Utah couple builds house out of shipping containers
(KUTV) -- A Utah couple wanted to do something "daring and out of the ordinary."
So, one year ago, they decided to build a house made out of shipping containers in their own backyard in Kane County.
"The last few years we've seen some really interesting designed houses made from shipping containers [on] the internet and TV shows," said Kristy Brinkerhoff. "So it's been in the back of our minds to make something out of shipping containers that really stands out."
As shipping container homes become more popular and attract more viewers, the Brinkerhoff's believe more and more people will find these homes to be useful, resourceful and trendy.
"We've always like the modern, industrial look," said Kristy. "We really think the shipping container house movement will be a movement that takes off in the next few years. We don't believe that everyone will want one, but that as time goes by it will be more of a normal thing than an abnormal one."
Jarad Brinkerhoff, Kristy's husband, has made things from recycled metal items before, but the couple has never attempted anything of this magnitude.
We really haven't done anything like this in the past. Jarad has built little projects and likes to make things out of metal, but nothing really to this magnitude. Jarad likes to make things from recycled metal items and make things with his hands. So this was really something that we felt like we could do. But that being said it was a large undertaking that required lots of time and patients. We were probably over optimistic on how hard it would be . We knew that it would require work, but until you get into it and start working, you don't think about all the details of everything that's involved.
Since Jarad's father owns a shipping container business and hauls them from LA Port to southern Utah, it wasn't hard for the couple to get their hands a container or two. The real challenge, though, was the process of finding containers that would work well.
"Some containers are better than others," said Kristy. "It took a few months of seeing multiple containers before we would get the ones we felt would work the best for our project."
It has taken the couple over a year to complete a portion of the work, and they still have a long way to go. Jarad and Kristy expect to finish the project in six to eight months. Once the home is complete, the couple hopes to rent it or save the space for guests.
But, Jarad and Kristy hope this project does more than help pay their bills. The Brinkerhoff's hopes it inspires others to try something "daring and out of the ordinary."
I hope people will see what we have done and be able to learn from it (our mistakes and triumphs). It might provide insight on what they can do to and give people ideas to think out of the box (punt intended). Sometimes it takes a one person doing something for others to see what can be done for them to decide to try something out of the ordinary.
