Local Economy of Shipping Containers in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is an inland shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Cincinnati is geographically centrally located in the MidWest and its extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Cincinnati a main hub for container shipping in the USA. The Conex Depot Cincinnati container storage facility is located at ZIP 45069

Popular Shipping Containers Uses in Cincinnati

Buy Shipping Containers in Cincinnati. Buy a shipping container from Conex Depot, with all different sizes of both new and used cargo containers for sale. Conex Depot sells to both individuals and to businesses in the greater Cincinnati region and in 38 cities all over the USA . It’s easy to contact us and buy a used shipping container direct from Conex Depot in Cincinnati. You can save money and time shopping around by talking to one of our Conex Depot service representatives online.

Cincinnati shipping container projects and shipping container related businesses

Shipping container movie theatre. A property developer in Cincinnati has an idea to convert used shipping containers into outdoor movie theatre in the Northside area. The space at 1662 Hoffner Street has been developed into a recreational space for the local community with main building offering some office spaces, an art gallery and rooms for evening classes. The cargo container building-courtyard combo cargo containers for sale will host art exhibitions and an outdoor movie theatre screen. The outdoor theatre is constructed out of two steel used Conex containers stacked on top of each other. Film buffs can watch the will be able to watch the outdoor theatre on the 5,000 square feet of grass in the courtyard.

Cincinnati Shipping container home developments, Shipping container apartments and Tiny homes in Cincinnati.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities to come up with affordable housing solutions. The organization has built a shipping container home prototype and hopes that the first prototype might be and answer to the question of how to provide affordable housing for Cincinnati residents. The tiny home is constructed out of a repurposed 40-foot cargo container. The shipping container home measures a cozy 320 square feet with 8 foot ceilings. The sea container living units has the advantages of the lower cost, adaptability for different uses and easy transportability to a waiting lot. The community has been invited to take a tour of the shipping container home in hopes to generate more support for the project. The idea is that the sea container homes can be used for single person apartment, student housing and may even appeal to the “empty nester” demographic who no longer need all of the space of a regular house. Habitat for Humanity says it is trying to make the mortgage on the container home about $100 a month with electric costs running around $20 a month.

Cincinnati Railroad Conex container shipping routes

Four main railroads the support the intermodal container shipping traffic and serve the industries in the greater Cincinnati area: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, Short line Rail America(Indiana & Ohio). More than 175 miles of mainline track serve local industry, moving 2 million rail cars per year.

The Port of Cincinnati

The Port of Cincinnati is situated beside the waterways of the Ohio River and Licking River. The ports of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are part of a regional port association re-designated by the state of Ohio to cover 226.5 miles of the river boundary stretching from the Louisville area to the Huntington, West Virginia, region. The ports support more than 70 active terminals and moves and estimated 48 million tons of cargo annually.

Cincinnati main export businesses that use shipping containers

Cincinnati import and exports. The top six categories of commodities that are transported in Conx boxes are – machinery, vehicles, aircraft, electrical machinery, plastics and optics — together accounted for about 60 percent of the state’s exports with a combined value that topped $31 billion, a report from the Ohio Development Services Agency. Top exports for the state of Ohio: Aircraft including engines, parts: US$5.9 billion (11.1% of Ohio’s total exports), Soya beans: $1.7 billion (3.2%), Mid-sized automobiles (piston engine): $1.6 billion (3%), Large automobiles (piston engine): $1.5 billion (2.8%), Motor vehicle body parts, accessories: $1.06 billion (2%), Large spark-ignition engines: $1.03 billion (1.9%), Small automobiles (piston engine): $864 million (1.6%), Digital processing units (individual components): $664 million (1.3%), Small portable digital computers: $658 million (1.2%), Cigarettes: $551 million (1%). Many of Cincinnati’s largest companies employ shipping containers in their business. Several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Cincinnati, such as Procter & Gamble, The Kroger Company, and Macy’s, Inc.. General Electric has headquartered their Global Operations[55] Center in Cincinnati. The Kroger Company employs 21,646 people locally, making it the largest employer in the city. Other large companies headquartered in Cincinnati: Watson’s, P&G, Gillette, KRLP

Cincinnati shipping container storage and Shipping container site offices. Cincinnati shipping container storage and container office. Home and business owners can buy their own Repurposed Shipping Containers in Cincinnati for use as temporary offices. Mobile shipping container offices are used for multiple different needs: Most larger construction developments require a temporary construction office – an ideal use for a repurposed shipping container. The movable container box office provides a convenient place to have construction crew meetings and storage space for files and plans needed on-site. Break Rooms and Cafeteria: A container office may also be used as a break or lunch room for workers who need shelter from the weather. Special Events: Mobile office containers can be employed for special events and get-togethers that are held in parks or parking lots. Event managers need a dry, secure space to run and organize the event in a temporary operations center. Businesses sometimes need temporary space for operations while having work done on your building that has adequate security for business assets and property. During a renovation when your business needs to temporarily hold items to be transported later or thrown away at a later time.

Using Cargo storage containers for self storage in Cincinnati

A very popular use for various sizes of steel shipping containers in Cincinnati is self storage.
Consumers usually either buy a used shipping container or rent one from a Cincinnati shipping container seller and store it on their property or rent a space to park the storage container. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Cincinnati area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size of shipping container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Cincinnati. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.

Atlanta is an inland shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Atlanta is geographically located in the Southeast USA and its extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Atlanta a hub for container shipping in the USA. The Conex Depot Atlanta container storage facility is located at ZIP 30315 South of the 42 and South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights.

Atlanta Shipping Container Construction Projects:

“Plug-In-Pods” – Atlanta affordable housing project made out of cargo containers Shipping containers offer affordable housing, entrepreneurial space alternative. An Atlanta-based, nonprofit named ReJuve, recently launched “Plug-In-Pods”, steel shipping containers repurposed as affordable housing and business spaces in low-income communities. Plug-In-Pods started as a crowdfunding campaign to build a prototype, eventually resulting in a contract in the 31-acre Pittsburgh Yards development located in the Southside BeltLine corridor.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation engaged ReJuve to create two Plug-In-Pods container buildings for the mixed-use Pittsburgh Yards project located in Southwest Atlanta. The 2 pods are designated for storage and the other is set to be an office space. An outdoor community meeting space is set for courtyard between the two pods.

Building contractors see shipping container buildings as an attractive option as a site can be quickly activated with the pods, immediately start to generate income and remains easily movable if needed to make way for future development. Some estimates say that a space may be built in half the time and half the cost of construction of a conventional building.

Atlanta Shipping Container Restaurants:

Food and restaurant guide book Zagat reports that new restaurants in Atlanta are looking at converting shipping containers into food and beverage vendors. The reduced cost compared to building a new bricks and mortar space being one of the biggest benefits of building with repurposed Conex containers. In 2014, Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand opened its second location, on Marietta Street in which the entire second floor is built from a Conex container.

An Atlanta based barbecue restaurant named Fox Bros. Bar-B-Que opened the humorously named “Que-Osk” situated in the Armour Yards complex, close to the Fox’s catering operation. Opened in 2015, shipping container bar 8Arm is a unique and cool place to cargo containers for sale enjoy a drink. The owners renovated a used cargo container and created a bar serving alcoholic beverages. Cost was the number one reason why the owners of 8Arm decided to build a business in the shipping container, with ease of relocation being another key benefit. “I wanted something that I can take with us should the restaurant should ever close” an owner explained.

Shipping Container Home Developments and Tiny Homes in Atlanta:

The Atlanta area is an ideal location for shipping container homes due to the fact that it has a mild climate. The local conditions require that houses be cool in the summer with adequate insulation during the cooler winter months. Because empty Conex boxes are easily transportable, a shipping container home may be deployed even in more remote, rural locations with the convenience of a fully functional home – either for urban or rural living. Another advantage of Conex container homes is that (unlike in conventional home building) the renovation and conversion of the Conex box to a home may be done in an urban location and then transported to where it will reside. Alternately, the containers can be customized in an industrial area and then have them relocated in ready to live in condition to the housing lot in the city.

One Atlanta resident saw old shipping containers converted into homes and was inspired to build his own dream home. “Because it’s such a transportation hub, there are several places to find used sea containers around Atlanta” said Glen Donaldson. Donaldson found an affordable lot in an area zoned to permit modern houses, he then found the architect who could design using a sea container and set about designing the home he envisioned. Buying the shipping containers was the easy part of the project as there are numerous places to buy a shipping container in Atlanta. A three-story townhome with a drive-under garage was constructed out of 6 high-cube containers, with a height of 9.6 feet, allowing for rooms with more spacious high ceilings compared to the standard 8.6 foot containers.

The State of Georgia Department of Transportation in their Statewide Freight & Logistics Action Plan 2010-2050, organized state of Georgia’s highway network into corridor categories. The priority freight is transported on the Interstate System and is separated into seven corridors.

Most of these corridors intersect within the City of Atlanta: Savannah-to-Atlanta Corridor, Atlanta-to-Tennessee Corridor Gateway to the Midwest, Atlanta-to-South Carolina Corridor Gateway to the Mid Atlantic and Midwest, Macon-to-Florida Corridor Connection and the Atlanta-to-Alabama Corridor.
Atlanta railroads Statistics on Shipping Container movement according to the ACCG figures in 2012 – Number of railroads: 23 (U.S. rank: 13th), Miles of railroad: 4,700 (U.S. rank: 7th), Tons carried by rail: 196.5 million (U.S. rank: 15th). There are major rail yards in Atlanta, East Savannah, Waycross and Intermodal terminals in Atlanta, Savannah and Fairburn. Atlanta’s main export businesses that utilize shipping containers Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Air Transportation, Merchant Wholesalers and non-durable Goods. The top ranking countries for Atlanta exports are: Brazil, China and Mexico.

Georgia ranks among America’s 15 biggest exporters by state behind front- runners including Texas, California, New York and Washington states.Georgia global shipments during 2019 included a diverse range of products including: aviation equipment, gas turbine parts, chemical wood pulp, mid-sized automobiles, kraftliner paper, frozen poultry, natural gas, cotton, modems and other transmission devices.Many of the largest companies in Atlanta utilize cargo shipping containers as part of their operations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Cox Enterprises, Georgia-Pacific, NCR Corporation and The Home Depot.

Atlanta Shipping Container Storage:

A very popular use for various sizes of steel shipping containers in Atlanta is residential, commercial and industrial self-storage. Consumers have the choice of buying a new or used shipping container for their storage needs, since long term rental costs are more expensive over time. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Atlanta area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size and grade of Conex container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Atlanta. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.

Boston, Massachusetts is a located in America’s northeastern region New England and is a coastal deep water port and shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Boston’s extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Boston a hub for container shipping in the USA. Conex Depot stock shipping containers at two Boston storage facilities. The main depot is located at Mansfield at zip code 02048. The second is off the 122A in Worcester, MA.

Boston Shipping Container Construction Projects

The Boston and Providence based architecture and construction firm Stack + Co deals with custom designed cargo container projects that make us cargo containers for sale rethink how used Conex containers may be repurposed. Intermodal containers are used to create prefabricated manufactured workspaces, which are renovated offsite and then transported onsite for easy assembly and use.

Sweet & Salty Farm – a 3,000 square-foot farm put together of three different container systems with two large pieces. The modular container spaces are home to a milking parlor for the dairy cows and the special cheese making space. The black barn features high temperature control areas that control the heating and cooling required for the ‘cheese cave’ – a cheese aging room and walk-in freezer to store the product.

The Warp House is what the developers named the 1,800 square-foot sized container home in a rural area of Wellfleet on Cape Cod. Warp House is comprised of three separate pieces which were initially renovated off site and transported on a truck to the site where a crane maneuvered them in place before finally assembly.

The Box Office, a fifteen thousand square-foot commercial building built using used shipping containers has been cleverly named The Box Office. This shipping container office is constructed of sea containers that were modified offsite and placed at the project site in the short time of just three days. The Box Office in Providence and was the first multi-story shipping container building in the United States.

The Port of Boston has come a long way since the Boston Tea Party incident in 1773, when group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded 3 British ships carrying tea and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The Port of Boston is now the largest seaport in Massachusetts and is located in Boston Harbor, adjacent to the City of Boston. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates the port, which includes a major container shipping facility in South Boston, and Logan International Airport, in East Boston. The Port, situated on the Mystic River, along the city of Everett waterfront is well equipped to handle bulk cargo, petroleum, and LNG shipment and storage. At present, the principal cargo handling facilities are located in the Boston areas of Charlestown, East Boston, and South Boston, and in the neighboring city of Everett. In 2011, the port handled over 11.5 million metric tons of cargo, including 192,000 container TEUs. Other major forms of cargo processed at the port include petroleum, liquefied natural gas (LNG), automobiles, cement, gypsum, and salt.

Major shipping container terminals at the Port of Boston:

The Conley Terminal is the container facility for the Port of Boston. Conley Terminal is notable for being capable of handling Panamax and post-Panamax container ships.

Boston Railroad Conex Intermodal Shipping Routes:

CSX is the only class I railroad serving the Boston area, reached by the Boston Subdivision line to Springfield, and by trackage rights over the Northeast Corridor. CSX also has trackage rights over much of the southern half of the MBTA’s commuter rail network. The other significant shipping container freight railroad in the Boston area is Pan Am Railways (PAR; formerly known as the Guilford Rail System).

Boston Shipping Container Exports

The top 10 exports from Massachusetts are: Gold, Medical/dental/veterinarian instruments, natural gas, machinery for making semi-conductors,liquid filters, purification machines, aircraft including engines and parts, integrated circuits, non-pharmaceutical composite diagnostic/lab reagents, electro-diagnostic equipment and radar apparatus. Many of Boston’s largest companies employ shipping containers in their business. These include General Electric, TJX Companies, National Amusements, The Enterprise, Stop & Shop, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raytheon and Staples.

Boston Shipping Container Restaurants

Eater.com reports that Boston shipping container restaurants are set to open in Boston’s Seaport District. The Innovation and Design Building is located between 19 and 25 Drydock Ave and will host eight small businesses operating out of customized Conex containers. Each restaurant is responsible for the final set up and for customizing their own spaces.The small businesses include shipping container restaurants such as: Triangle Coffee, Jubali, Mei Mei, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, and Yankee Lobster. The use of recycled shipping containers fit the philosophy and sustainability project by having a minimal environmental footprint. In addition to the food services the complex will also house Cut-Splice – a hair salon, a hardware supply and general store named Drydock Exchange and Niche Urban Garden Supply.

Boston Shipping Container Self-Storage

Buying a new or used shipping container is an ideal storage solution for both individuals and businesses in Boston. Various sizes and grades of steel shipping containers are on hand in Boston and available for immediate delivery. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Boston area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size of shipping container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Boston. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping 40 high cube container for sale they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and conex box for sale planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo containers for sale service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.

Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.

If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a conex box for sale water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo containers for sale service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo containers for sale service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?

You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

Annual inspection of your storage container

Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a conex box for sale factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

Preventative Maintenance is key 

To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture

Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?

The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.

When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?

There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container

Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.

Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.

Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape

Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.

Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.

Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust

Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

What causes shipping containers to rust?

Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

Two different types of shipping container rust

The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.

This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.

Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :

“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

How to treat early signs of rust

Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.

How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.

Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.

Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?

There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

Choosing the correct paint for your shipping container

The type of paint you decide on for your container will depend on how you intend to use it.

1) A water based paint (that is better for the environment with lower VOC levels). With proper preparation and application, water based paints can be equal or better at inhibiting rust – compared to the traditional oil-based paints.

2) Industrial grade alkyd enamel paints are reasonably inexpensive and easy for non-professionals to work with.

You can expect your alkyd enamel finish to last between five to ten years.

3} Polyurethane paint is a heavy duty paint seen in industrial use. It’s important to be aware that the chemicals in the paint can be more hazardous to use. Since there specific procedures for the mixing and application of polyurethane paint, you may wish to seek the services of a professional to apply this type of paint.

4) Zinc paint. Using an application of zinc-based paint will slow the onset of shipping container rust effectively. By a process know as ‘cathodic protection’ – the zinc in the paint slows the rate of rusting of the underlying steel.

Sandblasting the entire exterior of the container is not recommended for most cases. Sandblasting an entire container is a costly process as you need to engage a professional who has the equipment and the sandblasting will completely remove a lot of great protection provided by the original high quality marine grade paint. Since a home paint job is not going to offer the same level of rust protection as the original paint, the wise course of action is to prime and paint over the original marine paint.

Position the container on a level foundation

The easiest step you can take to protect against the effects of water and rust is to position your shipping container on level ground – as opposed to a low lying depression where rain water will collect.
If puddles of water accumulate under or around the container, the conditions are there for rust to rapidly develop. If your container is set directly on the ground, the bottom is in contact with ground moisture and more likely to rust.

First, select a location that is on raised and level ground. Builders recommend setting your Conex container up on a basic foundation using a simple foundation of concrete blocks or railroad ties – which will also have the added benefit of improving air circulation under the container..

A common problem area to look out for is the bottom of the container doors as water tends to collect in that area.

Maintain container door hinges and gaskets

While shipping containers are simple structures with few moving parts, we do need to perform some maintenance on the doors.

The easiest and most obvious is to lubricate the container door hinges. Metal hinges can seize up after a long period of disuse. Applying an all purpose lubricant like WD40 or 3in1 oil when you do a container check, will keep the hinges from rusting and getting bound up and doors working smoothly.

Replace worn rubber seals on doors.

Shipping containers are engineered to be a watertight sealed environment and the metal doors utilize rubber gasket type of seals.

The rubber generally have a life span of close to 10 years before cracking, degrading and losing their ability to rightly seal the door against moisture. In the case of badly degraded seals, you can replace them with a container door gasket kit available online.

By paying attention to these tips, you can ensure your shipping container storage unit protects your items for many years.