More Calgarians choosing to have their homes made from recycled sea containers

Source: Kevin Fleming · CTV NEWS · | March 24, 2022

Source: CTV News

The large metal containers are used by shipping companies to transport goods all over the world. Calgary is a long way from the ocean, but the sea cans are being repurposed in Alberta.

Modern Huts Incorporated spent 25 years building conventional houses in Calgary and, six years ago, the company moved to making custom sea can homes. Jeremy Johnson heads the company and says there are five full-time staff and more than 26 tradespeople working at it's southeast yard.

"Right now we're fabricating a house that's gonna be going up to Calling Lake," said Johnson. "It's 1,920 square feet (178.37 square metres) once we get all these units put together, they'll actually be stacked up to a two-storey home and then shipped out as four pieces."

Johnson says there are many benefits for property owners to choose container construction but the biggest is time. Structures can be 90 per cent completed in just 12 weeks off site. They're dismantled and shipped to the property where an additional week is needed for reassembly. A conventional home can take six to eight months.

"We're able to actually use less building materials," he said. "Our waste in the end is about 80 per cent less than a traditional wood frame structure because we're not using plywoods and all these other things to build the exteriors."

Chad Saunders liked the idea of modular construction and had his garage built with sea cans including a second story apartment.