There are countless numbers of empty, unused shipping containers around the world just sitting on shipping docks or yards, taking up valuable space. But in recent years, Kenyan entrepreneurs have found use for these containers in a big way. So much so that they now import the containers directly.
Around the country and even beyond, more and more people are turning to cargo containers for homes, offices and other business premises. Everywhere one looks, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, one is bound to see immaculately modified containers serving as offices, restaurants, stores, cold storage and all kinds of business premises. Some have even customized them to become homes. A newer concept is Airbnb conversions, which are becoming a hit with both domestic and foreign tourists.
In Kenya, there are several companies that design and customize containers to the client’s desire. Containers Kenya is one of the biggest and most established companies in this sector. They consider themselves the market leaders in the container conversion industry not just in Kenya but Africa at large.
“We are specialists in container fabrication and conversion. We can convert a container into any design a client may present provided space will allow,” states the company.
We asked BELLAH WANGA, the company’s Director of Public Relations and Sales, to shed more light on her company and the container business in general.
Why did you venture into the containers business?
The ever-increasing demand for affordable housing and storage units.
How do you go about designing homes and business spaces using containers? What are the steps when a potential client is interested?
When you are trying to acquire a container house, these are some of the factors to consider:
- City County Permits
Similar to a traditional houses, there are specific permits that you have to acquire before you get the container to your location. This depends on your locality’s regulations, and the prices will vary significantly.
- Site preparation
If you are planning to install your shipping container home, you will need to check the nature of ground, if its terrain is rocky or muddy, you will have to spend some money to make the ground suitable for the container to be placed.
On bushy grounds, you will have to clear the bushes and make the ground leveled, thereafter either use pillars or do a slab.
- Delivery
Within Nairobi the 40ft container transportation will cost you between25,000 to 30,000 while a 20ft 15,000 to 20,000.For longer distance it will cost you more depending on the accessibility and location.
- Stock availability
The majority of shipping containers are sourced from China, and when stock is limited, prices increase. The vice versa also applies, and that is why you ought to know the perfect time to procure. For instance, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, factories shut down for some months and this made the prices of containers to shoot up.
Do you have in-house interior designers?
Yes we do.
What are the sizes available for homes and businesses?
Containers currently available in the Kenya market come in two sizes, 20ft & 40ft:
- 20ft – Length 20ft, Width 8ft, Height 8.6ft
- 40ft:
- High Cube – Length 40ft, Width 8ft, Height 9.6ft
- Low Cube – Length 40ft, Width 8ft, Height 8.6ft
We have 40ft Length 8ft Width and 9.6 ft Height which we call the high cube and 40ft Height and 8ft Width which is referred to as the Low cube 8.6ft and 20ft standard.
What are the average prices of homes/office units?
20ft open plan between 570,000 to 600,000 while 40ft is 980,000 to 1Milion.
What would you say are the main benefits of container homes/working spaces?
Here are reasons you should consider building a container home.
- Easy to use and to construct – containers are very easily modified. You can attach multiple containers, build in doors and windows, and modify the interior and exterior all very easily. This is one of the reasons so many people are building homes with containers. Because they can be stacked on top of each other and put together without much difficulty.
- Affordable. As much as you will want to build a traditional house in future, you will still be saving money by using a shipping container. In this sense we take the stress from you and make it easier for you as you don’t have to deal with fundis.
- Fast building time. This is one of the greatest benefits of using shipping containers for your office or home. Building a house the traditional way can take up to more than a year. This is not the case with shipping containers which can be done in 21 days or even less. With shipping containers, the basic structure of the home is already in place so, there are much fewer building materials to be assembled.
Once the shipping containers are shipped to your location its plug and play (you start using or living inside the container).This makes the whole process easy. In other scenarios like if we are using only one container, it usually takes less than 21 days.
- Durable. Shipping containers are designed to hold large amounts of cargo safely and securely. They also are built to be stacked on top of each other on cargo ships. Because of these factors, shipping containers are incredibly durable and strong. When using shipping containers to build a house, you can rest assured that your home will be able to withstand anything any harsh.
- Portability. Shipping containers are easy to be shipped, easy to transport. Their unique size is specifically tailored to be carried by large trucks and transported regularly down roads and highways. This is a huge benefit when you are building your home as you can get them delivered easily.
Container homes can easily be moved to a different location of one relocates.
There are far more benefits to using shipping containers to build a home than mentioned here. With shipping containers, you can quickly, easily, and affordably build a unique and beautiful home using the design or the plan you have on that shipping container.
Have you seen a growing uptake of the same?
Yes especially offices, business stalls and homes.
What are the challenges in this business?
It’s capital intensive and there are also site constraints. Containers are largely found in the urban periphery; therefore sometimes, you deliver a container before you have seen the site but when you get there, the desired location of the container is inaccessible. Another challenge is the proliferation of brokers in the business.
