Shipping Container Home Foundations 101

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Along with the appropriate insulation, making sure you use the correct foundation for your
shipping container home is crucial for a successful build.

We discussed How to Build Your Shipping Container Home the Right Way previously. Since
this new article is a continuation of that discussion, if you have not done so already, you
may want to take the time to read the other article before you continue here.

Do I Need A Foundation For My Shipping Containers?

In short, you will always need a foundation for your shipping container home. This is
because the ground moves a considerable amount. The ground can rise, sink or slide. This
movement can be sporadic and is usually very slow. Even though it is often barely
noticeable, this slight movement can affect how level your home is.

A foundation provides a solid, stable platform for your building. Without this solid platform,
the ground’s natural movement can cause the containers to split and separate.

The ground underneath your building can also be comprised of different materials. For
example, part of the ground could be hard rock and the other part soft clay. This creates an
unevenness which can allow your home to shift since the load isn’t equally distributed. One
result could be having doors that are incredibly difficult to open and close.

A solid, well built, foundation will ensure the weight is appropriately distributed. It will also
help prevent moisture and the corrosion that occurs as a result of this moisture.
Note that if the shipping container home will be relocated within a few months, it is
sufficient to use railroad ties for this short time frame.

Types of Shipping Container Home Foundations

The four main foundation types which can be used with container homes are pier, pile, slab
and strip.  There are other types of foundations but these are the most commonly used with
container homes.

We will outline when you should use each one and discuss the strengths and weaknesses
for each.

Pier Foundation

Pier foundations are the most popular choice for shipping container homes for numerous
reasons. They are relatively inexpensive, DIY friendly, and quick to construct.

C
ourtesy of Larry Wade

As seen in the photo above, a pier foundation is comprised of concrete blocks. Each
concrete block, or pier, is generally 50 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm and containers reinforcing steel
inside to improve the concretes strength in tension.
With shipping container homes, the concrete piers are generally laid at each corner of the
container. And, with the with larger 40-foot containers, an additional two piers can be placed
midway down each side of the container.

You save a lot of time and money with pier foundations because you don’t need to excavate
a lot of earth at all. You only need to excavate the ground for the piers, which are generally
50 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm.

Compare this to a slab foundation where you will need to excavate basically the entire area
under the container.

Another great reason to use a pier foundation is that other foundations, such as pile
foundations, require expensive specialized equipment which can obviously be difficult for
DIY builders.

Courtesy of Larry Wade

This is by far the most popular shipping container foundation and is the one we recommend
for most people.

Pile Foundations

Pile foundations are used when the soil type is too weak to support a concrete base. This
type is the most expensive type of foundation covered here.

If you remember, pile foundations were used in the Graceville Container Home Case Study.

Piles (cylindrical solid steel tubes) are hammered into the ground through the soft soil until
the piles reach more suitable load-bearing ground.
Example of Pile Foundations

Once the piles are secured in place they are traditionally capped with a block of concrete.
So once you have secured all your piles you end up with a grid system of concrete caps
which above ground look visually similar to concrete piers.

Pile foundations are not recommended for a DIY builder. A contractor would be needed to
install pile foundations due to the specialized equipment needed, such as the pile driver.

Slab Foundation

A slab foundation is a popular choice when the ground is soft and requires an equal weight
distribution. However, it is more time-consuming and more expensive to build than a pier
foundation. If you are going to use a slab foundation, be prepared to dig a lot!

As shown in the photo above, a slab foundation is a concrete slab onto which your
containers are placed. The slab foundation is generally slightly larger than the footprint of
your home.
If you are building with two 40-foot shipping containers, your slab foundation would
typically be 18 feet wide by 42 feet long. This would provide an overhanging foot of
foundation around the perimeter of your shipping containers.

A huge benefit of slab foundations is that because it provides a solid base, there is no
hollow space in the foundation. This prevents future problems such as termite infestations.

Unfortunately though, because of the additional concrete used and the vast amount of
space which needs to be excavated, slab foundations are significantly more expensive than
pier foundations.

We often see slab foundations used in warmer climates where freezing isn’t a concern.
However, they do increase the potential for heat loss when ground temperatures drop below
the interior temperature because the container can conduct heat into the ground,
which transfers more heat than via convection into the air.

Note that with slab foundations, once the concrete has set, there is a lack of access to
utility lines. If you have a leak in your water pipe, the concrete will have to be cut to access
the pipe. With a pier foundation, you will always have access to your utility lines.

Strip Foundation

A strip foundation (also known as a trench foundation) is somewhat of a combination of the

previously mentioned pier and slab foundation.

The strip foundation, shown below, is simply a strip of concrete which is laid to support the
containers. The concrete strip is normally 1-2 feet wide and 4 feet deep.
The strip can either go around the perimeter of the containers or it can be laid at the top and
bottom of the containers instead.

It is ideal to use when you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the slab foundation but
have slightly less firm ground to lay the foundation on.

For locations where the ground stays damp much of the time because of large amounts of
rain, a rubble strip foundation using loose stone below the concrete strip can be used. This
stone allows the water to run through and drain away.

Like all the foundation types mentioned, strip foundations also have their weaknesses. For
instance, strip foundations have low resistance to earthquakes. Also, due to their shallow
form, strip foundations are best suited for small and medium-sized builds.

How to Attach Shipping Containers to Foundations

The most popular way to attach containers to the foundation pad is through a steel plate.
The cast in place option involves pressing a steel plate with welded anchors underneath
into the wet concrete. You could also epoxy the anchors into the concrete after it is set.
While mechanical anchors could be used as well, these are typically less strong and not
recommended.

Either way, you’re looking for a flat, level concrete plate to coincide with each container’s
four corner fittings. Once the concrete has cured, the shipping containers are placed on the
steel plates and everything can be welded together.

Some people choose to just place the containers onto the foundations, where they are just
held in place by their massive weight. In most cases, this is probably fine, but you should
know that floods and tornados can move a loose container!

The Strength of Concrete to Use for Your Foundation

If you chose to use either a concrete pier or slab foundation, this section is extremely
relevant for you.

Once people have decided to use a concrete foundation, their next question is normally
about what strength of concrete to use.
The strength of concrete you need to use for your foundation will be primarily decided by
the geo-technical engineer’s report.

The concrete strength will be referred to as a C value. C15 concrete, a general all-purpose
concrete, is made by using 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, and 5 parts gravel. The higher
proportion of cement used, the stronger the concrete. For instance, C30 is very strong
concrete made up of 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 3 parts gravel.

Example of Concrete Pier Foundation

If you are mixing small quantities, then you can either do this by hand or by using a cement
mixer. For anything more than 1 cubic meter, consider having the concrete delivered directly
to your site, ready to use.

Note that, if you are mixing the concrete yourself, make sure you thoroughly mix all the
elements together properly, otherwise the strength of the concrete is greatly reduced.

To determine how much concrete you need, just calculate the cubic meters of your
foundation. Multiply the width by the height by the depth.
For example, to calculate how much concrete is needed for a 10-foot wide, 22-foot long, 2-
foot deep slab foundation, multiply 10 x 22 x 2. The amount of concrete to be ordered would
be 440 cubic feet.

Once the cement is mixed with water, it will start to cure. Ensure the concrete cures
properly, since this improves its strength and durability. The concrete only cures properly if
the concrete’s temperature is kept within a suitable range (refer to the manufacturer’s
packaging).

It typically takes from 5-7 days for the concrete to cure. During this time it needs to be kept
moist.

Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

If you are laying concrete in hot weather, it’s crucial you prepare your site correctly before
pouring the concrete. Place temporary sun shades up to block any direct sunlight onto the
concrete. Also, before you lay the concrete you should spray the ground with cold water.
While you are mixing the concrete, make sure you use cold water.

Another good idea is to pour the concrete either later in the evening or first thing in the
morning to avoid peak temperatures.

Pouring Concrete in Cold Weather

Like pouring concrete in hot weather, special measures need to be taken when pouring
concrete during cold weather.

Cold weather is classed as the average temperature being below freezing for more than
three consecutive days.

Before you pour the concrete, make sure any snow or ice has been cleaned from the base
and forms. Remove any standing water. Once you have laid your concrete, cover it with
insulating blankets right away. Use the blankets for 3-7 days while the concrete is curing.
After the concrete has cured, remove the blankets gradually, so the concrete doesn’t crack
due to quick temperature change.
Summary

Now you’re clear on why you need a foundation in the first place, and how to select the
proper one for your build.  We made our selection of foundation types based on those that
are most commonly used and the most DIY friendly, since many of you reading this
article are self-builders!

You should also understand how to mix the cement for this type of foundation. Make sure
you pay special attention to the advice regarding how to lay in extremely hot and cold
climates as this can make or break your container’s foundation.

The next step now is getting your containers delivered and installed on your foundation.

Let us know below what foundation choices you’ve made.