Solid Horizon

Man from Idaho to build largest shipping container home in the United States

Due to the housing shortage in Kootenai County, Idaho, a family man has opted to build his home entirely out of shipping containers and urges the community to do the same.

Matt Rowe has decided to undertake a large-scale, long term project by building a home for himself and his family out of 15 shipping containers. Once completed, the house is expected to have a build-up of 4,000 sq ft, measure three storeys high with seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

According to the article from krem.com, Rowe said his home required 15 new shipping containers imported from China, making it the largest shipping container house in the United States.

The article added that temporary roadblocks have driven the cost up more than anticipated, but by the time the home is completed, Rowe expects the total cost to be around $525,000.

Photo courtesy of krem.com and Matt Rowe

“The current cost of a stick-built home is an average of $200 per square foot, so we estimate a savings of about $275,000. The house will be very energy efficient, and it will save more money in the long run,” Rowe said.

Krem.com reported that the building process began back in January when Rowe and his wife, Karissa, along with their four young children, were outgrowing their current abode. They took the leap of faith and sold it and dreamt up the shipping container idea.

Rowe is currently working with draftsman, Joe Stoy, to get the project started. Stoy has had experience developing shipping containers homes, but on a smaller scale and nothing this large.

Photo courtesy of krem.com and Matt Rowe

“I feel blessed that each part of the plan is coming into place. But the process hasn’t been without challenges. I’ve been checking regularly with my wife to make sure she’s OK. I’m a marriage counselor and we are not going to be a statistic,” Rowe added.

Rowe also added that the land was difficult to find, but they acquired 10 acres on Blossom Mountain in Post Falls. Additionally, their building permit was delayed about six months due to a shortage of city employees during the pandemic. Also, arrival of the shipping containers slowed down because of Covid-19.

“They sat in the middle of the ocean because of the ban on imports,” he said.

Rowe and his family are expected to move into their new shipping container home by 31 October 2021 and plan to host a community open house.

“All the stuff we’ve gone through has not been fun, but the kids are excited,” he concludes.

Read the full article here.

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