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A few years ago, I started a thread on the possibility of using either an old coach or a shipping container as office, and it started a really helpful discussion. I have just spent the last half hour search for it among my old posts and can't find it anywhere, so forgive me. Here I go again.
I am once again returning to the idea of buying and using an old coach, a shipping container, an old railway coach, or a wooden 'cabin' as an office and small social space. It would be located on disused land on the outskirts of the city.
I seem to remember people on here saying 'don't do it' for a number of reasons, but it was so long ago that I can't remember what they were.
So, I am wondering once what the hazards of the idea might be. Of the four possibilities I have mentioned, which would be the best (or least bad) and why? I mean, if I can get an old double-decker for between five and ten thousand pounds, is there a reason it would not work (setting aside questions about planning/utilities/etc.)?
old railway coach
Great Idea but wouldn't it require a railway line ?
It would be located on disused land on the outskirts of the city.
Just remember to factor in the cost of a security guard to stop the yooves from robbing and pillaging your stuff.
Older seacans had pretty heinous preservatives in the flooring. You can pull the chemicals used off the i.d. plate (see Google).
I wouldn't bother with a seacan unless it was a "new" 1 trip unit to both avoid the carcinogens and other sea/age damage.
There are a few different insulation options that are much more user friendly (insofast eps foam for example) that spray foam
Security aside, I'd think a prefab shed (home office style) would be more cost effective in the long term.
I always wanted to do a container office garden, sort of cut the side off and put patio doors in.
The problem is they are constructed for a specific purpose and once you start carving them about you have to reinforce and rebuild them, which is fine if your doing the work and have got the container for a good price and it’s in good condition but could get pricey if your paying some one else.
Theres also the issue with insulation as they are empty tin cans so you do that inside or out.
I think you could easily end up paying more fighting the compromises of a shipping container as opposed to building something from scratch.
I think they’ve became trendy YouTube fodder, like repairing exotic writeoffs with once y-out add parts and labour the cost could be more than just buying an unbroken one 🙂
Would an old caravan not be better, cheaper, warmer, better equipped and easier to move?
I think there are shipping container conversion kits on ebay. They might be a source of inspiration.
You can pick up new, lined containers for the price of a garden office. My sister has over 100 now that they rent out for self-storage - nice earner that if you have spare land!
Plenty of people turn them into offices so there must be loads of resources online, they're strong things and if you're not planning on moving it about after, I expect the structure can take a set of patio doors and a window or two.
The issue you'll have is that when you do that, the security reduces.
Might want to consider air conditioning for the summer too.
The coach route is more quirky but I reckon it'd end up costing you a lot more in the long run, train carriage would incur massive costs just to get it to site wouldn't it?
Why not investigate site welfare huts, many of these are based on TEU boxes, some are just a basic open room, others have a toilet/shower and power generation included.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think it would be an insanely bad idea to dump something on 'disused land on the outskirts of the city'? If it isn't your land, you have no right to be dumping stuff there and I am sure you would be falling foul of all sorts or laws, as well as leaving yourself open for negligence claims if, for example, someone was to hurt themselves inside your illegally dumped shipping container.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think it would be an insanely bad idea to dump something on 'disused land on the outskirts of the city'? If it isn't your land, you have no right to be dumping stuff there and I am sure you would be falling foul of all sorts or laws, as well as leaving yourself open for negligence claims if, for example, someone was to hurt themselves inside your illegally dumped shipping container.
@johndoh, It depends if you have permission from the land owner.
I guess so – from the way the OP was written, I had assumed they hadn't got permission, they'd just found some land.
My neighbour has a converted 20ft container that he uses as his home office and gym - it is fully glazed on one end and overlooks the Sound of Mull. He also has a decking area with steps and ballustrade on top.
Edge of town >> is it going to get messed about with or vandalised?
Budget >> Do you have the time/skills for a DIY (off grid job) or cash to burn?
Use of space >> What do you hope to use the space for?
Friends bought a double decker that had been a event/tour bus .
They wanted to keep it as a mobile /driver to make it easier to use on their location.
It ate up a huge amount of cash,they sold it (at a loss)