Skip to content

Notes

Jump to bottom
Patrick Connolly edited this page Jan 13, 2017 · 14 revisions
  • Visioning first.
    • Things that might be worth discussing: *
  • Dimensions: 20-foot, 40-foot, with 8-foot ceilings. high-cube = 10ft
  • Possible hazards
    • pesticide flooring [1]

      • new containers can be requested without

      • used containers often have it

      • lots of different chemicals:

        chemical name notes active ingredient vapor pressure (mmHg @ 20°C)
        Meganium 2000 ST Chlorfenapyr .0000001
        Basileum SI-84 Phoxim 2.63
        Radaleum FHP-60 theta-Cypermethrin 0.0013
        Tailileum 400 Imidacloprid .0000001

      • concerns are both contact and vapour pressure, which dictates how much off-gassing happens

      • lower vapour pressure is better

      • can choose to re-floor, and should do with marine grade plywood, which is more expensive. it has thinner layers of wood pressed together between sealant, so prevents rot better

      • vapour pressure can be dealt with via epoxy sealing (explain specifics)

      • there is a panel on the outer doors with specs: one of which is "timber floor treatment" (see other section)

      • if not, can call orginating company (see other section)

    • harsh chemical paints
      • need to call company and ask about paint type (see other section)
  • How to find out container details:
    • spec plate: plate welded to outside of doors (how to read?)
    • container code
    • Calling company to ask
  • ways to get space:
    • story: doing home renovations or more general construction nearby, and need place to store units
    • cold call: malls, vacant lots
      • find any phone number on the lots (fencing, trucks, etc) and work backwards to property owner.
      • might need to go through several layers of people
      • get details on timeline
    • be clear about how many containers will be on-site
    • can get free space
      • developers might be more likely to forgo fees if they are under impression that you are doing nearby work that will improve property value -- home renovations might resonate with them (maybe keep it small so they don't ask too many details on construction, and so they don't assume huge budget)
      • Significant downside of free space is that there is very little mental obligation that property owner will have to you. For example, in one instance a property owner needed to do surveys and sampling in preparation for spring construction, so they asked us to move the containers for a few days. This was a significant cost to us. Had we been paying a token amount for the space, we could have more empowered to say "Moving will cost us more than we're paying to rent. Are there alternative options here?". We recommend paying a token amount if possible.
    • warehouses with lots of businesses already storing containers in lot
      • tenants often get a parking space allocation, so approach them about storage
    • guerilla tactics
      • you can often find properties that have been fenced in and unused for over 5 years (Google Streetview has a "history" function which can be useful for investigating)
      • we have heard stories of containers just being abandoned on properties, and property owners will just avoid dealing with them, and leave them until later
      • if a property management company or owner finds an abandoned container on the lot, the first thing they'll likely try to do is look for identifiers and contact information on the unit. You'll want to obfuscate identifiers and plates that might lead to anyone other than yourself. (Same the plate for later, to weld back on when selling.) Using a stencil, spraypaint your own phone number onto the unit, so that any contact will go through you. When your container is discovered on the property, you can then play the role of the renter, and kick the can down the road as you find a new space.
      • Also, keep in mind that if the property management company is large, this might be a task thrown to someone who already has a lot of other things to do -- it might be very low priority, and they'll want to "pass the buck" to a third-party rather than make arrangement themselves.
  • have a cover story for construction
  • lay paranoid ground-rules to minimize attention
    • constitution?
    • "we will not cross this line over which we are in clear sight from road traffic"
    • risk mitigation
    • "boundaries on hours of construction and noise"
    • consider layout of containers to hide outdoor work being done (maybe try to box in)
    • pay careful attention to minimizing view from residential, as people are really attentive about what happens around their homes
    • only one complaint will get heat that will potentially upset your life and cost hundreds in moving fees
  • costs
    • rental of 20-foot unit as cheap as $100/month, delivery included
    • $150 for each move (within city limits?)
    • great arrangement for experimentation, as it is literally no loss if you're discovered and need to pack up -- just clear out your stuff, call the rental company, and get them to take it away: experiment over
  • when renting, say that you're storing plants, as that's the easiest way to request a least-toxic container without raising flags
  • rental vs buying
    • rental is a cheap way to pilot how to navigate bureaucracy, zoning, personalities and space-seeking
    • con = can't cut holes in shell
    • pro = very accessible to anyone
    • rental: best approach is to build pull-out porch with maximum light area: door and large window
    • figuring out methods for rental mean you are figuring out practices that others can easily use without high up-front costs
  • construction
    • link resources on insulating, creating water/vapour/air barriers (youtube videos on finishing basements are great)
  • lighting
    • particularly important in a rental unit where you can't cut more windows
    • slide-out porch, built and supported by open doors, will offer some window-able surface (8'x8' for end, and 4'x8' for top sunroof
    • another option, particularly for highcube containers with 9.5' ceilings, is to add an "artificial skylight". This is a domed enclosure with a natural-seeming light source within it.
    • easy option for fake windows is "electroluminescent" (EL) panels/sheets behind curtains
      • EL panels use have a spectrum similar to that of natural light
      • apparently have a range between -10 to 80 oC (not sure if they will break outside this range), so be aware that you might need continual heat.
      • can't be exposed to direct sunlight, but shouldn't be an issue in container.
        • Glass blocks UV, so put behind that if you want to be safe.
      • Can buy from Ellumiglow (premium site, but nicer to browse)
  • delivery / transportation
Clone this wiki locally