With the cost of homes skyrocketing and real estate construction slowing down, many people are building their own houses. When building your own home, though, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Not the least of these decisions is what kind of home you are going to build. This is where the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built becomes important.
There are a lot of alternative homes that are becoming more and more popular all the time. Shipping container homes are one of the fastest-growing types in the United States. However, before you can choose, it’s important to know the difference in cost with a shipping container home vs stick built. By understanding these differences, you can make the right decision for your home.
What is the Difference Between a Shipping Container Home vs Stick Built?
When talking about the terminology of home types, there are a few different ways to express things. Most of the time, when someone says “stick built” they mean a traditional home that has standard framing. Most of the homes you see on the market are built using timber frames that make up the structure of the house. Then, the rest of the home is built on this wood framing.
With a container home, though, the main structure is built using disused shipping containers. This means that you do not need a traditional stick frame to get the building up off the ground. Because of this, the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built is very different. Knowing why this is and how one could be better for you than the other can help you make the right decision.
What Contributes to the Cost of a Shipping Container Home vs Stick Built?
The cost of a shipping container home vs stick built is going to be one of the main factors in deciding which to build. Many home builders, especially if it is their first time, will be bound by a budget. This means that you may have to make sacrifices in certain areas if you want to stay within your spending limit. Depending on your needs and lifestyle, one of these options will be better than another.
Several factors contribute to the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built. While not all of these factors will matter to every person, some of them are very important. By understanding what contributes to the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built, you can decide. Knowing your options and where the money is going can help you make the right choice.
Land
One of the big contributors to the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built is the land. When you build a stick built home, there will be all kinds of land requirements that you have to look for. These include things like the quality of the soil and the angle that the land is on. You may also have to buy a bigger plot of land than you would with a shipping container home.
With a container home, you can make your home much smaller, which opens up your land options. If you are working on a budget, being able to choose from a wider range of land plots is crucial. For single-container tiny homes, you could even build in a backyard if you wanted to. This makes the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built much cheaper when it comes to land.
Labor
When building a home, labor is one of the most expensive things you have to get. This is partially because the cost will vary so much depending on location. It is also because if you want to get the highest quality labor you can find, you have to spend money. The cost of a shipping container home vs stick built will depend heavily on the amount of work that needs to be done.
When considering the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built, think about the work. Framing up a home and building every wall from scratch is very labor-intensive. With a container home, this part of the building process is already done for you. You can save a lot of money by taking advantage of the structure of the containers.
Design
Building a home is one thing, but it is only half of the process. Before you can ever put a hammer on nails, you have to come up with a design. Home design is an incredibly complex process and will take money if you want it to be high-quality. This will severely affect the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built.
With a stick built home, every inch of it needs to be thoroughly designed and planned out. The framing design is crucial to the structural integrity of the home. With a container home, you only need to plan the configuration of the actual containers. This cuts back on the design cost of a shipping container home vs stick built.
Materials
One of the things that can vary with the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built is materials. Building materials are always fluctuating in price depending on the market and the economy. Because of this, it can be hard to nail down a material budget for a home build. Depending on the number of materials you need, you may end up paying quite a bit.
When making a decision based on the cost of a shipping container home vs stick built, materials are essential. A stick built home needs a lot of lumber because of the structure of the framing. With a container home, all that structure is already in place. You won’t have to spend nearly as much on materials.
Conclusion
The cost of a shipping container home vs stick built home can depend heavily on your design. By understanding what contributes to the cost and what you can expect, you can create your dream home. With the right information, you don’t have to go over budget when building a custom house.
If you would like more guides like this one, be sure to check out the rest of ContainerHomeHub.com. There, you will find all kinds of tips and tricks from the pros. You will also find featured container homes to get you inspired and thinking about your own project.
Michael O'Connor
I have been a freelance writer since 2015, when I began writing content for sites such as Textbroker, Constant Content, and Zerys. Since then, I have written hundreds of articles on dozens of topics. Because of this, I have learned to write concise, well-researched content no matter what the niche may be. Writing for the big content marketing platforms has been my bootcamp. I have learned to hustle, to write cleanly, and to do it all day long. Research, though, has been by far the most valuable skill I have acquired over the years. Currently I focused on home/home improvement/DIY topics!
