In the Pacific Northwest, where winters are long and damp, a cargo container is still the best investment in the secure storage of personal items or business equipment. Shipping containers come in many levels of condition, some very good considering they age and usage, some pretty darn bad. You wouldn’t buy a home without first looking through it to make sure that everything in working order. Don’t do the same with a sea container. You might get some nasty surprises. Five things you need to seriously consider when purchasing your container are:
Check the surface rust that you might see. A cargo container from us is made of nickle based, cor-ten steel. Not all steel containers are. Cor-ten steel keeps the rust from eating through to the inside. Some minor surface rust is easily to get rid of and is to be expected from a cargo container that has been at sea.
Make sure that the doors to the cargo container open and shut with relative ease. Shipping containers have double swing doors at one end, and they’re quite heavy. If the doors aren’t easy to manuver, then you can’t fill the shipping container with the goods you have, or get to them when you need to. The doors might need to be realigned and/or have the hinges lubricated (something that should be on a maintenance schedule once you purchase your cargo container.
The floors of a GradeA class cargo container are always in good condition. There may be some scratches and a small amount of staining, but overall their condition is good. Made of polymarine, ship plank wood, these floors are known for their durability. Floors should be straight without buckling of warping of any kind.
Nothing can be worse then opening the doors on a cargo container only to be hit with the aroma of something less than desirable. Imagine storing your goods in that for months on end? Make absolutely sure that except for the scent of the wood flooring, nothing else is present. A good company, such as West Coast Containers, will have made sure that any lingering odors were gotten rid of once the cargo container entered their yard.
Round out your cargo container inspection with a check of the door seals. These heavy, rubber seals are what keeps the rain (and elements in general) from attacking what you’re trying to keep dry. Seals can become damaged when unaligned doors are forced shut, and can become cracked and useless due to climate. Make absolutley sure that these seals are still pliable and able to keep out water, making your cargo container the storage option you’ll be happy with.
