The humble shipping container is used across the world every single day. However, many people don't realise just how practical and flexible they can be. Shipping containers can have a variety of uses, apart from the basic requirement for storing and transporting goods.

With a little bit of creativity, businesses are turning to container hire to solve some of their everyday problems. This is leading to a growth in the number of containers that are used, and also highlights the many uses that they can have.

Buildings

The many uses a shipping container can have as a building are practically endless. They range from providing temporary facilities on building sites, to their use as schools in under-developed countries. Now people are also using them for more innovative reasons, such as turning containers into bars and restaurants or retail outlets; there are even whole shopping centres that have been constructed from shipping containers. They offer many benefits in these circumstances and provide a cost-effective and quickly installed solution. They can also be moved relatively easily, so there are fewer restrictions on location.

A Growcontainer

Not only are businesses turning to container hire as an outlet for customers, but they are also using them as self-contained indoor farms. Converted containers can be transported to parts of the world where cultivating crops is difficult due to the conditions. The containers can be fitted with LED lighting and drip-irrigation systems that conserve water to provide the perfect conditions for growing vegetables and other plant life; this offers a year-round solution to the problems of growing crops, and the containers can be moved to a new location when required.

Swimming Pools

Providing space for a swimming pool might not be your first thought for how to use a shipping container, but it can easily be achieved. This isn't even a difficult project and could be carried out on a DIY basis for almost any property. The size of the pool can vary depending on the dimensions of the container, and it is simple to make the space waterproof; this is achieved either by lining the container or welding it. You can even paint the inside and the exterior to match your design requirements. Once you've finished, you have a great outdoor swimming pool for the summer.

With so many varied and creative uses for shipping containers, you'll never look at them in the same way again.