Shipping Container Conversions

Name: Budget Shipping Containers
Telephone: 0808 1234 215

Shipping container conversions are made possible as the shipping containers themselves are manufactured from COR-TEN steel which is a solid and versatile material to work with. At budgetshippingcontainers.co.uk we receive requests for all sorts of weird and wonderful shipping container conversions from cafes to house boats! We have the capability to convert shipping containers to a variety of uses to suit your needs.

In this article we detail some of the more common options for our converted shipping containers, and we also have a gallery at the bottom of the article showcasing some of the conversion jobs we have helped with in the past.

If you need a converted shipping container in the UK then please give us a call! with 16 yards across the UK and a wealth of experience converting and modifying shipping containers for a wide range of uses, we can help with any project you may need.

Shipping Container Painting

The most common shipping container conversion we undertake is simply to paint a shipping container to match company colours or so that the container blends in with the English countryside. We can paint a container any colour on this RAL chart to suit your needs, but the most popular colours are a variety of blue or green as they cover up the dinks and dents of the container much better than other colours, but creams and whites do crop up now and again. Cream, white and other lighter shades also cost more simply because they need extra coats of paint to cover the original shipping container colour.

The basic price we quote for painting a container usually involves only a single spray. We will first give the outside a quick jet wash to remove any peeling paint and dirt. Surface rust doesn’t need rubbing down as the COR-TEN steel construction means any surface rust is actually non porous, therefore it would not add value or prolong the life of the container if we removed the rust. We do also offer a premium repainting service for an improved cosmetic finish if needed.

Shipping Container Doors

The traditional cargo doors on a shipping container are not always the best option, so we have a range of shipping container doors to suit most needs. With our refurbished shipping containers we also offer our “easy open” flat panel doors, these doors are manufactured by our engineers on site and offer a secure alternative to heavy cargo doors. One of the most popular choices among our customers are the personnel doors. We offer the industry leading Kirncroft doors which have a 10 point locking system to ease your security concerns. We also have metal 12 point locking personnel doors which come with a wide range of vision panel options. Both these options come in a wide range of sizes and configurations to suit your exact needs!

We can either convert the container in our yard for you before delivery, or we can supply a lot of these doors direct to your site for you to fit if needed. If planning to convert the container yourself and fit your own door its important to mention that you will need a welder / fabricator for your metalwork.

We can also add doors to side of your containers if you need extra bit of access for awkwardly sized cargo. These doors are manufactured on site and are easy to open with 1 locking rod to seal the doors shut.

Shipping Container Windows

Our range of shipping container windows are also very popular. Windows on shipping containers are most commonly found on containers being used for site offices or garden sheds. But they are also and important addition on converted shipping containers where natural light inside is required.

Anti-vandal windows with high security shutters also offer a deterrent for anyone looking to force entry to your shipping container. These windows with shutters are the best option for commercial and residential customers who require a high level of site security. We offer a range of sizes and glazing options to suit your needs. We supply and fit these in our yard for you before delivery, or we can supply the window units to your site for your to fit yourselves (in which case you will need a fabricator or welder for this).

Lined and Insulated Shipping Containers

If you need a shipping container to be free of condensation then lining and insulating a shipping container is important. Ply lining and insulation not only keeps a medium temperature inside the container but is also a very effective condensation treatment for customers who are storing sensitive cargo. If you’re not confident of your own DIY skills we can do it for you in any of depots nationwide. Our team of experts build a solid frame of wooden batons (2 x 2 or 2 x 4) wood batons, and then fix an internal wall to the inside of this frame leaving the original shipping container wall on the outside. The cavity space in the middle is stuffed with either Rockwool, or any other insulation material as either specified by you or suggested by our yard.

We mostly use 6mm ply wood to line the containers but other options are available. For example, wipe clean melamine, or very sturdy Jablite boarding which gives a very professional, scratch resistant and hard wearing finish. Just let us know what material you have in mind and we can discuss the options with you.

Shipping Container Side Removal & Reinforcement

We regularly receive request to remove the sides of a shipping container. This can be for a variety of reasons. For example, we recently quoted for a project to build a kitchen from shipping containers where the customer wanted four 40ft containers with sides removed and the containers welded back together to create a large kitchen space for his catering company. Containers conversions with the sides removed are also very popular with customers who want quick and easy access to the goods in their container. Sometimes we also fit a removable curtain to allow easy access anywhere along the length of the container.

The majority of our nationwide depots can remove the sides, ends, tops or even bottoms of a shipping container to suit your project. If we are removing too large a section we will reinforce the container as necessary. One of our most popular shipping container conversions involving removing a container side and cutting additional holes to make shipping container smoking shelters.

Shipping Container Roller Shutters

Shipping container roller shutters are often used by container self storage sites or pop-up cafes and market stalls built with shipping containers. We do not stock these as they are all made to order based on your requirements. They offer a secure, wind and watertight, anti-vandal design made from galvanised steel.

Prices for these converted shipping containers vary depending on what you require. For example, you can have electric powered or hand powered shutters, and the size of roller shutter will also impact the total cost.

Timber Framed Shipping Containers (Cladding)

Shipping container timber cladding is becoming a very popular choice recently. We find a lot of customers are going for the external timber clad option for home extensions, site offices, garden sheds and hobby rooms. They take away any worry over the aesthetics of a shipping container and make it look like a wooden outbuilding. This keeps the neighbours happy and offers a container that is easy on the eye!

These converted shipping containers are made in our Manchester depot and can be shipped anywhere in UK. Prices on this website are for our standard cladding package but can vary depending on options required.

Shipping Container Serving Hatch

A shipping container serving hatch provides unobstructed access to serve or pass objects through the container’s side wall. Ideal for a shipping container cafes, a shipping container bar, ticket booth, DJ Stand or servery of almost any sort. The serving hatch package we offer for includes the frame, weather-proof lip, handle, locking bolts and the gas struts as standard. The hatch is fitted to the shipping container by our yard prior to delivery.

Prices for these converted shipping containers will vary with the size of hatch, the size of gas struts needed (if any) and the amount of work involved in the conversion process.

These converted shipping containers ate built to order in our UK yards and are highly customisable.

refurbished 30ft container with 2 serving hatches cut into the side for use by a paintball site

Do you need a converted Shipping Container?

Budgetshippingcontainers.co.uk offer the UK’s largest online range of shipping containers for sale with a nationwide network of storage and conversion yards and crane equipped delivery vehicles.

If you need a shipping container feel free to browse our online range of shipping containers for sale. You can also call us on freephone 0808 1234 215 any time 9am – 5pm weekdays and our team will be happy to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you can use our online shipping container quote form or request a telephone callback. In both cases we aim to get back to you within 1-2 working hours (may take longer for more detailed quotes).

Examples of Converted Shipping Containers

Here are some examples of converted shipping containers that we have supplied in the past for customers:

a 45ft Container converted into a cafe for Dudley zoo

Customers being served at shipping container serving hatch

This article has showcased just some of the popular container conversions we can provide.