BobVila.com

Adding a New Non-Weight-Bearing Steel Wall to the Container House

Bob talks to Derek Mercer and Delwin Carter of Tampa Armature Works about how to treat the steel exterior of the building to make it look more like a conventional house. The steel panel is a 16-gauge sheet metal which has been cut and grinded to fit the house. A recess has been cut into the sheets in place so the new sheet fits flush against the structure. Holes have been cut into the sheet at regular intervals which will serve as weld plugs through which the sheet can be secured to horizontal steel strips on the other side. A MIG welder secures the sheet through the weld holes, reducing the amount of vibration during high winds and preventing buckling. Then stitch welding is done on the inside. Then a grinder is applied so the wells will not be visible when the surface is finished. A plasma cutter is used to cut a window opening into the steel. In effect, a steel partition has been installed, creating a new outside wall and porch, while the original shipping container still provides structural integrity to the home. More information