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Shipping containers make for excellent storage sheds. They are very spacious. A standard 20ft container will have an internal volume of 1,172 ft3, and a standard 40ft one will have an internal volume of 2,385 ft3.
That’s a lot of room for your belongings. You could fit everything from your gardening tools to patio furniture in there — with plenty of room to spare.
So, once you get a shipping container for a storage shed, how can you guarantee that your items are safe inside them? These are some tips that should help you protect your things all year round.
Plan for Burglars
It’s possible that no one will ever try to break into your storage container and steal what’s inside of it. But you don’t want to assume that will never happen and be proven wrong.
To make sure that your items stay in your container, you should lock them with a padlock when you’re not nearby. You can install a security lock box over the padlock for additional protection. This will make it harder for burglars to tamper with the lock and break in without access to a key.
There are other simple ways to keep burglars at bay. Take a look at these tips for shipping container security to see how you can protect the items inside. You shouldn’t have to worry about your belongings going missing.
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Consider the Outdoor Temperatures
Shipping containers are often described as weather-resistant. What does this mean? It means that they are designed to prevent elements like wind and rain from reaching the interior. The entrances are tightly sealed to stop anything (whether it be water, wind, or dust) from touching the cargo inside.
Weather-resistant does not mean temperature-resistant. The walls of the shipping container are simple corrugated steel — they do not have built-in insulation and they don’t have built-in climate control appliances.
So, the cargo inside can still be impacted by extreme hot and cold temperatures outside.
Some of your items will be sensitive to extreme temperatures. For instance, electronics are sensitive to extreme cold. The cold can drain a device’s battery and make it run poorly. This is a brief list of other items that are sensitive to temperature fluctuations:
- Paints
- Glues
- Adhesives
- Leather materials
- Wine
- Food
- Musical instruments
What can you do to protect your items from these temperature changes? Take the following steps:
Insulate
Insulate your shipping container. Adding insulation will give the container a protective layer from outdoor temperatures. The best materials for this are batt insulation, spray foam insulation, or mineral wool insulation.
Insulation will also prevent condensation from building up inside the container. Condensation typically happens when warm air hits a cold surface.
So, if warm air hits a chilly container wall, water droplets can form. That moisture can then damage the items inside. With the help of insulation, you can stop your storage container from becoming a moist environment.
Raise Items
The floor will always be the coldest part of the container. So, you don’t want to rest your temperature-sensitive items directly on the floor. Move smaller items on top of shelving units to separate them from the ground level. Larger items can rest on raised wooden pallets.
Ward Off Pests
Pests aren’t likely to get into your storage container since it’s so tightly sealed. But there is always a possibility that a critter can sneak its way inside when the doors are open. You don’t want a pest to make your container its temporary home and ruin your items in the process.
These are some strategies that should keep pests at bay:
- Do not store food, garbage, open seed bags, or rotting wood in the container.
- Seal fabrics and paper products in plastic bins.
- Set up motion-sensor lights outside of your container.
- Pests like mice are repelled by scents like dryer sheets and vinegar. You can use these scents to scare them away from your container.
Your items should be safe and sound in your storage container. Follow these simple tips!
