Do Shipping Containers Sweat Inside?

[highside74]

We are selling our house and buying a piece of property. I was thinking about buying a shipping container for storage instead of renting a storage unit and then just selling it when I'm done. I don't want to ruin anything with condensation. Your thoughts?

[KFhunter]

Did this exact thing, still have stuff in a shipping can and it's been bone dry in there.  The drawbacks are it gets very hot and very dry, wood furniture doesn't do well.  The glue seems suffer and finish can crack, you might be able to mitigate this by oiling the furniture well?

Everything else seems to do fine.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

We had some stuff shipped across the ocean in that had some moisture damage (primarily pictures) but that's about as extreme as it gets as it relates to moisture.

[ghosthunter]

I just bought our third one yesterday. 40 x8 at work.
We have had records and stuff in two. Of them for 10 years.

Bone dry.

[Birdguy]

Some cheap 1" insulation would really help curb the moisture from condensation, as for heat try to store it in the shade, in the open sun you will certainly bake stuff inside. It is a good idea and you may find that keeping it has merit too. They are great secure storage for stuff normally occupying space in the garage, lawn mowers, hand tools, fertilizer, etc. I have a buddy that stores all his tractor implements in them at his property so they do not get borrowed when he is not there.

[Sandberm]

My brother got told that some areas require a building permit to put one up. Anybody know if this is true?

[outdooraddict]

id be interested in getting a shipping container.  how do you go about buying one and how much are they. 

[CP]

id be interested in getting a shipping container.  how do you go about buying one and how much are they.

[Skillet]

Sweating is a symptom of ambient humidity & temp change.  That means a sealed container is only going to "sweat" inside if you put a bunch of high-moisture content stuff into it - air included.  Don't load it in a high- humidity day, and make sure what you put in it is as dry as it can be. 

[wags]

My brother got told that some areas require a building permit to put one up. Anybody know if this is true?

Throw two mobile home axles under it and then it's "portable" and the County can't say a thing about it. There are always loop-holes.

[SniperDanWA]

There are lots of places that sell them.  If you are looking for very clean, almost look new, and no damage to doors, there is a place in Fife right next to I5.  I've seen them from $2K to $8.  The other part is transport and unload.  A couple places I've seen them, they were not laid on a good foundation and the weight caused the doors to be off just a bit as the unit settled.  Some of the floors offgas too.  I've seen some on Craigslist for free and up to $6K.

I've seen some really great plans on YouTube for storage ideas with storage containers.

[Windwalker]

 Have 3 used for hay storage the better part of 10 years. Poured 2 long concrete ribbons & set them side by side.

No permit. If the need arises I can pluck them and put 'em on a trailer.

After I emptied the center one & put up heavy duty shelving on one side to store camping, hunting and fishing gear it did sweat profusely last winter. Not sure if the vents are clogged or if it doesn't get as much air circulation due to being sandwiched between the others. For that matter it may be the profuse amount of rain and my stomping around on top oil canned dents that puddled up. Didn't wreck anything but did I see water droplets on the ceiling.
Its not a concern but if desired the sweating would probably be alleviated by propping the front up.
They are all set dead level, the water doesn't run off as well as it should. 
All that said-I highly recommend them. Buy 'refurbished' for a break in price.
 

[Happy Gilmore]

Nobody cuts in roof vents?

[Machias]

http://www.tincancabin.com/

Lots of good information on shipping containers in this blog.

[CP]

Desiccant – because every enclosed structure in this state sweats

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DampRid-10-5-oz-Fragrance-Free-Refillable-Moisture-Absorber-Pack-of-2-FG60/301692928?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D28I-Cleaning|&gclid=CKLmhqbduNQCFUZsfgodfBMLTA&gclsrc=aw.ds

[smittyJ]

If you are worried, you can get insulated refrigerated units. Kittitas County requires a permit to set and you can not modify it after setting.

[Special T]

Picked up this aluminum 24' with a door for $1k today. Already had a man door installed. Got it From Pro Truck in Pacific off 167.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Happy Gilmore]

anyone remember when Chelan County banned Tyvek House wrap?.....pretty much same situation.. moldy..

[Jpmiller]

We use them at work. In summer we typically leave a door open for a day or two and dry it out and don't have a problem until we start putting wet stuff back in it in the fall. You can also cut vents into the containers (I would recommend doing it on the side as the flat roofs seem to always cause a leak) for some mitigation from heat in summertime.

If you don't have access to some heavy machinery I would recommend getting one with a roll up door. If something gets just a little off plumb the doors are a real pain to open and lock.

There's a handful of places by any port that sells used ones. They have different grades so if you're looking for a nice one make sure they know and prepare to pay for it. Probably worth it to pick it out in person.

[KFhunter]

 Have 3 used for hay storage the better part of 10 years. Poured 2 long concrete ribbons & set them side by side.

No permit. If the need arises I can pluck them and put 'em on a trailer.

After I emptied the center one & put up heavy duty shelving on one side to store camping, hunting and fishing gear it did sweat profusely last winter. Not sure if the vents are clogged or if it doesn't get as much air circulation due to being sandwiched between the others. For that matter it may be the profuse amount of rain and my stomping around on top oil canned dents that puddled up. Didn't wreck anything but did I see water droplets on the ceiling.
Its not a concern but if desired the sweating would probably be alleviated by propping the front up.
They are all set dead level, the water doesn't run off as well as it should. 
All that said-I highly recommend them. Buy 'refurbished' for a break in price.

@Windwalker
I wouldn't mind doing this with my oat hay, I get so much mice in it by the time I've got it fed out it's riddled with holes. A mouse proof shipping container would be great for this, although I  would need several 40 footers, maybe more. 

Do you ever have a problem with it sweating or is the hay seasoned before you put it in?

[ghosthunter]

We have three .I bought the third one a week ago from Simple box.

They had the best price.

The 1400.00 ones on line are bait and switch. When you call they give all kinds of reasons you can't buy one.

[Windwalker]

 Have 3 used for hay storage the better part of 10 years. Poured 2 long concrete ribbons & set them side by side.

No permit. If the need arises I can pluck them and put 'em on a trailer.

After I emptied the center one & put up heavy duty shelving on one side to store camping, hunting and fishing gear it did sweat profusely last winter. Not sure if the vents are clogged or if it doesn't get as much air circulation due to being sandwiched between the others. For that matter it may be the profuse amount of rain and my stomping around on top oil canned dents that puddled up. Didn't wreck anything but did I see water droplets on the ceiling.
Its not a concern but if desired the sweating would probably be alleviated by propping the front up.
They are all set dead level, the water doesn't run off as well as it should. 
All that said-I highly recommend them. Buy 'refurbished' for a break in price.

@Windwalker
I wouldn't mind doing this with my oat hay, I get so much mice in it by the time I've got it fed out it's riddled with holes. A mouse proof shipping container would be great for this, although I  would need several 40 footers, maybe more. 

Do you ever have a problem with it sweating or is the hay seasoned before you put it in?

 As long as the hay is dry going in, it comes out the same.
A lot of friends went the same route as we did & started using containers. No mice, dust, cob webs, litters of barn cats etc.
   
Over the years we have had a few instances the truck loads got damp from driving through rain storms.
If the quality is worth the trouble, we sort & load the dry to the back.
 
Damp hay is fed first & stacked loose so air can circulate with varied results.
They have to be left open as much as possible to dry anything out. 
If it goes in damp you can expect to lose some if your not careful.
Roof vents would help - they have side vents- but if opened daily there isn't a moisture problem.
 
 

[highside74]

Had my shipping container delivered yesterday. It is a 40ft High Cube $2650 delivered. I put a turbine roof vent in it tonight after work. I thought I might add a couple fresh air vents lower on the side in the opposite end to help draw cool fresh air in and push the hot or damp air out of the top. Do you think that is necessary or just extra work?