Shipping container grow rooms

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dodacky

Well-Known Member
hi folks

Would like from others who have ACTUALLY done this. whats your layout? pros and cons? above/below ground? and if you done it again what would you do different?

Of course any other info about your setup would be interesting.


to kick it off breifly I recently converted a container and have had some interesting times, problems and solutions. its a big work in progress and just on my 2nd grow in there now and due to construction and location making changes isnt so simple but am slowly working through the issues.

ill post some pics as time goes on but pretty much my goal at the start was to build a fully self contained portable grow room but that changed and is now a permanant fixture of the landscape.

Due to size and weight and ability to lift a built unit with earthmoving equiptment I choose a 20ft high cube container, 1end (just under 1/3 floorspace) is flower room, the other end (1/4 floorspace) is mother and veg area with the remainder cloning,work and storage area.
 
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dodacky

Well-Known Member
:-( I must be the only one silly enough and crazy enough to give this a go.

thought there wouldve been a few out there that have done similar?
 
GreenHighlander

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
It has been done. I have been inside a 6 40' container operation. That person verified it was not worth the hassle or costs and has long since switched to something else. He would tell you that you are better off digging the hole and build a timber structure, or better yet pour a foundation. For proper insulation and the ventilation required you would be left with very little space in a 20ft.
Cheers and whatever you do goodluck :)
 
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dodacky

Well-Known Member
I originaly wanted to do an underground concrete block room but it was way beyond my abilities to make it structually sound, I didnt want to build my own coffin.

I only lost 7" legnth and width internally, i used 2"x 3" steel inside to build a subframe to stop the walls and roof buckling, its fully insulated and lined with plywood. still plenty of room in there but 40ft would be better but any excavators available for hire would be unable to lift it.
it was a struggle to lift a 20ft with steel and ply lining and I had to complete the final fitout under ground.

Currently theres 4 6" ventalation pipes with 2 more to get installed in the comming weeks as backup for summer.
temps are great and stable underground but humidity can be an issue.

its a massive work in progress and after a year or 2 of tweaking I think ill have all the issues sorted and do a new replacement build for an ultimate stealth room. :-)
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
dodacky said:
I originaly wanted to do an underground concrete block room but it was way beyond my abilities to make it structually sound, I didnt want to build my own coffin.

I only lost 7" legnth and width internally, i used 2"x 3" steel inside to build a subframe to stop the walls and roof buckling, its fully insulated and lined with plywood. still plenty of room in there but 40ft would be better but any excavators available for hire would be unable to lift it.
it was a struggle to lift a 20ft with steel and ply lining and I had to complete the final fitout under ground.

Currently theres 4 6" ventalation pipes with 2 more to get installed in the comming weeks as backup for summer.
temps are great and stable underground but humidity can be an issue.

its a massive work in progress and after a year or 2 of tweaking I think ill have all the issues sorted and do a new replacement build for an ultimate stealth room. :-)
Click to expand...
it really depends on what part of the world u r at. under ground always better no matter what lat
 
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dodacky

Well-Known Member
southern hemisphere, ive got mates with above ground container grows and they have to shut down half through summer due to heat even in reefer containers. im confident being underground will allow me to run fully all year round.

Another attraction to using a container is theyre cheap and plentifull supply, although I regret not getting one with a steel floor. theyre also quite narrow tho so not sure how much more benificial a 40ft would be unless you wanted a bigger work area? as an isle down the middle of a grow would f**k things up
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
the trick to burying a shipping container is to flip it over first. The floors in shipping containers are hella strong to hold tons of weight and forklifts but the roof is weak. the doors work either way. Put down a nice floor and run a few lengths of square tubing lengthwise down the outside to keep the walls from buckling in....I've seen several done this way.
 
Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
Reinforce it as they are not designed to take weight on the sides or top. Flipping it over as JJ suggested is a great idea.

Make sure you have at least two exit points in case of a collapse.
 
GreenHighlander

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
How does flipping it over change the structure? It will still only support the same weight. It is still the same walls and corners, upside down or not. The floor also isn't any thicker. Hence why the holes for the front to carry are where they are. Shipping containers get their strength from the corners and cross beams, not the floor or ceiling. Also go with a dry high instead of a regular. You gain 6" of height.
Cheers :)
 
Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
GreenHighlander said:
How does flipping it over change the structure? It will still only support the same weight. It is still the same walls and corners, upside down or not. The floor also isn't any thicker. Hence why the holes for the front to carry are where they are. Shipping containers get their strength from the corners and cross beams, not the floor or ceiling. Also go with a dry high instead of a regular. You gain 6" of height.
Cheers :)
Click to expand...
"
How Exactly Should I Reinforce My Shipping Container?


Depending on what the shipping container is made out of, you won’t need to do a whole lot of sealing up. You’ll likely want to flip it upside down though. The roof is thicker than the floor, and you want a thicker floor to prevent warping of the container when it settles in the ground."
http://www.askaprepper.com/reinforce-shipping-container-bury-emp-proof/
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
GreenHighlander said:
How does flipping it over change the structure? It will still only support the same weight. It is still the same walls and corners, upside down or not. The floor also isn't any thicker. Hence why the holes for the front to carry are where they are. Shipping containers get their strength from the corners and cross beams, not the floor or ceiling. Also go with a dry high instead of a regular. You gain 6" of height.
Cheers :)
Click to expand...
 
GreenHighlander

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
Lucky Luke said:
"
How Exactly Should I Reinforce My Shipping Container?


Depending on what the shipping container is made out of, you won’t need to do a whole lot of sealing up. You’ll likely want to flip it upside down though. The roof is thicker than the floor, and you want a thicker floor to prevent warping of the container when it settles in the ground."
http://www.askaprepper.com/reinforce-shipping-container-bury-emp-proof/
Click to expand...

I have no idea where you found that. But I can say after many years in local 269 of the international longshoresman's association The metal shell is the exact same thickness on the floor as it is the roof. The floor has cross beams for support, the roof doesn't. Physics also tells us flipping it upside down does not change its structural integrity. That is why they are lifted as much from their top corners as they are with the front holes along the bottom.
Cheers :)
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
GreenHighlander

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
LMAO its hilarious that you guys even think this is arguable like some kind of bro science. How many ships have you guys lashed? How many fronts, shunts or cranes have you operated? And again you can't actually argue physics. A containers structural integrity does not change if the weight is on top or on bottom. They are designed that way on purpose. You know kinda like you see them fucking stacked everywhere hahahaha

Cheers :)
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
GreenHighlander said:
LMAO its hilarious that you guys even think this is arguable like some kind of bro science. How many ships have you guys lashed? How many fronts, shunts or cranes have you operated? And again you can't actually argue physics. A containers structural integrity does not change if the weight is on top or on bottom. They are designed that way on purpose. You know kinda like you see them fucking stacked everywhere hahahaha

Cheers :)
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the roofs of shipping containers are not reinforced except at the corners. The floors are made to hold 30 tons....flip it over and you have a roof that will hold 30 tons, but the floor ( that used to be the roof) will need to be covered. Go look at the roof of a shipping container...it's 1/8" corrugated steel, not made to carry any weight. When they stack shipping containers all the weight goes onto the corner pillars. Take a look at the visual aid the guy in the video made and you will understand that the floor of a shipping container is what you want over your head if you intend to bury it.
 
GreenHighlander

GreenHighlander

Well-Known Member
doublejj said:
the roofs of shipping containers are not reinforced except at the corners. The floors are made to hold 30 tons....flip it over and you have a roof that will hold 30 tons, but the floor ( that used to be the roof) will need to be covered. Go look at the roof of a shipping container...it's 1/8" corrugated steel, not made to carry any weight. When they stack shipping containers all the weight goes onto the corner pillars. Take a look at the visual aid the guy in the video made and you will understand that the floor of a shipping container is what you want over your head if you intend to bury it.
Click to expand...
I dont need to watch some crackpots video to understand this. Your are missing my point entirely. The weight put on the roof or floor is still supported by the corners. The weight they carry does not change upside down. The container will still only support the same amount of weight. The floor covering is also not made to support weight. The support beams are. You do know there are support beams underneath right? You also as you stated know all containers sit corner on corner. There is zero floor to roof , or floor to ground contact other then the corners. So tell me again how the floor that is the same 1/8", is thicker then the roof? The whole container is the same 1/8" And upside down the weight still ends up supported by the corners on the roof. Just like it was supported by the corners on the bottom. Either way it will only support the same amount of weight.
It is amazing how people with zero experience will actually try to argue something because they saw a video on youtube lol
Goodluck OP I am done arguing reality. Especially someone trying to tell me how shipping containers work LMFAO
Cheers :)
 
doublejj

doublejj

Well-Known Member
the floor in a shipping container is not 1/8" steel.....the floor in a shipping container is thick & reinforced to hold weight everywhere. the roof isn't. if you just start putting dirt on a shipping container roof it will collapse. if you flip it over you can put 6'of dirt on it and then park the tractor on top.
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
GreenHighlander said:
I have no idea where you found that. But I can say after many years in local 269 of the international longshoresman's association The metal shell is the exact same thickness on the floor as it is the roof. The floor has cross beams for support, the roof doesn't. Physics also tells us flipping it upside down does not change its structural integrity. That is why they are lifted as much from their top corners as they are with the front holes along the bottom.
Cheers :)[/QUOTE yup those r the ones I no.bought an sold many used to sandblast for resale nasty lead paint
Click to expand...
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
doublejj said:
the floor in a shipping container is not 1/8" steel.....the floor in a shipping container is thick & reinforced to hold weight everywhere. the roof isn't. if you just start putting dirt on a shipping container roof it will collapse. if you flip it over you can put 6'of dirt on it and then park the tractor on top.
Click to expand...
the ones I know stack 6 high.maybe something different?
 
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