, it is solid and level, then a drive will roll off your container onto blocks. At that point, leveling your shipping container is easy and safe.
Here are more insights on leveling a shipping container …
