THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, TO LIVE BETTER INSIDE THE BOX

Why Polyurea Coatings Are a Must-Have for Shipping Container Homes

PROTECTING THE
MODULAR HOUSING
REVOLUTION

If you haven’t heard of it before, you might be shocked to hear that there’s a growing population building their homes out of shipping containers! Yes, you heard that right, shipping containers! While at first it might seem like an outlandish, or at least undesirable way to build your new abode, shipping container homes have rapidly risen in popularity, and are beloved to the hundreds of thousands who now call them home. But why? Have we reached the dystopia we’ve all feared would come? Well no – don’t be so doom and gloom! The truth is that shipping containers have become so popular because they’re an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional housing, in-line with more minimalistic lifestyles that have become more prevalent in recent years. Moreover, we’ve all seen what’s happened to housing prices, and are facing a shocking housing shortage, especially for the middle class and lower income families. Shipping container homes are a response to both market forces, and to people’s surprise,they’ve proven highly effective at increasing the supply of affordable housing while scratching the itch for those simply looking for a unique way to downsize.

Unfortunately, nothing’s perfect, and it takes a lot of hard work and innovative technology to transform an empty shipping container into a liveable space with the custom comforts and functional necessities of modern life. That’s where ArmorThane’s polyurea and polyurethane coatings come into play, able to start off or finish up your shipping container home’s transition into the dream space for you and your family.

ARMORTHANE:
BUILDING BETTER
PREFAB CONSTRUCTION

The problem many people have imagining themselves making a home in a shipping container is that they imagine it without any modifications. There’s no doubt it takes more than a rug, some lights, and a television to transform a container for shipping cargo into a forever home for making memories. A home should be personalized, stylish, functional, and above all else, safe, and this is all possible with the help of ArmorThane’s polyurea coatings and polyurethane spray foams. Here are just a few of the ways our technology can make your dreams a reality:

SEE RUST OUT THE DOOR

If you’re a fan of our blogs, then you’ve heard us talk about corrosion at every turn. That’s because corrosion is a major problem for just about anything made of or with metal components. For shipping containers that are made almost entirely from steel alloys, you likely won’t be surprised to learn that rust represents the number one concern for shipping container homes. Stopping corrosion is a matter of keeping corrosive chemicals away from the surface of structural materials, made easy with our protective coatings. Simply apply a watertight barrier made of strong polyurea or flexible polyurethane spray foam, and your shipping container will last far longer without having to worry about corrosion rapidly eating away at the center of your life.

INSULATE TO ELEVATE
YOUR LIVING EXPERIENCE

After corrosion, the next biggest challenge faced by shipping container homes is poor insulation. While metals are strong and durable, they’re also great conductors of heat, which might be good for electronic devices, but less so for shelters that are supposed to keep you warm, or at least comfortable. Especially if you live in climates with more extreme weather, whether cold or hot, wet or dry, you’ll want to promptly upgrade your shipping container home’s insulation. Polyurethane spray foams are a highly effective insulating material with dual functionality as a robust soundproofing solution, keeping warm or cool air in, and sound out.

MADE FOR THE SEAS,
NOW DRY AS THE DESERT

While first manufactured for transport across the world’s oceans, shipping containers are made with a degree of waterproofing. However, as strange as it may sound, this doesn’t mean they’re sufficiently waterproof to be used for homes as they are. Aside from contributing to corrosion, water also threatens to do damage directly by infiltrating your home’s interior and making direct contact with your appliances, personal items, and anything else contained therein. Polyurea and polyurethane coatings can function as reliable waterproofing materials that are able to keep your home as dry as the desert, even while sitting in a box made for the sea.

LIGHTWEIGHT BUT HEAVY-
DUTY REINFORCEMENT

It’s not enough for shipping container homes to rely on their metallic frameworks to ensure structural integrity. Over time, they’ll begin to lose their strength and rigidity, and need some additional support to remain safe and comfortable. Our polyurea coatings are a lightweight yet heavy duty solution that can reinforce structures while not risking to become a source of structural stress themselves. Especially for shipping container homes, reducing unnecessary weight can be more of a challenge than you might think, so polyurea’s lightweight and low density are invaluable in this context.

MAINTAINING QUALITY
AND CONVENIENCE

The appeal of shipping container homes is that they’re cheaper and easier to build, modify, and maintain, so it defeats the purpose to introduce expensive or time consuming renovations. ArmorThane’s polyurea and polyurethane spray foam are rapidly applied using high-pressure spray equipment that allows certified professionals to get the job done in no time. Paired with polyurea’s rapid curing time, quicker than almost anything else on the market, you have a single solution for all-purpose repair and protection without having to suffer through time-consuming or extensive renovations or modifications.

SECURE AGAINST
FIRE HAZARDS

Having a smaller home with less combustible construction materials is both a blessing and a curse for fire safety. On the one hand, the small volumes of shipping container homes mean there’s less fuel for a fire, both on the other hand, it also means that when a fire breaks out, there’s nowhere to go or hide. Just as with any other type of home, it’s paramount to take fire safety seriously, and integrating a polyurea or polyurethane coatings system can help. Inherently fire-resistant, whether you use our coatings for insulation, waterproofing, or anything in between (or everything all at once!), you’ll simultaneously be imparting your home with fire retardant properties.

DESIGN FREEDOM

Many people assume living in a shipping container home has to mean living an uninspired minimalist lifestyle, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Shipping container homes are often sought after specifically because they allow homeowners to create truly unique spaces with more design flexibility than could ever be realized with traditional housing. Polyurea and polyurethane coatings complement this approach, as they can be made in almost any color or finish to allow you to kill two birds with one stone; upgrade your home’s functionality, while also creating the perfect aesthetic that’s right for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Is The Best Coating For Shipping Containers?

The best coating for shipping container homes is one that fits your needs. This can be in terms of waterproofing, corrosion resistance, aesthetic upgrades and more, but like we always say, why settle for less? You can enjoy all of these benefits and then some by opting for polyurea and polyurethane coatings, offering all-purpose and full-surface protection that’s perfect for shipping container homes.

Do Shipping Container Homes Rust?

Shipping containers, and therefore shipping container homes, are made of steel alloys for a somewhat paradoxical reason. These alloys actually use rust, to prevent rust! The idea is that shipping containers develop a thin outer oxidized layer, which prevents further corrosion from creating further structural damage. However, it’s not a perfect science, and extensive corrosion can still occur that may require a protective coating like polyurea for shipping container homes and related applications.

What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Shipping Container Home?

Shipping container homes are often said to last a meager 25 years, which may sound like a lot, but it doesn’t when you’ve lived there for 15 years and now have to plan for your home to be unusable in only another decade! Using protective coatings like polyurea and polyurethane can extend or at least maximize the lifespan of your shipping container home.

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INVEST IN THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION FOR YOUR
SHIPPING CONTAINER HOME WITH ARMORTHANE

Whether you’re currently the proud owner of a shipping container home or are among the millions of people worldwide who are considering making the leap, partnering with ArmorThane can help quell your concerns and realize your dreams. With over 35 years in the business, and plenty of experience working to create modular homes of the future, we can become your trusted partners for your private prefab residence or commercial construction business. As the world’s one-stop shop for everything polyurea and polyurethane, there’s no hassles, frills, or complex searching needed, simply contact us today, and you’ll be on your way to a safer, stronger, more efficient shipping container home.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TYLER GLECKLER

I am a chemist with a specialization in nanotechnology and applied materials chemistry. My work has focused on the characterization of optoelectronic materials, namely including semiconductor nanocrystals.

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