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When you need more space, the instinct is usually to build an extension. However, for most of us, the cost and upheaval that comes with a project of that scale isn’t always practical; especially when you really just need an extra office or workshop space.
The good thing about converting a shipping container is that you already have a strong, secure structure that can be adapted to meet a huge range of space requirements. At Upminster Containers we can also add windows and doors, fit insulation and install electrics, as well as work on the interior to turn what was originally built for transporting goods into a comfortable, practical space.
Over the years we’ve seen plenty of shipping container conversion ideas come to life, including some really ambitious ones! If you’re thinking about creating some extra space and wondering what you could realistically build, we’ve put together some of the options that work particularly well for UK homes and businesses, with a few pointers on what you’ll need to think about before getting started.
By using a shipping container, the main structure of your new room is already there, which means that rather than building from scratch we can concentrate on adapting the container to suit your needs. For businesses in particular that can be a much more practical option when you need additional space on-site as opposed to investing in a major building project.
It’s important to note that you’re not restricted to simply putting a door and a couple of windows into an empty container either. We can add insulation and electrics, shelving units, change access points or even alter the internal layout to make better use of the available space. If one container isn’t going to give you enough room, units can also be joined or stacked to create something modular and more bespoke.
Converted shipping containers come into their own for businesses because we can work with you to create something that’s entirely unique.
Shipping Container Office Conversion
A shipping container office conversion can be as straightforward or as intricate as you need it to be. For a small site office, that might mean lining and insulating the container, adding windows and fitting the electrical points that you need for desks and everyday equipment. If several people will be working inside, we can also look at the layout before the conversion starts so that your team isn’t on top of each other every day.
We’d always recommend thinking beyond simply fitting everything into the container. Where will people enter? How much natural light do you prefer? Where do sockets need to be so that you aren’t running extension leads across the floor? Sorting those details early makes a big difference once the office is being used every day.
Workshops and Maintenance Units
Workshops are a good example of how much you can do with what looks like a fairly simple container. We recently converted a 20ft unit into a working workshop, with insulation and ply lining added inside, along with installed lighting. The result was a secure workspace that could be comfortably used throughout the year.
Food and Serving Units
We’ve also converted a 20ft container into a serving unit for a local fast-food business. That project needed gas strut-operated serving hatches and fold-down ledges with a secure pedestrian door fitted for staff access. We lined the interior with fire-rated plywood and finished the outside in a bright red, so there was very little left to suggest that it had started life as a standard shipping container.
Specialist Business Spaces
Sometimes we get requests that go well beyond the usual office or workshop. One of the more unusual shipping container conversions we’ve worked on was a laboratory for Oxitec, which was being used as part of its work to combat malaria. The container was lined and insulated before being fitted with laboratory work counters and sinks, creating a purpose-built space for the research team.
Some years ago, we also converted a container for Sir Ranulph Fiennes’s journey across the Antarctic ‘The Coldest Journey’. The expedition required 200 tonnes of equipment and a science lab, all of which lived inside converted shipping containers for the six-month journey.
The ideas really are endless for shipping container conversions. As a guide, here are just a few of the other previous projects that we’ve worked on over the years:
If you have a particular use in mind, the starting point for your new workspace is to plan out what needs to happen inside the space, then looking at how the container can be adapted to make that possible.
You don’t need to run a business to make good use of a converted container. We get plenty of enquiries from people who simply need more usable space at home and have room in the garden to put it.
Create a Shipping Container Garden Office
Garden offices are an obvious choice now that working from home is on the table for so many more people. However, if you’re going to spend several hours a day in there, it needs to feel like a proper workspace rather than a storage container with a desk dropped into it.
Insulation is particularly important if you want to use the office throughout the year, and we’d also suggest thinking carefully about where to position windows for natural light.
Build Your Own Home Gym
A container is a surprisingly good starting point for a home gym because you have an open space that can be fitted around your equipment. Whether you simply need a treadmill in its own dedicated space to train, or several pieces of equipment for daily-use; a shipping container is a great solution.
Don’t forget to consider ventilation though! Along with suitable flooring and lighting, getting enough airflow into the container will make a big difference when you’re actually sweating through a workout in it.
Make Space for Your Hobbies
We all know how quickly a hobby can spread into every corner of a home. A converted container gives you somewhere that can be set up properly and, importantly, left that way when you’ve finished for the day.
For a DIY workshop, you might want plenty of work surface and secure storage. Whereas an art or craft space is more likely to benefit from natural light and a cosy internal finish.
Add a Bespoke Garden Room
If you’re looking for somewhere to relax rather than work, we can also turn a shipping container into a comfortable garden room. This tends to involve making bigger changes to the appearance of the original unit, particularly if you want larger windows or glazed doors to open the space up to the garden.
If you’ve got an idea for a converted shipping container, you don’t need to have every detail worked out before you speak to us. We’ve had projects start with nothing more than rough sketches and conversations about what somebody needs the space to do.
From there, our team can put together layouts and visualisations that show you how the conversion could work before anything goes into production. Once you’re happy with the final drawing, we’ll schedule the assembly and take care of building and fitting out your container ready for delivery.
If you’ve got a shipping container conversion idea that you’d like to explore, get in touch with Upminster Containers and tell us what you have in mind. We’ll always help you work out the best way to build it.
