Do Container Homes Rust? Yes, container homes can rust, but this rusting is not necessarily a problem. In the same way, as with any other construction materials and designs, container homes need regular inspection, maintenance, and repairs. Look after your container home, and there’s no reason why it won’t last for decades.
However, the fact that they can rust is only part of the story. Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of shipping container home rust.
Shipping containers are made of steel, a combination of iron, carbon, chromium, and a few other elements smelted together to form a robust and weather-resistant metal. Steel comes in many forms and strengths, depending on the additives mixed with the iron.
The steel used for shipping containers is Corten steel. Corten is a combination of CORossion resistant and high TENstile strength. When exposed to the elements unpainted, Corten steel develops a thin, protective outer layer of rust which prevents deeper corrosion.
When shipping containers are made, the outside is painted to prevent any rust. However, if the paint chips, cracks, or flakes and the steel underneath is exposed, the Corten steel causes a small, localized area of rust, much like a scab, and prevents the corrosion from spreading or eating more deeply into the steel.
Typically, there are two kinds of rust in container homes. Chemically they are the same; the difference is in the location of the rust and what it means for your container home.
Structural rust is the more severe issue of the two. In structural container home rust, corrosion has begun to eat into either the floor supports, the side rails of the walls, or both.
The containers’ floors are especially prone to rust as they may have sat in water during their sea journey. When you are in the process of choosing a container in which to build a home, be sure to thoroughly inspect the underside and the floor supports for any signs of rust.
Significant structural rust can be a safety hazard, leaving your container home unsafe. It can also require extensive and expensive repairs, sometimes over and above the worth of the complete container home.
Non-structural rust can be more easily dealt with. Rust in areas that are not structurally significant can be either treated or removed and patched, depending on the extent of the damage.
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