Thread: Anyone build an Underground holiday home?

Some comments re containers: I gather one of Australia's biggest exports is empty shipping containers that contained imports because a lot of commodities Australia exports such as grains, coal and iron ore goes in bulk in holds of ships. So in Australia cost of buying them should be lower than in many other countries.


A friend wanting to store stuff in a shed on my farm in Northern Victoria after cleaning out parents house in Melbourne bought a 20 foot container from one of the places in Shepparton that sells them. Seemed cheaper than from Melbourne after cartage considered. Details on this container indicated it had been made in Shanghai, China the previous year, a load of something came to Australia, possibly Shepparton in it and it was put up for sale rather than returned. Friend wanted a decent container that was waterproof, mouseproof and not likely to bust as possibility of sending it to Queensland loaded in future. Needed a good non rusty one.


Bloke who delivered it on a tilt tray reckoned he once had a container being handled properly and full of good stuff including furniture break in half, damaging some contents because it was rusty. Had probably done many sea trips with salt water blowing all over it. So seems the rule that you get what you pay for largely applies. Probably also would be expected that with containers that had similar wear and tear, especially just one trip quality would vary eg Most likely a one made in Germany would be better quality - even in stronger and more rust resistant steel than a container from China. Of course, lower value containers have their uses. Including providing some protection from weather for storing things such as machinery and other stuff with likely future use that would otherwise be left outside.


Seems another consideration with containers used for storage in some situations is susceptibility of wood floors to white ants (termites) if sat on the ground. Remembering that sometimes they will even get into furniture in houses after infesting timber used in their construction. An important consideration with some setups using containers for housing type purposes.

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Corrosion is an issue in sea containers,simply because they spend their life at sea on the deck.
Choose carefully when buying.
Also consider the issue of pesticide contamination due to fumigation treatments over its life.
Personally I like your idea.
Andrew

Nice, I've been thinking of doing one clad in a charred wood as a study. Hadn't thought of the fumigation. I did have a concern over what may have been the contents and possible radioactivity. I wonder if there's any conditions on the people that sell used containers (proper suppliers at least)?

Originally Posted by Don 130

You'd better do some research on burying containers underground. They're made of Corten steel which is designed to withstand atmospheric corrosion, but corrosion from being buried would surely be different. I googled
'Burying Shipping Containers Underground.' There seems to be a lot to consider. I too like the idea, and am keen to find out what you come up with.
Don.

Euro boxes are Corten, Chinese generally are inferior, must be their version of Corten. Also beware of dodgey repairs using mild steel.

FWIW - http://www.domain.com.au/advice/the-...151015-gk2i3p/

After pricing a quality shipping container that hasn't had anything dodgy in it, and pricing working out how to reinforce it to ensure it'll hold the weight of dirt, and pricing?whatever else required to bury a shipping container?.

don't forget to also price what it would cost to NOT use a shipping container but build using conventional materials. It might be cheaper, it might allow you to create a better space.

Also have to think about gray and black water disposal when underground.
Bit hard to have a gravity septic system unless you go upstairs every time you go

Keith

Originally Posted by 123rover50

Also have to think about gray and black water disposal when underground.
Bit hard to have a gravity septic system unless you go upstairs every time you go

Keith

This is a major problem with any sort of underground house - the only really satisfactory answer is to only build underground on a slope, even if you need to make your own slope - e.g. build above ground on flat ground and then cover with earth to make a small hill.

Another problem with a typical holiday home being underground is how are you going to collect rainwater? That is what crossed underground off the list when building this house!

John

Many years ago I spent a few nights sleeping in a "dugout" and ever since have been sold on the idea that it is an ideal environment to sleep in. Perfect stable temperature, zero noise from the outside, pitch black when the lights go out.
You wake up when your body finishes sleeping and your batteries are fully charged.
Have you considered a Terradome?
This eliminates the issues of septic and grey water drainage.
I like the idea of just mowing the roof and not have to clean gutters!
I like your idea and will follow this thread with interest.


Cheers, Mick.

I agree there are some interesting issues.

We have a slope like the people in the first video, so we have some advantages when it comes to plumbing. We are not looking to build a bunker where the whole container is buried, our plan is to have the front open.

Water ingress and condensation can be an issue for underground dwellings. There are a number of possible solutions. A well designed concrete cap with ducting for ventilation and light should take care of most of the issues.

We have a large shed nearby with rainwater tanks. We were thinking of putting a small water tank above ground near the dwelling that would provide us with gravity feed and modest water pressure. We have a petrol water pump and could use that to fill the dwelling tank from the shed tanks.

We have also thought about putting the kitchen and bathroom at the front of the dwelling
so the plumbing is focused in one area and the waste can go through the floor and can be gravity fed to the grey and black water systems.

Our block is all sand so we are not too worried about digging trenches for running pipes.