Follow along in this video as we showcase our NEW concept for connecting two or MORE 40-foot shipping containers together! For the first time ever, Channing thinks he's found a way to safely use wood on a shipping container. It is not as easy as cutting out the center walls and pushing them together.
It’s a lot more difficult than that, but we have a new concept kit that makes this process easier! And it DOESN'T REQUIRE WELDING! This center-split container will be used as an underground mining office, but you can use a double wide sea container for many purposes.
You can convert this sea can building into a container house, garage, workshop or whatever you would like to modify it into. It is a 20' x 16' OR 40' x 16' structure, so you have a lot more room to create what you want!
Building Double Wide and Pitched Roof Container Homes with a New Bracket System
This video explores an innovative approach to combining shipping containers into larger modular structures such as double wide or triple wide homes.
Previous projects involved removing the sidewalls of 40 foot high cube containers, installing structural headers, and joining the units side by side. That system was pre manufactured and relatively straightforward to install, but there was still room for improvement.
The focus now shifts to a new method that increases interior height while improving roof design and structural flexibility.
Cutting Containers in Half to Increase Height
The new approach involves cutting standard height containers in half and transporting them to the build site for reassembly. A standard height container half can then be paired with a high cube container.
This pairing results in more than four feet of additional vertical space and allows for a properly pitched roof.
The target roof pitch is 3 over 12, which offers several benefits:
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Effective snow shedding
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Compatibility with common building codes
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A residential appearance that fits into subdivisions
This design makes container homes more adaptable to traditional neighborhoods.
Two Way Upper Decker Brackets
At the core of this system is a newly developed two way upper decker bracket.
These brackets allow framing to extend outward and downward from the container edge. That extension supports roof eaves and allows structural spanning between units.
The bracket system can accommodate:
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Steel studs
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2x4 lumber
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2x6 lumber
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2x8 lumber
This flexibility makes it possible to construct an A frame style roof that can be fully insulated and shingled like a conventional home.
The bracket design allows the containers to remain structural while still integrating traditional framing methods.
Roofing Options
Two roofing approaches are discussed.
One option is to reuse the removed container corrugations as roofing panels. This could create a durable, water shedding surface, but it requires more development and technical refinement, especially when integrating proper drainage systems.
The more practical solution is to use conventional framing with wood or steel and install shingles. This method is simpler and aligns with standard residential construction practices.
Insulation Strategy
Spray foam insulation is strongly recommended for container builds.
Spray foam offers superior sealing performance and helps compensate for common construction errors. It also minimizes air gaps and condensation risks.
Batt insulation is considered less effective in container applications because it does not seal gaps as thoroughly and may allow moisture movement.
Keeping the Container Structural
A key design principle is that the container must remain a structural component of the build.
If both the interior and exterior are fully framed and finished to the point where the container is completely isolated, the advantages of using a shipping container are lost. At that point, it would make more sense to build a conventional framed structure.
The goal is to integrate the container’s strength into the overall design rather than hide it completely.
Architectural and Environmental Considerations
The system allows flexibility based on the build location.
In subdivisions with aesthetic requirements, the interior container structure can remain visible while the exterior is finished to resemble a traditional home.
In fire prone areas, leaving the steel exterior exposed while finishing the interior can provide added fire resistance. Combined with spray foam insulation, this improves overall safety performance.
Ongoing Development
This project represents the third or fourth iteration of cutting containers in half and refining the structural joining method.
The bracket system shown is a prototype and will continue to evolve. Cutting techniques and structural integration are still being refined to improve efficiency and performance.
Final Concept
The core idea is to combine modified shipping containers using structural headers and innovative brackets to create wider modular homes with pitched roofs.
This approach blends container durability with traditional framing and insulation methods, making it adaptable for residential, industrial, and environmentally sensitive applications.
As the system continues to develop, it has the potential to expand what is possible with modular container construction.