Why You Need to Make Your Shipping Container Home Winter-Friendly
Winter is coming. No, we are not quoting the famous line from Game of Thrones.
The cold season is just around the corner. If this year is any indication, we will soon be in the thick of it. If you have invested in a shipping container home, now is the time to make it winter-friendly.
These converted container homes are undoubtedly cool, trendy, and functional. However, let’s not forget that they are basically steel boxes that can become unbearably cold during the winter, just like every other building. Fortunately, it is for the same reason that container homes are easier to heat than the average house.
Here’s how: Since these boxes are made of steel, heat dissipates through the metal more efficiently than through traditional building materials like concrete or wood. However, the bigger challenge with shipping containers is that they have trouble retaining heat and can freeze when the temperature plummets.
SuperTech Industries, the experts in container conversions, say that keeping container homes warm throughout winter can be one of the biggest challenges. It is essential to choose suitable home insulation options and make some mandatory modifications to protect yourself from the biting cold while enjoying winter in your container home.
Here are some excellent tips to “winterize” your container home for this winter and many more!
What You Should Do to Make Your Shipping Container Home Warm & Cozy
1. Insulate your home
Insulation is one of the most basic and important steps to getting your container home ready for winter. Generally, the design of your home determines the type of insulation you require. For example, a large container home will need comprehensive insulation that covers every crevice and nook.
Be prepared to lose some interior space when you go for insulation, as it will take up space on your walls. You cannot compromise when it comes to insulation. However, you can choose from various options like:
- Cotton: It is commonly available and sustainable too. Cotton is your best bet if you are keen on reducing your carbon footprint and going eco-friendly.
- Wool: Made from sheep’s lanolin, wool shares the same insulation properties as cotton and is readily available. Since it is more affordable than cotton, it is an apt choice for large container homes.
- Cork: If you are looking for a renewable and sustainable option, cork is the right choice. Cork is suitable for hot and cold insulation and is available in many sizes and thicknesses. Besides, you won’t have to worry about cutting down trees to harvest cork because this material is taken directly from the trunk of the cork oak tree.
- Spray foam: It is one of the popular choices for insulation because it is easy to install and gives excellent results.
2. Use wooden burners
You don’t mind spending some elbow grease chopping up some wood? Then why not use wooden burners that can produce tremendous amounts of heat in a very short time? The only drawback is that they lack the capacity and energy efficiency to heat large spaces and can only serve as a primary heating source in temperate climates.
3. Buy electric heaters
If chopping wood is not your cup of tea, all you have to do is switch on your electric heater.
Electric portable heaters are must-haves, especially if you want to warm up the place in a jiffy. They are reasonably priced and a great alternative to wood. It makes sense to invest in two or three of these devices to individually heat the rooms in your container home. A word of caution- You must switch them off, lest they become a fire hazard.
4. Curtain your windows
If you have curtains covering your container home windows for privacy or to add an aesthetic touch, rest assured that they will also contribute to the interior’s warmth. As much as the windows contribute to warming your container home, they are also why the heat escapes your home. Besides, thick winter curtains are also a great way of insulating your home.
5. Use double-glazed windows
If you want to stretch your “winter home” budget, consider investing in double-glazed windows. Apart from the biting cold, you can keep out unwanted noise as these windows are pretty soundproof.
6. Rearrange your furniture
Surprised? It’s true that rearranging your furniture can make a big difference in your home’s temperature. For example, if you spend much time sitting on a piece of furniture, such as a dining room chair or a living room sofa, it is advisable that it is placed away from outside openings and closer to heat sources.
7. Fix your flooring
Whether your container home has a concrete or wooden floor, the flooring can bring down the temperature of the interior. Cover the entire floor with thick carpets or rugs to mitigate heat loss and make your home look elegant and cosy.
8. Keep all doors closed.
When all the doors in your container home are constantly opened and closed, warm air circulates throughout the house. That’s why we recommend sealing the doors to unused rooms during the winter so that heat continues to flow to the areas of the home that are used often. Approximately an hour before bedtime, open your bedroom doors and allow the heat to circulate from other parts of the house. So, the extra heat will warm up your bedroom.
9. Seal all gaps
Winter is the time to fix the loose door and window bolts, chipped window panes, and any other openings where heat can escape and cold can come in. Have you ever noticed that cold can creep in even through the smallest gap it can find? The best solution is to use a caulking gun and some silicon caulking to seal the gaps, and you are good to go.
10. Wear warm clothes
Sounds silly? Not at all. Truth be told, people often focus entirely on warming their homes and forget to keep themselves warm in the process. If you live in a really cold place, you may require at least three to four layers of clothes to retain your body heat. Wearing the right winter clothes is perhaps the cheapest and most sensible way to stay warm and snug. And remember to have hot food like soup, hot cocoa, milk, etc., to warm you from the inside. There’s nothing like a hot cuppa to warm you on a cold day.
Stay Warm & Enjoy Winter in your Shipping Container Home
Whether it’s a long winter or a short one, spending it in a shipping container home designed to keep you warm is a great way to make the most of your time and investment. You may also contact the SuperTech team in Dubai for additional input.
