A guide to shipping container repair and care

A container can be a great addition to any worksite. They also make for perfect storage at home and can even be a great place from which to base your business. These versatile boxes are certainly very durable, but shipping container repair and maintenance needs to be on your mind at all times. Just a little care and attention can go a long way in ensuring that your containers stay at their peak.nnIn this article, the Unit Hire team have put together a straightforward guide designed to help you help your container to stay as durable as possible. With the right level of care, your container could last over a decade, so take note.nn n

Container maintenance

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Perfect positioning

nMaintaining a container is often far easier than you might think, you just need to be sure that it’s been installed properly. Positioning is key to this – we’ve written an entire article on this topic that you can read here – but the main point of advice to remember is that your container is placed on as level ground as possible.nnIf unlevel, it is possible that you’ll start to notice pools of water forming in the container which is likely to cause high levels of rust. You’re also likely to find that you begin to experience issues with the doors of your container due to them not lining up with the frame.nnTo make sure that your container has been placed on fully level ground, you could consider raising it on bricks or concrete blocks. Not only will this help you to maintain a level placement, but it will also prevent water from pooling beneath and causing damage to the underside of the container.nn n

Regular cleaning

nEven after you’ve perfected the placement of your container, you’ll still want to ensure you give your steel box regular TLC. Keeping on top of any dirt or rust that finds its way into your container is a great way to ensure that it’ll be kept in great nick for as long as possible. The sooner you clean, the longer your container will last, with a bit of elbow grease you can slow down the corrosion of the metal shell. There’s no excuse to avoid this, all you need is a bit of bleach and a hose.nnAlong with the day-to-day cleaning of the interior and exterior of your container, you’ll also need to regularly lubricate the doors. As we mentioned in our article on opening a shipping container, the doors can often get stuck – particularly if they’re not in use for a long time. Just make sure to grease them regularly and they’ll be as smooth as the day you bought the container. nn n

Shipping container repair

nEven with all of the care and maintenance, you’ll be giving your container, sometimes professional repairs are necessary. As they’re essentially large steel boxes that are left to the elements, a bit of rust is often inevitable. When these rust patches get too large, they may need some welding work to fix. nnGeneral wear and tear is unavoidable with anything you intend to frequently use – especially if it ends up on a worksite. With your container, the areas often susceptible to frequent corrosion and damage are the padlocks and lockboxes.nnAlong with the lockbox, another area of your container that is particularly likely to suffer the impact of repeated use is the flooring. As such, you may wish to get in touch with container specialists who are able to lay down fresh plywood flooring, leaving your container looking as good as new.nnIf any issues arise with your Unit Hire containers while out on hire, any servicing is completely free of charge. If you’re buying, we offer a one-year warranty, as well as a service as an additional courtesy after our one-year guarantee.nn nnContainers are one of the most durable, cost-effective solutions for personal storage and onsite accommodation available. To learn more about the benefits of utilising a container for your next project, get in touch with Unit Hire today.