The Build
How we built a shop out of shipping containers
In 2020 we turned second-hand shipping containers into a shop on our coffee estate in Ammathi, with no construction background. We wrote down every decision and every rupee. If you're planning a container home, workshop or shop in India, this is where to start.
₹6,000
per concrete pillar, materials and labour (2020)
4
pillars are enough for a 20 ft container (we built 6)
2.5 t
weight of an empty 20 ft container
14 t
a fully loaded lorry of jelly or boulders: mind your paver tiles
The series, step by step
- 01 What kind of foundation do shipping containers require? How and why to build a solid concrete pillar foundation for shipping containers!
- 02 Cheap Foundation for Shipping Containers: Concrete Pillar Costs How to build strong, affordable concrete pillars for a shipping container foundation, with a full breakdown of materials and labour cost per pillar from our build in Coorg.
- 03 How to build cement flooring under a container What kind of foundation do I build for shipping containers? A per square foot cost estimate for constructing a concrete foundation!
- 04 Bringing shipping containers to your farmland! What are the things to keep in mind before deciding to buy your shipping container? Different works involved in a DIY container project!
- 05 How to select and fabricate shipping containers! Selecting a shipping container for your DIY project and understanding the different types of fabrication work which may be involved.
What we'd tell you before you start
- Get the pillars level. The container sits only on its corners, so pillar level and alignment matter more than anything else.
- Don't overbuild. Four pillars carry a 20 ft container. We built six and didn't need to.
- Know your labour model. A fixed contract price is easy to budget. Paying for materials and labour separately can save a lot, if you know how many shifts the work needs.
- Plan the unloading spot. Loaded lorries weigh 12–14 tonnes and will crack paver tiles. Think about it before the rains.
- Budget 10–15% extra for transport, rain delays and fittings you didn't think of.
See the result
The containers are now a store for homemade gifts and souvenirs, with a coworking deck on top. Come and look around, or ask us about your own build.