Container Homes General Contractor Plan Design Construction

A design workshop for container homes in Montreal, Quebec brings together designers, architects, engineers, experts in green roofs and general contractors under the direction of Construction Daniel Dargis Inc. The team works on the conception, designs, makes the plans, and builds your container house in Quebec. Several criteria must be considered for the design of a container house such as location, insulation, use, design and cost. Building a container house has advantages and disadvantages that must be objectively taken into account. The design team helps you weigh the pros and cons in order to make a wise decision.
 
Why choose to build a container home ?
The decision to build a container house is based on the advantages it has over traditional wood construction. The house is designed for an assembly of containers, which have the characteristics of being able to be stacked one above the other on shipping vessels. Its ability to support heavy loads on top makes it possible to design homes with roofs that can withstand heavy loads such as green roofs.
 
In hot countries, it is possible to create an economic habitat without having to worry about the thickness of the building’s envelope. In Quebec, where temperatures carnage from -40o C to 40o C, you have to work with efficient insulating materials, such as insulation foam, which increases the cost of construction. People looking for an energy efficient home such as a “Passive House”; normally hire contractors, construction experts, engineers and architects to work on the building’s envelope due to the thickness of the outer walls. In the case of container houses, since the interior space is limited, it will be necessary to isolate from the outside to prevent restriction of the limited space available inside.
 
Therefore, in Quebec, you will not choose a container house when compared to a traditional timber frame house for its benefits regarding home insulation, lower cost, speed and versatility of construction. However, you will choose it because it stands out in design and benefits of construction. Its construction method, which requires a special coating, allow it to resist the loss of heat. Its strong material permits the design and building of a green roof. Whereas, a design of green roof on a traditional wooden house is more difficult and expensive because it is necessary to provide beams and membranes.
 
Disadvantages of a container house
Although the container house draws the attention of many people who find it beautiful in design, innovative and eco-friendly; many municipalities do not allow it and it is considered a mobile home. In fact, the majority of the municipalities in Quebec does not allow the construction of container houses in the residential areas of traditional wooden houses. Therefore, the main drawback is finding a location to build the container house. We do not want to build such a house in a mobile home park so as not to depreciate it. Thus, it is most common to see such houses built away in vast areas of land. Which, in itself, is not a bad thing if you like the countryside. In Montreal, some districts do agree to such construction.
 
The container is made of a metal shell that prevents electromagnetic waves from entering, which has the effect of reducing the phone functions. This is the Faraday cage effect.
 
The metal is a very powerful conductor of heat and cold that does not contribute to making a home energy efficient. You then need to call in experts in building envelope in order to overcome the problems of thermal bridges caused by the metal.
 
It is not the majority of building contractors in Quebec that are comfortable with building a container house project. We need to find contractors who work the metal at good prices and who is ready to build in an area often away because municipalities do not allow them in all places. Leaving little competitiveness and flexibility to haggle. In addition, it is often necessary to require a manufacturing factory to prepare the containers prior to assembly in the field.
 
Construction cost of container house
In Quebec, given the need to isolate effectively when wrapping the building, the cost of building a container house is not less than the wooden frame house. The cost of transportation and handling of containers requires cranes and operators, which also increases costs. Thus, it is wrong to claim that in Quebec, it is easier and it saves money by building a container house.
 
Using container houses in Quebec
Quebec is most known by cottage or country houses, commercial kiosks like those found in the Old Port of Montreal, which limits the construction of story houses with vegetated roofs that are modern and contemporary.
 
It should be noted that despite all the drawbacks, the container house remains attractive and can justify your choice when used for its clear advantages in modern and contemporary design, it facilitates the roof load to accept green roofs, balconies, terraces and the piling of more containers one on top of the other.
 
Construction Daniel Dargis Inc. with his team of designers, engineers and building technicians help you in designing container homes in Quebec.
 
Do not hesitate to contact us !