Shipping Containers Blog

Posts Tagged ‘20ft containers’

Shipping Containers are an ideal solution for additional storage. Whether you are moving or renovating your house, want to clear your garage or spare room of all the clutter so you can use them again for their original purpose, the extra space that a shipping container provides could be the answer. Businesses too can save on expensive commercial premises by putting stock or archiving files in a shipping container.

A 20ft container is about the size of a single garage and is the most common size used for a storage container. Businesses often use a 40ft container as they need the additional space. The containers can be fitted out with racking so that they are well organised and keep their contents easy to find. Moisture traps are used to stop condensation and are particularly effective when storing paper or electrical goods that are sensitive to the damp.

Shipping containers are classed as temporary structures so normally do not require any planning permission. They can be sited easily on any level ground near to the house or office and painted to blend in with their surroundings. With the addition of a lockbox and a heavy duty container padlock they are very secure.

If you have a need for additional storage a shipping container could well provide the answer.

We often get asked how lorries offload shipping containers and why we double check about site access in so much detail.

The truth is that as we are not able to visit each site to see whether or not it is possible to deliver the containers we have to rely on our customers to let us know.   We produce a delivery check list for those who are not sure and will arrange site visits at a small fee if, after sending photographs, the hauler is still uncertain.  This helps to avoid wasted transport fees.

Large lorries equipped with hiabs (cranes) are used to deliver our 20ft and 40ft containers.  They need to deliver from hard standing as otherwise they are prone to sink due to the weight of lorry and container and the recovery costs are astronomical!

The lorries offload the container parallel to the lorry - in otherwise alongside the lorry itself.  They are able to turn 20ft containers through 90 degrees but find this difficult with the larger sized 40fts.

Wherever possible the driver will go out of his way to put the container exactly where the client wants it and tomorrow we will talk about stacking containers and what that involves.

Shipping Containers come in many shapes and sizes and we were discussing in the office the various different preferences there are for containers on a national level.  This inspired Susan to get out her sketch pad and to draw some cartoons to give us a high note to end our week on.

BRECON BEA-CON-TAINER

For example, our enquiries in Wales are often for 10ft containers or insulated containers.  Susan often goes to Wales for inspiration for her painting and is particularly fond of the Brecon Beacons.

LEPRI-CORN-TAINERS

Refrigerated Containers are always in demand in Ireland, often for the fishing industry.  You will have gathered from this particular cartoon that we are very keen on a particular Irish beverage.

BOX NESS MONSTER

Both Susan and I have Scottish parents.  We get asked for a lot of 20ft containers and 40ft containers in the Glasgow area in particular - a fact which always causes debate in the office over football teams as both Susan and I support opposing Glasgow Teams.  Blue is obviously the superior colour no matter what Susan says to the contrary.

Whatever the demand is for shipping containers in whatever part of the UK, CS Shipping Containers are happy to supply them - be they in blue, green,……..or even brown, red etc.!!!

Shipping Containers are, as we have discussed in previous posts, ideal for use in emergency situations.  They are frequently used in Australia and New Zealand for emergency housing and the Red Cross in America used them extensively in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.

Flooding

The floods in North Lancashire and Cumbria mean that many people are going to be looking for emergency container storage for household items.  Most firms will guarantee their containers to be wind and watertight, and as shipping containers are designed to withstand marine conditions they are ideal for storage after the storms and flooding that happened at the weekend.  Offices and site accommodation in the form of conversions made out of shipping containers are also likely to help out local businesses.

20ft container

10ft container

Obviously, the storage containers will not be needed for long periods of time so container hire is an option that should be considered.  Often insurance companies will organise this for their clients.  If you are looking to hire a container yourself, you should remember that the initial invoice will normally be for the first period of hire (normally a month) together with the delivery and collection haulage.   Therefore if the haulage was £150 the first invoice would be for £150 x 2 = £300.

Condensation solutions are also available in the form of moisture traps and additional security  can be provided through lock boxes and insurance approved CISA padlocks.