Allotments 4 All

Our site is getting a storage container to keep communal tools etc in. We were supposed to be getting it last year but the neighbours objected and so it had to go to planning for permission.
Now the original one we were offered by the council , which had an office in it has gone, so we are having to get another one.
One of our committee has been today with the council officer to look at containers and has come back suggesting a 20ft sraight forward one with no windows and a door at the end.
I was hoping for one which could be used as a meeting place as well as just storage, but what are the pros and cons of a bog standard container?
We have no electricity so I expect it will be pretty dark at the far end!
Please let me know what you think before we get one - the decision is being made this week.
Thanks in advance

Very secure of course, but a bit anti-social with no windows and just the huge heavy door at the back. I'm assuming they're made from aluminium (to keep the weight down for their original purpose) which is very easy to work - i.e. cut holes in for windows. Would it be possible to hire a small generator for a day, and a reciprocating saw? After hunting round first of course for some suitable windows, possibly from a dead caravan.  Just a thought.

Geoff.

Most containers are made from High Ten Steel other than the cheapie ones made in China.

This does make them very strong but they are still only as secure as the padlock you use to lock the retaining bars on the door, a cheap lock means you can break in in seconds.

When selecting a container pay careful attention to all the main joins to check for rust, their exposure to salt air for many years does mean they can suffer around the joins and the hinges of the doors. First job when you get your container is to wash it thoroughly to remove salt and any chemicals.

The main down side to containers is they are not insulated and have little or no ventilation. In the autumn/spring/winter this can lead to condensation problems and in the summer they can get incredibly hot.

If possible find a container that has vents built in. To reduce the condenstation problems it is best to insulate the inside of the container. You can do this with a spray on foam insulation or use fibre insulation and line the container with ply. The ply lining is the best approach.

When siting the container make sure you raise it blocks so that it is at least 8" of the ground so there is plenty of air flow under it to reduce corrosion problems.

Also to prolong the life of the container it is best to erect a slopping roof of some sort over it so water does not sit on the roof for any period of time, you can also collect the rain water from it and you will generate a lot of water over a winter.

It is a relatively easy job to fit a window into a container if you have the right tools, the main one that makes life a lot easier is a decent angle grinder. Cut an aperture the right size for an off the shelf double glazed unit and slot it in. You can also add a standard access door and partition the inside of the container if you so wish.

Making the customisations yourself is far cheaper than buying a converted trailer but that relies on you having the right tools and skills to do the work.

You may well ask how I know this, well for years we have used old containers on the farm as chemical stores, tool sheds, workshops and a farm office. I have also been involved in setting up a self storage business that uses containers as storage units.

If you need any other advice drop me a line.

Jerry

Thanks for that information both of you.

The container in question is brand new and steel. We are now talking about partitioning it and putting an internal window and door so that we get some daylight in at the office end. There is also a possibility of running lighting from a street light, which the council officer says is possible. Perhaps it's not as bad as I first thought. Does anyone know of a way of lighting an area for short periods of time without electricity which would work well in case we can't do that?

I will pm you Jerry if we need any further technical advice - luckily we have a retired joiner and a builder amongst our plotholders, but they will not be experts in metal containers like you. The advice about insulation and the roof was also something we hadn't thought of. Thanks. :)

You can get solar powered lights such as:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/free_uk_delivery/Solar_Shed_Light_46668/Solar_Shed_Light_46668.htm

But they may not provide enough light for long enough, especially in winter.

You could always use hurricane lamps but there is an increased fire risk.

HTH

Jerry

Tilley lamps are more efficient if you can get one at a reasonable price, but they still carry a fire risk. Or there's the camping gas version.