Most container home owners are wondering how to paint a shipping container home. This activity is one of the necessities in making it durable, weather-resistant, and visually appealing.
There are numerous reasons to paint your container home. It can be a creative and cost-effective solution to boost your home’s beauty and lifespan.
Painting a shipping container for your soon-to-be home is like adding a touch of innovation while incorporating eco-friendly features to align with sustainable practices.
Find out how to paint a shipping container home from prep to finish by reading this article until the end!
Contents
Why Do You Need to Paint a Shipping Container Home
Painting a shipping container home is important for several practical and aesthetic reasons. Here’s why:
1. Rust and Corrosion Protection
Shipping containers are made of Corten steel. They are weather-resistant but not completely rust-proof. When you cut windows, doors, or vents, the protective factory coating is compromised.
Therefore, you need to paint your container home. It creates a barrier against moisture, salt, and oxygen to prevent corrosion. This will work even better if you use a rust-inhibiting primer and marine-grade paint.
2. Temperature Control
Dark steel absorbs heat quickly. Without paint, your container can become an oven in the sun. Meanwhile, a light-colored or reflective paint reduces heat absorption, keeping interiors cooler and improving energy efficiency. Some paints even include insulating or heat-reflective additives.
3. Aesthetic Appeal
While a raw steel container has an industrial charm, painting can improve the aesthetic appeal of a shipping container home. You can choose colors that match your taste from minimalist neutrals to bold, artistic designs.
A well-chosen paint color helps your container blend into a forest, desert, or coastal setting. Or, you can go the opposite way, contrast the landscape to make a bold design statement.
4. Waterproofing and Weather Resistance
While containers are built tough for ocean travel, once they are modified, their original weatherproof integrity is compromised. That’s where a proper paint system becomes essential.
High-quality exterior paint creates a seal over the steel surface, preventing rain, dew, and humidity from penetrating. Also, a good paint system shields your home from sun, rain, wind, and temperature changes.
5. Maintenance and Longevity
A proper paint job on a shipping container home extends the container’s lifespan and makes it much easier to maintain.
When exposed to moisture, salt, or oxygen (especially after cutting for windows/doors), the steel can corrode. A high-quality primer and topcoat system seals the steel, preventing water and air from reaching it. This slows corrosion dramatically and can extend the lifespan of your container by decades.
Smooth and sealed painted surface won’t make dust, mud, and grime stick easily. It can be washed off with simple soap and water, no heavy scrubbing or chemicals needed. Therefore, you’ll spend less time cleaning and doing touch-ups, and more time enjoying your space.
How to Paint a Shipping Container Home
Prepare the Tools and Materials
The tools and materials that you need to prepare before beginning the painting process are:
- Pressure washer or scrub brushes
- Wire brush/grinder/sander
- Rust remover or converter
- Cleaning detergent or degreaser
- Rust-inhibiting primer (marine-grade or epoxy-based)
- Exterior paint (acrylic, marine enamel, or elastomeric coating)
- Paint rollers, brushes, or a spray gun
- Painter’s tape, drop cloths, and safety gear (mask, gloves, goggles)
Inspect and Prepare the Container
While inspecting the container, you need to look for rust spots, dents, scratches, or factory paint damage. Pay extra attention to welded areas, corners, and seams, as they are prone to corrosion. Then, remove stickers and labels that might peel under the paint.
Clean Thoroughly
Wash the container with a pressure washer and mild detergent to remove dirt, grease, and salt residue. If you don’t have a pressure washer, use a stiff brush and degreaser. Then, let it dry completely before moving to the next step.
Remove Rust and Old Paint
Use a wire brush, sander, or grinder to remove rust and old paint. If there’s deep rust, treat it with a rust converter before priming. Then, wipe the surface clean of any dust or debris.
Apply Primer
For a container home’s corten steel structure, choose a rust-inhibiting primer designed for marine epoxy primers, as they work best.
Primer is important. It is your main defense against rust. Apply 1-2 coats with a roller, brush, or spray gun.
After that, let the primer cure fully. It will be finished in about 12-24 hours, depending on the weather and product instructions.
Paint the Exterior
For your container home’s exterior, the marine-grade enamel or acrylic latex exterior paint is an excellent choice. It is a high-quality, UV- and weather-resistant paint. However, for hot climates, consider heat-reflective paint to keep the home cooler.
When painting, do it in dry, mild weather, or avoid direct sunlight and high humidity. Apply 2 coats, letting each one dry thoroughly. Then, use a spray gun for a smoother, more even finish, or rollers for a DIY-friendly method.
If you are painting multiple containers, maintain color consistency by mixing paint from the same batch.
Paint the Interior
You can paint your container home’s interior with non-toxic, low-VOC paint if you’re not covering it with insulation or drywall. Try to choose a bright paint color as it will help brighten the space.
Final Inspection & Maintenance
After drying, check for missed spots or thin areas and touch up as needed.
Inspect the paint every year or two, especially around joints and edges, and recoat when signs of wear appear.
Conclusion
Painting a shipping container will allow you to beautify your home and make it more durable. However, things will be easier if you prepare and apply the painting equipment correctly. To paint one, you can buy a used or new shipping container from Tradecorp. With more than 30 years in the industry, Tradecorp will provide you with the most durable shipping container for your home. Order today via our quote form and we will get back to you ASAP!