Before getting to the point, here's a question you need to ruminate upon- do you need your container homes to be insulated or not? Yes, insulating your shipping container home is important. Also, NO insulating your home may seem to be a cheaper, more attractive and less time consuming choice. However, this ain't the right solution for the long run!
If you choose not to insulate your container home, not only with your home experience experience climates like Sahara hot or Arctic cold, your home will also be open to condensation, which shall lead to intense corrosion or mold.
Now that you've got an idea why insulation is important, you can carry on reading the blog!
Climate- Climate- Climate!
Remember one thing, when it comes to methods of insulation, it comes down to one very important thing that it completely depends on your climate! For instance, you're living in someplace which is extremely cold- insulation is a must however, to keep it warm. Also, to keep your container home from getting condensed. If this weather is prone to a wet winter- rainy and moist in nature, you must spray foam insulation to create a vapor barrier. However, if it's hot, not much insulation will be needed. However, the focus should be upon the designing of your insulation around keeping it cool.
There are 5 major options you can choose from while you insulate your container homes:
1. Foam insulation
If your budget is low- go for spray foam insulation. As mentioned above, it acts as a vapor barrier, preventing corrosion and mold. It's the quickest method of insulating one's shipping container home. Also, it's got the highest rating amongst all the other methods and most importantly, it's a very flexible method as you can reach the most remote parts too! Spray foam insulation can be applied both, on internal and external walls of one's container home. You can also spray it underneath your container home to prevent ground creeping into your container homes. Once the foam sets, you can decorate your dream home in whichever way you wish to.
Also Read: Design Your Prefab Home
2. Insulation panels
It’s the most DIY friendly type of insulation. Also, like blanket insulation- it needs stud walls to fit. Panels can be purchased and fit to size in between the stud walls. Panel insulation is quicker to fit in comparison to blanket insulation. Also, it has high insulating value for it's small depth.
3. Blanket insulation
Also called roll insulation, it's a DIY friendly type of insulation which is the cheapest insulator amongst the mentioned methods. It's procedure of fitting is the same as the insulation panels and can placed in the gaps very quickly. The most common blanket insulation is rock wool or mineral.
If the money is of prime concern, go for this method!
4. Eco- friendly
Why do people even live in shipping container homes? Well, that's because it leads to an eco- friendly and sustainable living. So, what's better than using eco- friendly insulation to insulate your lovely home?
Here are a few materials you may make use of:
a. Wool insulation- It's similar to blanket insulation. However, it uses natural sheep wool which is a renewable source.
b. Cotton insulation- Not only is it made out of recycled cotton clothes, it's also similar to roll insulation. However, it's eco- friendly, natural and a renewable source.
c. Living roof- It's not a direct method of insulation. However, it shall hugely help your container home get cooler during the summers!
d. Mud walls- The usage of mud walls has been since time immemorial. It can also be used to build houses. However, it can only be made useful in areas with scanty rainfall. All you need to do is use some water to stick the mud- the mud can be stuck on the walls and the roof too.
5. Construction
The last but not the least method of insulating your container homes is by constructing it in that fashion! Design your home such that it heats/ cools itself. You can have small windows on either sides of the container home to allow ventilation and so on.
In the end, the best insulated container homes are the ones which use multiple methods to insulate themselves. Every method has it's benefits and drawbacks- this is the only way in which there can be an increase in the benefits and left out with no drawback at all!
