Shipping Container Storage Units And Sheds Become “Tuffer” Competition
Shipping container storage sheds are tougher and low cost.
Can ISBU containers be converted to high quality storage sheds and still compete with the low prices of Tuff Shed and other quality brands? We compared “apples to apples” and the results for 8′x10′ storage units have surprised even the shipping container modifiers and portable storage unit dealers.
At about the same price Tuff Shed and Heartland don't stack up.
We went shopping this week and obtained quotations for shipping containers, siding and roofing materials so we could create almost any type of 8′x10′ storage unit from 40′ shipping containers. No matter if they remain plain, metal, stucco, or wood siding, roll up or standard doors and even adding roofs to add a creative touch, the prices came out about the same as the “Tuff Shed” from Home Depot, “Heartland Diplomat” from Lowe’s or even the new vinyl Cosmos shed.
No one can deny that the famous Tuff Shed is one of the best and toughest storage units around but did you realize that for about the same price and even similar designs you can build a much tougher ISBU container based storage unit that is more than 10 times stronger than a Tuff Shed? Oh yes!
The Tuff Shed MR-450 is priced from $1700-$1900; the Cosmos without a floor is $1900 and the ready-to-assemble Heartland Diplomat begins at $1400. All are 8′x10′ but only 6′ tall. The ISBU storage sheds are also 8′x10′ but are a much bigger 8.5′ to 9.5′ tall complete with floor and a super strong steel foundation.
The strength of all sides, ends and roof of the ISBU storage sheds are 15 to 25 times stronger than the strongest metal, wood or vinyl sheds including their roof strength. In high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes the standard sheds are good to only 80-120 MPH while the ISBU storage units hold tough at more than 140 and even higher when mounted to a concrete pylon foundation. The other sheds cannot even hold up to those winds when mounted to a concrete foundation.
The cost of these strong and even attractive ISBU storage units begin at only $1200 for standard 8′x10′ units as you see in the top right photo, and $1600-$1900 for ISBU sheds with your choice of the added siding and roofs. Those results for the ISBU box and decorating materials even surprised us.
How did we do it? Your shipping container dealer can take a 40GP or 40HQ, cut it into 4 pieces, then add the needed end doors, either roll up or standard, and end walls to make up four 10″ units. We’ve seen it done many times. That leaves you with four (4) 8′x10′ standard units that just need to be painted white, grey or other attractive light color. The average selling price will vary of course but we see basic prices of about $1200 each.
Next, we went to Home Depot, Ace, Best and Lowe’s to shop for “retail” building materials so we could add siding and roofs if we want. We priced stucco, wood siding, and metal siding to disguise the “container look”. Then we priced roofing materials using metal or asphalt shingles to create a low pitch roof formed with the low cost metal studs. The costs for all materials to create these, even more attractive sheds only increased the material costs of the total ISBU storage units to $1600-$1900. Not too bad for attractive storage sheds that are easily transported, super tough, and are extremely attractive.
These storage unit modifications with added siding, stucco and roofs can also be done to the standard 20′ and 40′ ISBU containers to create very attractive larger storage units. The above prices also included the cost of painting all storage units with the Ceramic Paint thermal coatings to protect the contents of the ISBU sheds and storage units.
The ISBU storage shed in the top left photo is an example of a custom made ISBU shed decorated by a customer of the guys at Dwellbox. Their customer added the exterior shed decorations to match the design of his houme. An ISBU shed can be very versatile, still attractive, and quite economical depending on the look you want.
As stated above, the added cost of a decorated unit are DIY and materials only.
Right now there is great interest in both residential and commercial storage units. If you’re note modifying, decorating and selling ISBU container sheds and storage units right now then you are missing out on a huge market that is a soaring trend in these crazy economic times.
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Tags: building, construction, ISBU, portable, sheds, shipping containers, storage-units