Man Turns Shipping Container Into Tiny House for Less Than $15,000
A Guy Says Living in His Tiny House Is a ‘Wonderful Change’ to His Life
Shipping containers are always useful, giving you the opportunity to fill it to the brim with your random, miscellaneous items. However, most people probably wouldn’t think of moving into one … unless you’re this man.
Lance, a resident of Northern Alberta at the time, made his own dream a reality for an impressive cost under $15,000.
According to his interview on “Living Big in a Tiny House,” after deciding that he'd had enough of working for a road-design company, Lance decided to make his way back to his hometown of Victoria, British Columbia. Hastened by two pieces of awful news — Darren, his best friend, passed away, and his mother was in poor condition at the hospital, Lance quit his job and went home. His mother died soon afterward, and Lance was left in search of purpose (and something to keep his hands busy).
“I thought, I just needed a project to dive into with my time, as well as doing these things for the important people in my life,” he said in the YouTube video. “I started researching shipping container homes and tiny home living and educated myself, basically, on design.”
RELATED: The Bachelor Pad of Your Dreams Is a Tiny House You Can Buy on Amazon
And now, Lance has himself situated in a completed shipping container home, set down with a rustic forest setting. He built the home on his grandfather's property, pointing out that his family fully endorsed the idea as he can assist his aging grandfather with maintenance on the property. On a deeper level, the entire affair has been a holistic, spiritual journey for Lance, providing some much needed relief from the stresses he has faced recently in his life.
“I really needed some space to myself,” he said. “And I found that moving into this tiny home, doing this project, gave my mind a task and it gave my heart some healing. I really found that this was the first step to wonderful change in my life, and it's only going to get better from here.”
As for that shipping container? Well, it started as a 20-foot unit. Lance later swung the doors open at one end, building a roof extension and a wall at the far end to expand the length of his home by an extra four feet. Insulation was also placed in the roof in order to ensure that his home could retain heat during the harsh Canadian winters, although according to Lance, more temperate seasons like spring pose little problem.
“In the spring, I find that my body heat, candles and cooking are enough to sufficiently heat this place,” he said.
Throughout the entire building process, Lance was able to keep costs down, converting the shipping container into a tiny home for far less than a comparable mobile home. The only problem: Lance's home doesn't come with a toilet. Although the plumbing has been placed for one, he prefers to use an outhouse nearby, keeping with the wooded vibe of the area.
There’s no telling if the shipping container trend will die down, or if Lance is very well ahead of the curve. Now an athletic development and career coach (and with a few hustles on the side), Lance seems quite content with his decision, and is more than happy to open his door to those curious about his unique shipping container home.
You Might Also Dig:
-
news