Many containers are manufactured using Cor-ten steel that is strong and resistant to corrosion. Since they are made of steel, rust is a common concern. Those we’ve listed here are some of the most common reasons builders choose this method rather than sticking with traditional construction materials.ĭo Shipping Container Homes Rust? How Long Do They Last? With millions of these steel boxes sitting unused, that means a lot of steel that can be recycled for use as building materials.Īnd these are just a few of the benefits of building with shipping containers. When a standard 40-foot container is repurposed to build a home, approximately 3,500 kilograms worth of steel are recycled. Shipping container homes are also eco-friendly when built using recycled containers. Millions of these containers are abandoned each year, so they are abundantly available and can be purchased for as little as $2,000. Because they were originally designed to safely transport goods around the world, they are built to be waterproof, fireproof and crush-resistant. Shipping containers provide an inherently affordable and secure structure for building a home.