I ask this question how it seems to me knowing nothing about construction: why pay extra for a shipping container when you still have to build your wooden/concrete/metal frame inside the house, cut out holes for windows, cut out walls presumably to combine containers for bigger rooms, cut out doors, cut out floors for wiring, etc.? that's what I don't get. everything about building from shipping containers seems to be the same as traditional methods - you just go to the extra cost of buying a shipping container. maybe calling it a scam was a bit hyperbole however, if we do not take her so literally, the woman in question's video seemed to be focussed on this underlying and what seems to be a very valid point. why pay extra for the container? it seems not to be more convenient/more inexpensive but rather more work, more expenses incurred.

As an architect, we always weigh in the pros & cons. SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). As I understood, building with shipping container stands out because they are undeniably durable, waterproof, and takes only days to build. In my area, it is customary to build with concrete. Hence, one house (big/small) takes months of labor. Not to mention the purchasing and delivery of materials back & forth the construction site (from concrete, sand, gravel, roofing, etc.), those things empty your wallet in no time. Yes, you still have to pay for the delivery of the shipping container and likely rent a crane to stack it up. But those takes hours/days - not months. And if you've experienced getting hit by earthquake/typhoon while waiting for concrete curing. Man...

The scam is that people are given the impression that shipping container homes are cheap. There was even a lot of talk about shipping containers being the solution to the housing crisis in poor countries. But this is false - the container homes are NOT cheap. The modifications needed to make them habitable make containers just as expensive as, if not more than, conventional homes.

I’m from the construction industry. I watched both videos. And coming from Belinda Carr’s PoV, it’s pretty much nailed it. Yes, the word scam is pretty exaggerated but the point of the video she posted is shipping containers are not worth it in some cases and she is addressing that misunderstanding that shipping containers are a replacement for conventional buildings. There will be suitable use cases for shipping containers but it has to be weight out and in most cases it is just not worth it.

the SCAM is not that you can't build one but that it costs MUCH MORE than what people are told. That's not being uneducated, it's just being honest.

lol this is how scammers make "what I sell all day long is not a scam" video. 🤣

"Hire an engineer". Sure, for your cost-effective shipping container home. Checks out.

You have convinced me that container homes are not a scam, they are just a gimmick.

I don’t get this video. You seem to agree with everything she said. You just don’t like that she used the word scam? I’m not sure what point you are trying to make here 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ Will it make you feel better if she renamed the video to “Shipping container homes is for morons and here’s why?”

Shipping containers make excellent sheds. Once you start to insulate and modify to meet code, you will soon find out it's more costly and constraining then just nailing together some 2x6's and adding metal siding. Correct it's not a scam, it's just dumb. Ask anybody who has built a shipping container home who is not trying to make money off the process and they will tell you.

containing luxury spokesman sounds defensive and rationalizing. take the "constructive" criticism from belinda, hiring and modifying is expensive, as is buying a new container and transporting it, bottom line. sorry to burst your container bubble.

I feel like big issue here is the word "SCAM"... other than that the young lady's video is on point, she is basically outlining the misconceptions, hidden cost and disadvantages to alert people.

This isn't a rebuttal video.. it's more of a clarification. Everything she said is true and you haven't disprove any of her points.

i see shipping containers as built in framing and siding ... so figure out the cost to frame and put siding on a structure with the same dimensions as the shipping container and if it is cheaper to buy a shipping container then it is a good choice ... for example, how much is a 1 time 40 ft container? 4.5k? is that cheaper than framing a 320 square foot structure with 2x4s with corrugated metal siding every cut or modification you make to the shipping container extra just lessens the cost effectiveness of the build ... but the people who make those elaborate shipping container houses know that and do it regardless of the costs if i used a shipping container, i would be make as few modifications as possible and using the siding of the container as the exterior i think the only "scam" here is people clicking on youtube shipping container houses and not understanding the costs it takes to modify them into extravagant structures

The way I see it, the point of the video you are arguing against was to shed light on the reality of what goes into making a shipping container livable, maybe using the word "scam" in Belinda's video was not the best choice but it's true that it's not as simple as buying a shipping container and putting furniture in it. Is it a scam? no. Can people potentially be misled into thinking shipping container homes are cost-effective and are a good use of materials to reduce waste? yes. Of course each case is different.

The whole video can be sumed up as "is not a scam, you can pay extra for it" kek

The issue of affordable housing prices aren't determined by the actual house. Its by where that land sits. Most houses are like 1/10th or 1/20th the cost of sale of the real estate. So the affordability of housing should focus on telling people to move far away from major cities where you can buy a ranch with a house the size of a mansion for $250k than buying an apartment in NYC for $1 million.

There is a simple way to calculate the profit of the container, just multiply the square feet, by the cost of construction of the same area and you will find a big difference.

🤣🤣🤣 you just reinforced her points 🤣🤣🤣

I appreciate her points on health risks

Yeah the architect lady wins all the arguments here. Nobody would live in a shipping container, however well modified, given the choice.

No, désolé, you didn't succeed responding to +Belinda Carr's criticisms. It's not only a #scam if you take money and don't provide anything, it's also a scam if you promise the most cost-effective economic solution while delivering a more expensive, less suitable one. Belinda Carr quite obviously meant this. Her criticisms are only "answered" using #strawman arguments. EG: She said contamination was a problem. You "answered" this was why you recommended buying new containers. She then brought up the problem of sustainability to use one-use or new containers because you repurpose something that'd better serve in its designated rôle. Then suddenly, you speak about one-time use containers. Now what, take one-time use containers or buy new ones? (I personally would try to get a Reefer food container, PW (Euro-Pallette wide), they tend to have a certification to be harmless to transported food. However, I am a total layman here.) +Belinda Carr's criticism is that steel containers only seldomly offer the best solution; and those are, eg, disaster shelters / container hospitals. They are made of specialised containers, not recycled shipping containers; are treated to last, thereby becoming energy-intensive; and are not made because of environmental concerns, but to have an office/dorm/hospital/processing site to be set up and dismantled easily for the duration of a disaster situation or construction of an office building that can't be closed during the time. This totally stands. Her criticism sums up that it's generally *always* better to use regional and/or traditional building materials for permanent structures, because inner and outer insulation and structural fixes in the end mean you have to build everything regardless of the "buried" container, AND the steel walls mean you cannot use eco-friendly materials for steel perspires. BTW, I'd rather use a Flat than a Container as basis, and Mrs Carr's shelter example DOES seem to use Flats, ie, Containers without roof or walls. So if you cannot utilise the structure of the Container/Flat to begin with (and steel rusts - or has to be treated beyond the footprint of any conventional structure!), you simply have no advantages of using new or used Containers or Flats left. Even using a wooden structure in the shape of a Container/Flat stack means you can use natural insulating materials (because you no longer have a powerful heat sink inside condensing the hell away) and, for the masochistically inclined, still have Container size constraints. While I surely would use a discarded food container for a *temporary* *summer* cabin if I got one cheaply, to use Container buildings outside of their special applications by choice is, and always will be, almost everywhere the worst solution ( *especially* in port settings, where the problem isn't only condensation water, but *salt* water). To try to convince deciders (municipalities combatting homelessness, eg) otherwise so they chose container buildings over, eg, a wooden / regionally sourced structure then is, indeed, a #scam.

I came across your channel after watching that video, because in her follow up video she said that on your channel you show how to build a shipping container home properly. It was primarily a comment on the fact that people are sometimes are enthusiastic about shipping container homes but there can be drawbacks (albeit with an arguably click-bait title).

I agreed on most of your points. However, she mentioned the fact that using a 1 trip container is bad for the environment and your combating response was explaining how shipping containers will be recycled no matter what. But, with simple math you’ll notice that the supply and demand for the 1 trip containers will get higher. Therefore, more steel needs to be processed.

She said you can build a similar sized home from local materials better and as cheap as converting a shipping container while avoiding the major problems like condonation in the walls and heat cold transfer and she is right. Facts are facts.

Being a bit unfair to her,. She’s responding to ‘lifestyle’ videos that make it sound like slapping one down and buying some sheetrock is as complex as it gets.

I got all your responses from Belinda's video! Funny! I watch that video, before i got here. For example, the cantilever things. She said it might cost some money, it wasn't as easy as it might seems. She showed the sample that are succeed cantilever. All we need to aware is the cost, and the engineering behind it. Just exactly what you said here! She said the container might contain toxic material. That's why, she mention it, better use 1 time containers. That's also exactly your respond! She just added her 2 cent, that the container might be better use as container for more than 1 time, before it is "retired". Than using it one time only, and use it as house! You can disagree with it, of course. End etc etc. Seriously, i got all your reasoning from her video, because actually she didn't state that container house is 100% fail. It is just being hyped without acknowledging the problem (that need solutions) behind it. About recycling 1 year old can compare to 10 old years old can, you got her wrong. She "said" it is better to use the can to contain food for several times, until it started to get rust on it, and use it as flower pot. Instead, use the fresh opened can, directly as a flower pot. These both called repurpose, both good. But i will go on Belinda's way. That's just me, you can disagree, of course. Anyway, Belinda never call names to anyone on that video. Not calling uneducated, clueless, etc, unlike you. That's make your respond less attractive. She might using word SCAM that you hate so much? I don't know, English is my second language, i don't get that SCAM word really is that strong #shrug But i read some respond here, apparently word SCAM is too much, actually.

Haha! I love this one! A very methodical and factual response. It was joy to watch.

Points well taken, thanks for the rebuttal and your $10k home...my price range exactly. TaTa Oregon USA

I first thought this is about that other video, then I thought it's probably a coincidence but then I saw the intro of the video and it all clicked 😂. But thank you so much for addressing this

THANK YOU I am working on my container

Lol, 6 years ago I removed a chicken coop at the end of my barn. An old timer driving by said stop dont remove it... it was too late the last nail was out; an month went by and we had some very high gusting winds during the day. I came home at dusk to an unpleasant surprise, while looking at a 115 year old barn at the ridge cap it looked like a boys fly left open... the wind unzipped the 3 floor barn down the roof. Now I had a open light inside the attic. You're correct alway pay the price and use a structural engineer. You bet, I don't like the price to get them to sign off but, cya for sure! Don't cut corners because, later it may cost you more. Keep documenting the build for any future need or use. Be ready if things change and the building dept. Needs that video documentation. Have a great day and be safe.

Super useful. Thank you.

LOL. Calling an architect with more expertise than this guy will ever have in five lifetimes "uneducated on how construction actually works" would be like ... me calling a professional engineer ignorant because I built a bridge they said was structurally unsound and yet it's still standing (for now). Stating that one would only lose about "3 inches" on an interior wall because of insulation already demonstrates this guy is the actual scammer.

Containing Luxury thanks for this video.

How do you build a floor from inside one container to the inside of another one with space between them. Do you put the container on a slab and then a crawl space under the other parts. Or do you poor concrete in the containers and the other space for one seamless floor?

ROTFLMAO!!!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 This is SO SO SO perfect! Thanks, KZfaq! I was JUST watching Belinda Carr's video (the one referenced in this video), and thinking what a total load of steaming BS it was, then I saw THIS video on the right side of the page. Noting the similar but opposite titles, I thought, "what the Hell!" I put a link to this video in the comments section on HER video. BTW, many years ago, I worked for a chemical drum recycling company in central Florida. If you DO want to use older containers, remove the flooring so it's ALL bare metal inside, then sandblast it thoroughly and repaint it. We did that with chemical drums (barrels) and they were able to be certified for carrying anything, including food products, no matter what types of chemicals they previously held.

What about the condensation and mold potential or how they get too hot (?) We are considering shipping containers for a Florida home and I’m highly allergic to mold but I’m still hopeful there is a way that we can use shipping containers

Thanks for addressing this. Is there any restraints building in Florida

Very happy to see this video.

Thank you for responding to this... and knowing Construction, design and engineering all have a part with container home building. (Coming from a designer/detailer/senior drafter with 20 years experience) Bless you brother and bless you for working in the Texas heat.

I am glad to see somebody addressing that KZfaq Video.

Nice I found your channel because of her video.😁 In her video she liked your construction technique. 👨‍🔧

The reason she used the "Scam" word is because of how "Shipping Containers" are projected as not to call the entire concept a "Scam". Your video and her video are both very informative and correct. Construction techniques are different in different locations and no one technique is perfect for every place.

it's because they think "construct using container" it's going to be cheaper than buying a regular house... from that point of view, maybe it's true?????

Good video! I still love the look,abilities and strength of Shipping containers, people just need to take all this into consideration.

There must be max loads on either side of the two fork slots in the middle. These can be looked up - they are standardized. So far we don't even need an engineer to know we can cantilever and we know what we need to look up to see how far we can take it. It depends whether your looking for problems or solutions.

Yay Blake! So excited and lucky to be connected with you! 🎉 🏠

Great videos! very informative and although some people have points that are valid i think you addressed them. As a someone who has the tools, mechanical and technical ability, this is something i am seriously looking into because it is significantly cheaper to build when you are doing the work yourself. If you don't have the skills, or apparently understand what this man is saying just hire someone to build you something. Keep up the great videos!!!

Hi, thank you for making this video. I would like to know you point of view about building a container house on an Island such as Mauritius? Is it safe to live in and sustainable?

That lady just needed to say that there are factors go consider when building a container home not that it's a scam

My family lives in puerto rico they're going through a tough time with earthquakes and hurricanes the only houses that seem to be impervious to hurricanes and earthquake are the container homes in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria couldn't even budge them

You’re the best 👍🏻

THANK YOU !!!!

I noticed you didn't cover the insulation issue. That is something I'm curious about how to work around for my build.

Love this channel 😎

Thank you

Excellent video

Although my name is CONTAINERMAN, you may think I haul containers for a living, I do not! However, I have hauled a few. One I picked up in Oakland, California from a container company(Inland) that supplies other companies with used containers for mobile offices or storage. I hauled it from Oakland to Commerce City, Colorado to just such a place called Mobile Mini. They take older, dented containers and repair them, paint them, cut windows and door openings in them, reinforcing those openings with structural steel. Then they either rent out sell them to other companies or individuals. One of the trucking companies in my home town buys from that exact same company, Mobile Mini, and sells them as storage units and mobile office spaces. The other ones I've hauled from Houston,Texas to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to a oil drilling company!

Thank you! Sick ppl calling themselves experts and having 0 idea.

So what’s the benefit of building a home out shopping containers as opposed to cinder blocks or timber

I think you completely missed the point shes making. Shes not calling shipping container homes a scam in the same way that a ponzi scheme scams people out of money, shes saying that people presenting shipping containers as a environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and easy to build alternative to building houses and housing buildings. She makes valid points about these homes not being simple builds, the modification, insulation, reinforcement, limited space, environmental factors, practicality, and extra costs people don't realize come with these builds that people dont talk about. but you dont address them properly. All you've done here is criticize her video based on your misunderstanding of her use of the word scam. If someone tells you the TV they're selling is states of the art with the best picture quality on the market, environmentally friendly because it uses less energy than other TVs. And you buy it based on what they told you and you get home turn it on, and the picture quality is that of a 1980s TV, not better than your other TV, and uses more energy than a fridge, you got scammed. If someone tells you they have a new type of tv, made out tires, so its eco friendly, tells you its a better alternative to a regular TV being easier to assemble, cost effective, and is custom made. You agree to it. Then find out the cost to build it is far more than you were led to believe, the process to raw material into tv parts is not as easy as they made it out to be, it weighs 10 times what a regular tv weighs so you need a special mount to hang it, it uses more energy than a fridge, and the tv gets extremely hot when its being used. You got scammed. If someone tells you they have a tv for sale, you give them the money for it and they don't give the tv. You got scammed. As you can see a scam can take different forms. Her argument that storage containers are a scam because it's not the cost effective, environmentally friendly, solution to the housing crisis as its being sold as is valid,

So what you are saying is that building a shipping container home is not cheaper in most cases than a regular wood/concrete/brick one. It seems that people want the look of container homes without any of the financial savings. As you said, if you have enough money you can build anything.

Brilliant mate 👏 👌 👍

How much do you typically build these for

I've an important question: what about people who live in Africa (where I'm from) where it's 350 days out of 365, very hot. Is the shipping container appropriate with that weather?

You mentioned you had a buddy out in Colorado, is he a contractor for container homes? I'm looking at a property that I'm considering a container home for, but don't have any contacts out there. Any info you could share would be appreciated! Thanks for the videos you do, been watching them for weeks!

You mentioned lightweight concrete floors. I'd love to know more. Have you used one in your builds?

Lovely !

You're video is informative but you completely missed the point of her video. It makes me wonder if you're releasing this video just to protect the industry you're making a ton of money in. She brought up valid points to the question "are containers going to be possible to solve housing problems cheaply cheaply and efficiently?". She answered this question, you didn't.

Ok...so "scam" wasn't the right word, but all her 7 points were spot on. In ALMOST every case, a shipping container home is not worth it and does not spare the environment.

Like it 🐸 What about sweating ?

I could see a use for container homes in a disaster area, them being rugged and fireproof. But even this hesitantly. But for any other normal use the cons far outweighs the pros. A house built with a typical timber frame would be more environmentally friendly and more cost effective. I expect in the region of a third to half the price of a container home. What Mrs Carr brings up is sensible and scientifically sound arguments against container buildings, especially so if used for living.

A lot of the comments on her channel were saying she used the wrong word to use. It was more "things to think about" but the word SCAM gets views. She said she's an architect I think.

I’m so happy to see you’re Chanel on This 🎭💗🤪🏡🌽

LOL, way to ignore the whole point. The minute you advocate buying a new container you validate her entire thesis. She is pointing out that the myth of being eco-friendly by recycling containers is a scam. Building with new containers is basically just a form of pre-fab home and the points she makes about cut-outs and cantilevers, etc are totally valid. You have to ask if it is the most efficient method to build a steel box, ship it somewhere, then cut out large sections and add reinforcements? It might be, but it also may be more efficient to simply build a frame on site using other materials.

Great video again. Waiting for your next camp!! Not a scam! Worth every penny

I was waiting for this thank you 🙏🙏

You're not biased or anything

really great stuff, appreciate this channel and the very informative information

Thank you for this information, we break ground in March with a 12 container build and I had no doubts about using shipping containers to build, and I hate the negative information without the positive spin so thank you for the positive spin on this.

I think she was right to call it a scam. The dishonesty in the marketing, and i think the worst thing is that they use brand new containers or fairly new...

I fully agree with your statement/response. Those "scams" or issues that she brought up are just items we have to consider more attention to details, in order to make it functional. Yes it will give more work then just slapping template/typical details of walls, flooring, and etc. but if the design intent is to be using the shipping container then who cares. Its the client/homeowners choice to justify if the cost was worth making the home out of a shipping container and reducing their carbon footprint by recycling and reusing an existing structure that can provide certain benefits to the homes lifespan. Personally I think her video needed to be way better phrased/tagged then saying "Scam". She knew posting that video would get a huge reaction which will result in more views and creating her video to get onto the front page of video recc for some people. She obviously doesnt sound like she has any language barrier issues so it was truly just a "click bait" video.

I'm confused. 5:50 that's why we always recommend buying a new container. 8:29 No such thing as a new container.

As much as someone may claim that using the word scam in a title causes click bait, so too does the reference here. You're points are valid, just as hers were. Building codes can be seen by people as over the top. In some places they are, however the problems using a corrugated long narrow box, subject to temperature extremes, along with condensation issues are a concern. Cutting into them compromises the structural integrity, so that has to be addressed. That's increased cost. Insulation on the inside creates a moisture development surface, which can lead to mold. Shipping containers are used for a variety of materials, some of which are toxic to be breathing and living within. She pointed those things out as well. Your argument that construction materials vary by regional demands and availability was addressed by the very person you criticized. Pointing to just one of her statements without bringing into context the other things she said, serves what purpose? There is much to take into account when it comes to design and construction, and even though you were critical of her using scam in the title, it seems many of the things you referred to, were also explained in her video.

Belinda Carr used a word which was slightly taken out of context - mainly as the KZfaq-Algorithm basically requires that. You're doing a 12 minute video hanging yourself up on that word and calling a solid research "uneducated" without properly arguing against the main point: Pollution of used containers, the fact you can't use a container directly as - and you mentioned it yourself you always require an engineer for that and availability. If you have to order them first by train or truck - how are you contacting Belindas point? There's this nice saying: Once you are only correcting the grammar you've lost the discussion already.

Since most of us don't build houses and/or are not educated as to how house construction works and shipping container homes are portrayed as being something they really are not, it would be considered by many as a SCAM. Since your interest is in promoting your "one stop shop" shipping container home channel. it's apparent where your motivations lie.

So in other words, like everything in life, there are pros and cons. Ppl need to figure out what works for them and make a informed decision.

How can I get in touch with you for info about purchasing a shipping container home from you.

She is right it is not environmentally friendly. It takes more energy to make container homes made of iron than Wood because More emissions to make iron than wood.

Hat happens when you go to sell? Far more people are going to opt for a traditional wooden framed house over a makeshift shipping container structure whatever it’s being used for. Land nowadays is expensive why opt for something that lowers property values.

Do you not understand that her video was proving that for every day people can't afford all the extras and are turning to shipping containers to save money. If I had millions I could build a bad ass container but that's not why people want to do shipping containers

Your video is a sober and evidenced based take. I've had a few container home hater trolls leave comments on my channel and their arguments are almost always bad and there's bitterness to them - what are they ACTUALLY triggered by?

Real guy talking real words!

It's true, you can DIY any project, even building a tiny home from a shipping container, but you're def gonna need to hire an engineer first.

Glad you cleared that up! Just starting to do my research on container home.

I live in Vegas and it's easy to get a shipping container. When she said it's expensive to transport, she sounded pretty ignorant about shipping containers.

I like how honest and right you are my dude, but we can’t deny that there’s so many crooked people out there trying to take advantage of others! Thank you for all that beautiful knowledge that shares with us! I’ve watched a lot of shipping containers homes videos and I tell the true, I got exited about to get one, then I watched one of yours videos where you explained everything with details about building a shipping containers home and I opened my eyes, and I’ll probably do it, but I now put feet on the earth! Love your content!

I may be mistaken, and apologize if I am. But unless my eyes are playing tricks on me: A "SHIPPING CONTAINER" is basically a "MOBILE HOME"! With the exception of: (1) NARROWER than a "M/B, (2) NO INNER WALLS, (YET), (3) NO WHEELS UNDERNEATH, (4) NO "A/C", "ELECTRICAL", "PLUMBING", "COUNTERS", "INSULATION" etc (YET), I've lived in "MOBILE HOME'S" many times in my life, and likewise Unloaded many "SHIPPING CONTAINERS" when I was younger. But the lady that this MAN is talking about, Must be a "LUXURY LOVER" or maybe is a "GHETTO OWNER". And what she said about the weather: 🤔 I don't know about her, But as for me (and most people I know who has lived in them), If I see a "EF- 3-4-5" TORNADO" coming towards me and my "TRAILER/CONTAINER" "I'M NOT GONNA BE STUPID ENOUGH TO STAY IN IT" DUUU.

The one who say shipping containers are scam is actually a house owner