The moment you mention the subject of shipping container homes to any contractor, he’ll immediate ask about its insulation methods. Insulation is one of the most fundamental components of what makes shipping container homes comfortable. Without proper insulation, the shipping containers are just going to rust from prolonged exposure to weather, and end up turning into an oven.
No one would want either of those two instances happening to their shipping container homes, which stresses even more on the importance of having proper insulation. So, here’s what you need to know on how to insulate your shipping container home.
Methods of shipping container home insulation
There are a few ways you can approach container home insulation. Some of these methods might not be as permanent as others, but that’s entirely up to your preference.
- Spray-on insulation
- Roll-on insulation
- Ecological insulation
These three insulation methods are easily the most popular ones amongst shipping container homeowners, and for good reason as well. Let’s break these methods down and explore what makes them work.
Spray-on insulation
As unprofessional as it may sound, spray foam insulation is actually pretty effective. In fact, it’s arguably the best insulation method out there. It prevents the interior walls from rusting and moisture from building up.
It’s always wise to spray both the interior and exterior of your home for the maximum effect. The whole process doesn’t take as long as other methods of insulation, which is another neat feature to have since you’ll be saving yourself some time.
Roll-on insulation
This is otherwise known as the traditional method of insulation. It involves the use of fibreglass or rock wool. However, it isn’t recommended for shipping container homes as it promotes corrosion and excessive condensation. This can be primarily attributed to properties of having too much vapor in the home.
Unless they’re specifically designed to be immune to corrosion and doesn’t cause condensation, roll-on insulation should probably be your last resort. If you’ve completely run out of options, then you can consider using roll-on insulation. Otherwise, go for the spray foam method.
Ecological insulation
Ecological insulation is known to be unprofessional and a lot less effective than its technologicall advanced counterparts. If comfort is your primary concern, you should definitely stay away from ecological insulation. This method adopts the use of recycled materials to insulate your shipping container home. Egg cartons are one such example.
Imagine your home being plastered with egg cartons all over the place. There’s no doubt that it will look unattractive. Being eco-friendly is always important, but you should know that there’s quite a hefty price to pay in terms of comfort and aesthetics.
Final thoughts
Now that you realize the importance of insulation in shipping container homes, the next thing you should do is find out how you can use spray foam insulation in your own shipping container home. If that’s a technique that you’d rather avoid, traditional insulation and ecological insulation can always work as substitutes. The only downside is that they’re not going to perform at the same level.
