Shipping Container Roof Ideas

Creating residential units, office spaces, and shops using shipping containers of different sizes is a great way to save on construction. You will not need to pour the foundation or spend a ton of time and money on building from scratch. However, you’ll have to consider some modifications to make a shipping container a good option for a living space. Windows, doors, and a roof are the major transformations that turn a cold metal box into a cozy and convenient home. In this article, you’ll discover different ideas for ashipping container home roof.

Besides its aesthetic value, improving your container home roof has many practical benefits. Due to poor roof insulation, heat loss might become severe in the year’s cold months, and installing a new roof will help maintain excellent thermal conditions. Of course, not upgrading your container home roof can save you money. But it can become an unpleasant outcome in the future. If you’re considering a roof upgrade for your shipping container home, take a look at our shipping container roof examples.

Some Technical Aspects of Modifying a Shipping Container Roof

Although a container is a solid structure designed to carry cargo in the roughest of sea conditions, there are many things for which a container may be unready. It is resistant to seawater and can withstand various loads, including having other containers piled on top. But when talking about using containers for occupancy purposes, some factors need to be taken into account. Installing a roof on a shipping container can be a practical way to protect the container from negative impact of environmental factors.

First, it is vital to maintain warmth inside your house. If you do not want to overpay for electricity, you must take care of putting a roof on a shipping container. Unlike bricks or concrete blocks, metal dissipates heat very quickly. So will the roof of your container, if not properly insulated.

In addition, containers have flat roofs. A shipping container’s roof is not especially durable and can be exposed to various factors. When containers are transported, the walls and upper corners take on the weight of the containers from above. If you live in an area where it rains or snows a lot, a flat roof for a container home can sag towards the center over time. Such deformation will not only make your place look horrendous but interfere with proper water drainage, leading to undesirable results.

Simple But Effective Modification Options for Shipping Container Tops

There are many unique design solutions for different types of shipping container home roofs. Both 20 ft and 40 ft containers are widely used in construction. Furthermore, you can combine several containers to build a unique house. But for now, let’s look at simpler options that do not require significant financial investments. Here’s a general guide on how to put a roof on a shipping container.

Shed Roof

This container house roof is very cost-effective and simple, and it’ll help avoid any shortcomings of a flat roof. Perhaps this isn’t the most visually stunning option, but you will certainly like it.

To make a shed container roof, you will need to weld rectangular steel plates to the container along its entire length. They will serve as a base for your roof and distribute the load among them. Next, attach a wooden beam to the steel plates. Trusses are then used to tie the steel rods supporting the roof’s top.

Now pick your roofing, and you’re all set!

Gable Roof

Next on the list of our shipping container roof ideas is the gable roof. This one will endow your place with an ‘ordinary house’ look and make it nearly indistinguishable from an ordinary building. Creating this look will take a bit more work since this roof option is more challenging to install.

Getting started is no different – you’ll need to install rectangular plates around the container’s entire perimeter. Next, a wooden beam to which trusses will be attached. In addition, you will need to take care of the ventilation holes.

You can use steel plates or tiles for roofing.

3 Best Examples for the Roof of a Shipping Container Home
Let’s look at some of the most outstanding ideas for a shipping container home roof.
Green Roof
It is a stunning, yet challenging solution. Besides being unique, your roof will constantly yield fresh oxygen, which is hardly a burden in our industrial era. Among the disadvantages is the restriction of producing this option only in tropical and equatorial latitudes, as well as its priciness.

Reinforced and Enlarged Flat Roof

Another fantastic example of a shipping container home roof is this one. Not only will it serve as a roof for your house, but also as a canopy. However, this design is not very strong, and a powerful gust of wind can become a problem.

Hinged Roof

Here, we see a thickened container roof that increases thermal insulation and a hinged roof over it. The hinged roof will keep rain or snow out of the container’s roof, thus helping avoid its deformation. It is an excellent solution without apparent flaws.

Final Thoughts

There are countless ideas for shipping container roof designs. It remains to select the one that suits your budget and style. If you have any questions or are considering acquiring such a house, we will be happy to help you!

Our team deals with sales and modification of new and used shipping containers for various purposes. Our vast experience in this industry is backed by numerous completed projects behind our backs, so we can guarantee the highest quality of supplies and work of our craftsmen.

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