Why We Use Corrugated Metal to Build Shipping Containers

corrugated metal

Corrugated metal is used for many purposes due to its durability. From siding and roofing to agricultural and commercial buildings, it’s used when protection from the elements is important. This type of metal holds up well to any type of beating from weather or physical strikes that may come its way. That’s why you see it used in the production of shipping containers.

Shipping containers were designed to travel across the seas, getting battered by the salt water and wind. You can also frequently see them sitting outside of businesses for storage, taking the wrath of all kinds of weather. It’s no wonder that these shipping containers are made of corrugated metal.

What is Corrugated Steel?

It’s very common to see the wavy pattern of corrugated steel around you. It quickly became popular in the 1920’s due to its ability to be prefabricated and quickly used to improvise structures. It takes little instruction and skill to install this type of steel, making it an easy option for construction companies and their workers.

Most corrugated steel sheets today are made using a cold-form process. The steel is pressed flat, then run though a roll-forming machine. This creates the desired corrugations without the need for heat. The finished sheets are then cut off to the particular length necessary for the project.

What Makes the Corrugation Process So Great?

The corrugated pattern of this steel makes it even stronger than wood. The wave pattern allows it even more resistance to all kinds of impact and weight loads. Corrugated steel sheets have the highest strength-to-weight ratio of almost any other construction material. The pattern of corrugated steel also acts a water resistant type shield, making pressure roll right off of it. This makes it ideal for siding, roofs, as well as shipping containers.

Why Corrugated Steel?

 

There are several reasons why you would want to choose corrugated steel for your building needs. Below are a couple of those reasons:

  • Overall Durability - As stated above, corrugated steel is the strongest metal you can find for building purposes, and it’s resistant to most impacts and weight loads.
  • Lack of Decay - There’s no organic material found in this metal, making it more resist to mold and rust, thus adding to its durability.
  • Dent, Warp, and Buckle Resistance - This design of steel sheets is resistant to hail and other weather damage that frequently destroys other metals. Due to the wave within the panels, it’s resistant to buckling under weight, warping with weather and use, and resistant to dents from hail or anything else that may bang into it. This makes it not only ideal for shipping containers, but also for roofs or siding options.
  • Minimal Maintenance Required - Due to its durability and resistance, there’s little maintenance you will need to do to corrugated steel to help in its upkeep. You should only need to wash it off to remove dust, dirt, and other environmental grime. Doing this yearly will help reduce residue and allow the protective coating to do its job.

[bctt tweet="Corrugated metal is easy to install, durable, and easy to maintain, making it great for not just construction on homes, but also ideal for the building of shipping containers."]

Corrugated metal is easy to install, durable, and easy to maintain, making it great for not just construction on homes, but also ideal for the building of shipping containers. Whether the containers are used for business storage, shipping overseas, or modified into a small home, having your shipping container made from corrugated steel will make it last for decades to come.

If you want more info on shipping containers, advice for moving, and more, check out Porta-Stor’s other blogs here!