ROXBOX 101

What is ROXBOX 101?

We know you probably have a ton of questions about what we do here at ROXBOX. We therefore created ROXBOX 101 (found below on this page), an all-encompassing guide to all things ROXBOX and the container modification + modular industries. In no more than 10-15 minutes, you will learn everything you need to know to confidently start your modular project and begin the conversation with our team!

We know it might seem like a daunting amount of information, but a lot goes into a modular project and we want to make sure you have all of the knowledge and information needed before kickstarting your project.

ROXBOX's manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas

ROXBOX 101

How much will my shipping container modification project cost?

It’s challenging to estimate the total cost of a project until after we have a discussion about your concept/vision and dive into the details of the project. There are many variables that go into the cost of a project, including (but not limited to): size of container(s), number of container(s), equipment, mobile vs. permanent building classification, architecture/engineering and design costs, code requirements, signage/branding, design, project location (where we will be delivering the unit(s) to), project timeline, etc.

There is a common misconception that building with containers is very cheap, but we ultimately have to use the same studs, nails, and materials that traditional construction uses. While there can be cost savings from a time function (as we can build quickly and activate your units much faster than traditional construction) and a ROXBOX project usually comes in a bit cheaper than other alternatives, typically building with containers is pretty comparable to traditional “stick and brick” construction.

Examples of a typical ROXBOX project cost include:
20-foot mobile turn-key bars start at around $55,000
20-foot mobile turn-key kitchens start at around $125,000
• Retail/Office units usually start at around $50,000
• Experiential marketing units typically start at around $75,000, but can cost more or less depending on the final design

As you can see above, most of our projects start at around $50,000, unless we are providing just the “shell”. By shell, we mean ROXBOX simply provides the modified container(s) with doors, windows, framing, insulation under the floors, and exterior paint while your team and/or a local General Contactor finishes out the project on-site and completes all on-site inspections. Scroll down to Section 2 below to learn more about our shell offerings.

If you are interested in receiving a quote, we ask that you reach out to our team and provide as much detail as possible about your concept and vision. This will allow us to provide the most accurate rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate of your project. Once you receive the quote, we can determine if the estimated cost works with your team’s budget prior to proceeding with our Four-Step Phase Process.

Soft Costs vs. Hard Costs

As a design + build firm, we take your project from “napkin sketch” all the way to a finished and delivered project. Therefore, there are both “soft costs” and “hard costs” associated with most of our projects.

Soft Costs
Soft costs are the pre-construction costs incurred before the production/construction of your unit(s), which includes design costs, architecture & engineering stamps, and plan inspections. Soft Costs occur in Phases 1 (Design & Planning) & Phase 2 (Construction Documents) of our Four-Step Phase Process. If you choose a ROXBOX model, the price and time for Phases 1 & 2 decrease significantly as we already have all base model designs and plans completed. If we are working with you to design a custom unit, there is added time and cost in order to bring your vision to life. Some clients choose to provide us with stamped/approved plans which allows us to move into production upon review/redlines by our team. Phase 2 (Construction Documents) for a permanent project takes significantly longer and costs much more than a mobile project due to requirements for Architecture & Engineering (A&E), creation of a CD set, State and local building department submission/review/approval, inspection pathway, etc. Phase 1 (Design & Planning) for a custom mobile or permanent project takes around 1 to 3+ weeks to complete and runs anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000(+). Phase 2 (Construction Documents) for a custom mobile project takes around 1 to 3+ weeks and runs anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000(+) vs. 2 to 4+ months and around 16% of the total project cost for a custom permanent project. If you go with a ROXBOX model, Phases 1 & 2 are a fraction of the time and cost outlined above for a custom project.

Hard Costs
Hard costs are the costs for the actual build and delivery of the unit(s). This includes the containers or steel-framed modular units, materials, consumables, equipment, fixtures, etc. We take 60% down to begin your project in Phase 3 to purchase all materials to hedge against price escalations. This is especially important these days, as material prices are changing rapidly due to supply chain issues. We are anti-change order and therefore work hard to build your project within budget and on time.

What are the different ways to work with ROXBOX?

We offer 3 different pathways to work with us – Models, Custom Projects, and “Shells”. Below we highlight each pathway and the benefits/challenges of each:

ROXBOX Models:
ROXBOX models are different base models that we have spent years refining and optimizing. By choosing one of our ROXBOX models, you are greatly reducing the time and cost of your project, especially from a pre-construction standpoint as all of the designs are already completed and approved. Models have various add-ons that you can choose from (such as a rooftop deck or various finish options) and can be painted/branded to whatever your preference is to truly make the build your own. Models are great for single-unit builds. While we are always expanding our offering of ROXBOX models, our current models consist of bars & taprooms, kitchens, cafes, concession stands, retail units, bathrooms, and homes. To learn more about each model, visit our Models page here.

Custom Projects
Custom projects allow our customers to bring their wildest visions to life. With custom projects, we work with your team to design and build your vision from scratch, bringing a napkin sketch to reality. While this pathway adds significant time and cost to a project, it enables our clients to build a structure that perfectly fits their brand and vision! The main limiting factors of a fully custom project are timeline, budget, imagination, and code compliance. Therefore, custom projects are great for people that have a long timeline and ample budget to design a concept from scratch – whether that be a single unit or multiple units.

Shell Pathway
By choosing a shell, ROXBOX simply provides the modified container(s) with doors, windows, framing, insulation under the floors, and exterior paint while your team and/or a local General Contactor finishes out the project on-site and completes all on-site inspections. “Shells” are our least expensive and fastest option but are also our most limited as far as scope. We still typically handle pre-construction Phase 1 (Design & Planning) & Phase 2 (Construction Documents) to design the unit(s) and produce a stamped Construction Drawing set. You can also provide the approved drawings yourselves and we would skip right to the shop drawings based on the plans you provide. For the shell pathway, we oftentimes work with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), aka your local building department (instead of the State Modular program).

Whereas ROXBOX models and custom projects will arrive on-site essentially turn-key and have already been fully inspected at our facility by approved 3rd-party inspection agencies, shells are limited to modifying the unit to the point of the first inspection (ie. modified container, doors, windows, spray-foam underneath the floors, framing, and exterior paint). Once the shell(s) arrive, a licensed General Contractor takes over and finishes the build-out on-site with correlating inspections. Therefore, your all-in costs for the unit will be similar in the end but this pathway is seen as a more traditional construction pathway.

Upon completion of the project, inspection by our clients and/or 3rd party inspection agencies, and receipt of final payment, we help organize delivery of your unit(s) on a flat-bed truck OR our client’s pick up their unit(s) from our Denver facility.

Some common questions about delivery we receive are:

Where does ROXBOX deliver to?

We deliver all over the world. Anywhere a container can be delivered, we can deliver.

Do we deliver outside of the U.S.?

Yes we do, but the cost and time of shipping a project can be cost prohibitive. A modified container that goes on a ship often has restrictions which will increase the cost and time for shipping versus an unmodified container. The current supply-chain issues have only exacerbated this shipping issue from both a cost and time perspective.

How do we deliver our projects/shipping containers?

We deliver all projects on a flat-bed truck. Our clients are responsible for ensuring that their site is fully prepared upon delivery of their unit(s), such as prepping the foundation and utility connections. Once the unit(s) arrive, a large forklift or crane is required to unload the unit(s) into their final location. Usually, our clients handle off-loading with ROXBOX consulting and recommendations. For most projects, a local General Contractor executes the off-loading and installation of the unit(s) on-site (ROXBOX is available to consult and offer advice if needed). In certain situations, our clients will contract ROXBOX to come out to the project site and help with installation under a local licensed General Contractor. For larger, multi-unit projects, we advise bringing our team out to the project site to assist with the final installation.

How long will my project take to complete?

Multiple variables determine a project’s timeline, including: the project type, project complexity, long lead items, production schedule, the permitting & inspection process, whether you choose one of our predesigned “models” or design a fully custom concept, and most importantly the mobile vs. permanent classification of your project.

As a design + build firm, we take a project from ideation through conceptual design through approved plans through construction/production and finally delivery. Our Four-Step Phase Process follows the most effective way to successfully attack a project. We have 2 separate agreements, a pre-construction agreement that governs Phases 1 & 2 and a detailed scope of work contract that governs Phases 3 & 4. Each phase has it’s own timeframe highlighted below:

Phase 1 (Design & Planning) typically takes 2 to 4 weeks to complete depending on the complexity of the project. If you opt for a ROXBOX model, we can often drastically reduce the Phase 1 timeline to a few days.

Phase 2 (Construction Documents) is the largest consumption of time for all projects, but the timeline differs depending on whether your project is classified as mobile or permanent.
Mobile Classification: we produce shop drawings and the final quote which usually takes 3 to 5 weeks to complete. However, if you opt for a ROXBOX model we can cut that timeline in at least half.
Permanent Classification: The Phase 2 timeline for a permanent project is much longer and more extensive than for a mobile project. First, we have to create a comprehensive Construction Drawings (CD) set which includes reviews, redlines, and stamps by licensed architects and structural/MEP engineers. We then have to take that CD set and engage a 3rd party inspection firm to review the plans prior to submission to the State modular and/or local building department (AHJ). The AHJ will then take several weeks to review, redline, and provide feedback to ROXBOX so we can make correlating changes. This whole process happens in conjunction with the on-site General Contractor and landscape architecture firm in order to coordinate foundation preparation and utility connections. Lastly, the final CD set needs to be approved by the AHJ. Once we have the final approved CD set in hand and are fully informed on what we can legally build we can provide the final quote. We (unfortunately) cannot control how long Phase 2 takes for a permanent project, as every city and state is a bit different (but almost all move slowly).
*Usually, by going through the State Modular Program we can move quicker through the Phase 2 approval process. By having a 3rd-party inspection agency review the plans we can often expedite the approval through the modular programs. Typically, this process takes 3 to 4(+) months – however, we have seen it go as quick as 2 weeks and longer than 6 months so it never hurts to get Phases 1 & 2 done early to ensure it doesn’t compromise your project deadline.

Phase 3 (Construction & Production) is the fun part where we get to build out your project in our Denver facility. The timeline for phase 3 depends on the design, materials and equipment. Once we have all materials in-house, the construction process can take anywhere from a couple of weeks for a single container project to several months for a complex, multi-unit project.

Phase 4 (Delivery) varies depending on the location of your project. Please refer to Section #2 above for more details on the delivery process.

What is the difference between a modular project and a site-built project?

We typically approach a project with two different pathways – modular OR site-built. Both options have their own costs/benefits and deciding which path to choose is a critical first step for a permanent project.

Modular:
Modular construction allows ROXBOX to build any project (and complete inspections) at our Denver facility. We create the stamped CD set and submit it to the State Modular program for review/acceptance (as well as the local building department). We also need to coordinate with a GC (either ours or yours) regarding the foundation, site plan, utility connections, etc. Once the plans are approved, we will build the unit(s) in our facility and have the unit inspected by an approved 3rd-party inspection agency. Upon completion, it will leave our facility with a seal from that State’s modular building department. The unit(s) are offloaded (typically with a crane) and connected to the foundation and on-site utilities by the General Contractor. The local building department therefore only needs to inspect those connections.
Benefits of the modular pathway include: Typically much faster for pre-construction, faster build-out since the project is built in a controlled environment, the unit is operational within days after delivery, and faster ROI due to faster project turnaround and therefore quicker revenue generation.
Challenges of the modular pathway include: Requires a lot of coordination between all parties, difficult to make changes to the design once production begins, and some State modular programs are difficult to deal with and expensive for one-off projects.

Site-Built:
Going down the “site-built” pathway is more akin to a traditional construction project. While ROXBOX still handles all of the A&E and pre-construction, we instead submit those plans to the local building department for review/approval. We would still need to coordinate with a General Contractor (either yours or ours) and the GC is much more involved in this process. ROXBOX delivers the modified container “shells” (shells consist of the modified container(s), doors, windows, framing, spray-foam insulation underneath the container floors, and paint) and then the GC will take over and finish the project on-site and complete all correlating on-site inspections.
Benefits of the site-built pathway include:
Faster than traditional stick and brick construction as the “frame” of the building is delivered and set in place in about a day, more traditional build pathway so the inspections and approval process is easier for cities to comprehend, and you can integrate traditional stick and brick construction with containers for a hybrid-type project
Challenges of the site-built pathway include:
Local building departments tend to take a long time to get plans approved and this pathway comes with a similar cost function to “traditional” construction methods

What is the difference between a mobile build and a permanent build?

Mobile or permanent building classification is another critical first step to determine for any project. While it may seem obvious at first glance (a mobile unit can move around and a permanent unit stays in the same place forever), it is not always as simple as that. A “mobile” unit may never move but is classified as such and a “permanent” unit can always be disconnected and taken away but is classified as a “permanent” structure. Every city and state has different language and rules over what classifies a structure as permanent or mobile. This language typically has to do with utilities. For example, in many cities/states mobile units must have onboard tank systems for plumbing vs. permanent units must be connected to on-site utilities.

While Phase 1 (Design & Planning) remains the same for both the mobile and permanent pathways, Phase 2 (Construction Documents) is where the process differs. Phase 2 (Construction Documents) for a mobile classified project just requires ROXBOX to produce detailed shop drawings for client approval along with the final quote. However, Phase 2 (Construction Documents) for a permanent classified project is a bit more extensive. First, ROXBOX produces shop drawings. Then a licensed architect, structural engineer, and MEP engineer in your state must review, redline, and stamp those plans to create a comprehensive Construction Drawing (CD) set. That CD set is then submitted to the State modular and/or local building department for review/redlines/approval which produces the final approved CD set. This CD set tells us what we can legally build and allows us to provide the final quote for a permanent project.

Mobile/Temporary
Typically a mobile classified unit will have an onboard tank system for plumbing and an SO plug for electricity (similar to an RV). Some cities require a unit to be on “wheels” to be classified as mobile – which can be a trailer or even small caster wheels (shown below).
Benefits: Much faster pre-construction phases (Phase 1 & 2) as typically A&E is not required,  easier to move to different locations, typically does not need to involve building department(s), and typically classified as a piece of equipment (equipment financing, Section 179).
Challenges: Mobile classification/definition varies from city to city, some cities require mobile kitchens to have a “return to commissary”, and slightly higher cost due to onboard utilities

Permanent
Like any other building, a permanent classified structure requires all the necessary requirements (ie. architecture, structural engineering, and MEP engineering review/stamps/submission/redlines/approval). Therefore, Phase 2 (Construction Documents) of pre-construction requires significantly more cost and time to get the project approved than a mobile built.
Benefits: Ensures you can operate legally, classified as a piece of property therefore adding value to the location
Challenges: Adds significant cost and time to the pre-construction portion of a project, requires coordination with on-site general contracts and engineers (civil, foundation preparation, utilities plan, site plan, etc.)

Projects that require inspections (almost all permanent classified projects and some mobile classified projects) go through a process that ensures the unit(s) are inspected to IBC and/or local building codes. ROXBOX submits the stamped CD set to the proper inspection agencies and/or the state modular program/AHJ for their review and approval. For Food & Beverage projects, we often also work with clients to ensure their local Health Department reviews the stamped CD set as well.

Many people say… “what do you mean by all of this? I can just go online and buy a modified container for half the price”. Sure you can, but it’s not legal, you won’t be able to operate/live in it legally, and if someone were to get injured or worse within your structure… you’re potentially in a lot of trouble!

Common questions we receive regarding code compliance & inspection include:

What are inspections/code compliance and why do I need to do it?

Completing building inspections and ensuring buildings are built to code is required for any structure to be deemed legal. If you do not do this (as some of our competitors choose to do) you will risk not being able to legally operate, being sued or jailed if someone is injured in the structure, and/or being instructed to remove the structure from your property.

What is the difference between the mobile and permanent code compliance & inspections process?

Typically, mobile classified units do not need to be inspected/approved by a building department. That being said ROXBOX has a strict quality assurance program and builds to IBC code for all mobile and permanent builds. Please refer to Section 6 above for more information on this topic.

What is the timeline for the code compliance/inspections process?

This part of a project is everyone’s least favorite and an uncontrollable variable as far as timeline goes. Sometimes we can expedite the plan review by paying an expedition fee but the state and local building departments move at their own pace (…and it’s not fast). Typically it takes at least 2 months and in some situations it has even taken over a year to get approval. Therefore, it is always advisable to complete the pre-construction phases (Phase 1: Design & Planning and Phase 2: Construction Documents) as soon as possible and get the plans approved and ready to build, regardless of your project timeline and when you are looking to open.

Is the code compliance and inspections process different from state to state, county to county, country to country?

Yes, every city and state has different codes and rules for building requirements and they are constantly changing. 33 states currently have a state modular building program, leaving 17 states where we have to go through the local building department and determine if they allow 3rd-party inspections. Texas is the most difficult and expensive state to deal with, California has seismic requirements that add cost, and numerous other states are adopting new regulations related to shipping container structures (such as only allowing new and certified containers to build with – therefore adding cost). Some cities have also added regulations for certain requirements such as snow load, wind load, health code requirements, aesthetic requirements, etc.

How does ROXBOX help with this process?

We are the quarterback in this process. Our team fully understands that this is the most difficult, nuanced, challenging, and frustrating component of any project. We wish we could simply build you exactly what you want without any red tape. However, by doing so we could be setting your team up for failure and we are in the business of following the law. In coordination with your team, ROXBOX:
• Produces detailed shop drawings
• Coordinates with licensed architects, structural engineers, and MEP engineers to produce a stamped CD set that abides by local and/or state code compliance
• Manages plan submission, refines the plans based on redlines, and works towards the final approved plans which determines what we can legally build
• Provides a final quote based on the final approved plans

All of our projects are either built from shipping containers or steel frame modules. When we build with containers, we are upcycling a shipping container that was meant for logisitics/shipping and modifying it into a functional structure. Conversely, a steel frame module is built from the ground up utilizing a steel framework. This allows us to create a structure with different dimensions, sloped roofs, and in many cases we can even make them look like a shipping container.

The shipping container was just added to the 2021 International Building Code (Chapter 31) – a tremendous milestone for our industry establishing the shipping container as an acceptable building material.

Below we highlight the specs, benefits, and challenges of building with both options:

Shipping Containers:
Specs: CORETEN steel containers with corrugated walls and roof (the roof and end caps are made of different steel thicknesses and the roof is not structural). The majority of the structural integrity is in the frame of the container.
Benefits: Sustainability, cool factor, durable, strong, stackable, industrial aesthetic, natural disaster-resistant (fire, wind, hail, etc.), readily available, standard dimensions
Challenges: Challenges: Limited dimensionally (especially after the interior is built-out), not as cheap as people think (there is a lot of misinformation online regarding the price of containers/container modifications)

Steel Frame Modules:
Specs: Made of various steel components utilizing a steel skid, walls, and roof
Benefits: Not as dimensionally constrained (except from limitations for transport), more easily combined, easier to create different aesthetics
Challenges: Expensive in comparison to a container, needs more engineering, longer project timelines, lacks the sustainability factor of building with a container, more risk of failures due to the unproven nature of the building type

What are the benefits of building with shipping containers and/or steel frame modules?

The value propositions for modular construction are clear:

Fast:
We build all of our projects inside our 30,000 sqft. Denver facility where we have no weather delays and utilize LEAN manufacturing principles which allows us to produce our modules very quickly. Usually, you can complete the site-work (including the foundation work) simultaneously as we build your unit(s), therefore drastically reducing the construction timeline. Once the unit(s) arrive on-site they are craned into location that day and the project is quickly completed. Additionally, A&E approvals through State modular programs are often much faster than working with local building departments. Studies have shown that modular construction is at least 40% faster than traditional construction… and as we all know time is money!

Cost: 
While the cost of building with containers is pretty comparable to traditional construction, there are cost savings. When utilizing a steel-framed modular build (vs. repurposing shipping containers) the cost savings can increase depending on the design and scope of the project. Studies have shown modular construction is anywhere from 10-20% cheaper than traditional construction, plus there’s no change orders so your project will stay true to budget throughout the project life cycle.

Durable & Sustainable:
Utilizing steel shipping containers to create a structure immediately means you have chosen a sustainable building material that will last decades longer than a wood building, especially in the face of natural disasters like fires, floods, tornados/hurricanes, etc. Even utilizing the steel-framed modular solution is more sustainable as there is a significant reduction in waste in comparison to traditional construction.

In recent years, the advent of the shipping container as a modular building structure has gained tremendous momentum and become more common throughout the world (as mentioned above, the shipping container was just added to the 2021 International Building Code – Chapter 31). There are two types of shipping containers: new containers (also called one-trip as they have only been used as a cargo-carrying container on one trip) and used containers (they have been on the ocean and in use for numerous years). We typically do not utilize used containers in our builds as they usually do not meet code and their structural integrity might be compromised due to decades and years of use. Used containers often also have large dents in them. The cost savings from purchasing a used container (which usually comes out to a couple of thousand dollars at most) is less than the added cost to repair any dents/blemishes. There is also a common misconception regarding the floors of the container and its exposure to toxic materials. We seal the floors of all of our builds and the likelihood of a new container transporting toxic materials is minuscule.

Some common questions we get regarding the shipping containers we use in our projects are:

What are the sizes and dimensions of the shipping containers that we use in our projects?

  • 20’ Standard = 20’L x 8’6’’H x 8’W
  • 20’ High Cube (HC) = 20’L x 9’6’’H x 8’W (rare and therefore expensive)
  • 40’ Standard = 40’L x 8’6’’H x 8’W (we rarely use these as 40’ HC containers are very similarly priced as 40’ ST containers)
  • 40’ HC = 40’L x 9’6’’H x 8’W
  • 10’ Standard = 10’L x 8’6’’H x 8’W (rare and therefore expensive)

Where are the shipping containers from?

One-trip shipping containers have made one trip from their origin carrying cargo. They are typically manufactured in China or other east Asian countries and then shipped once across the ocean to the United States, where ROXBOX purchases them from various container brokers.

What are the shipping containers made of?

Shipping containers are made of CORETEN Steel. CORETEN steel is a steel composite with enhanced properties that make it more durable and long-lasting. That being said, CORETEN is designed to “patch” itself with what looks like rust. If your container is “rusting”, fear not, as that is what containers are designed to do. If you’re worried about it and do not like the look, simply clean it, scrub it, and paint over it. Like any steel structure, it is smart to clean your unit regularly, keep water off the unit, and re-paint the unit after several years.

Can ROXBOX combine multiple shipping containers into one structure?

Combining multiple containers into one structure is absolutely viable. However, it is a bit trickier than most people think, especially when it comes to making the structure water-tight. Combining containers becomes even more complex for a temporary/mobile project where the units need to combined and separated repeatedly. Either way, there will need to be additional time, money, and energy allocated to the on-site build-out to combine and seal the units – whether that is completed by our team or yours.

Does ROXBOX handle the on-site installation for permanent projects?

For most projects a local General Contractor handles the installation of the units on-site with ROXBOX acting as a consultant. That being said, we are happy to fly out to your project location and lead the installation if your team wants. However, in most situations the clients already have a GC working/leading the project on-site and it therefore doesn’t make much sense to pay for our team to come out. In some situations, we are contracted to coordinate the off-loading of the units on-site from the flatbed truck – either by crane or large forklift. Regardless of your team’s decision, our team is here to help and will ensure the project is successfully completed.

What type of site work is needed for permanent builds?

Preparing the site is critical for project success and ROXBOX typically is not involved with any site work. The site work includes: landscaping, curb/parking, pulling utilities, foundation (which must be perfectly level to receive the container(s), etc). We will need to coordinate with the GC who is performing the site work to ensure the foundation is done correctly and the utilities are pulled to the locations as denoted by the project plans. ROXBOX will build exactly what the plans dictate and the unit(s) will be delivered built-to-spec, so it is critical that whoever is completing the on-site work coordinates with our team to ensure the unit(s) can be installed correctly upon delivery.

What are the benefits of working with ROXBOX versus working with a Backyard Bob or General Contractor?

Here at ROXBOX, we take pride in the quality of our units and our team has decades of container modification, construction, and modular experience. Some people in our industry offer units that are very cheap (and therefore cheaply made) that are not inspected, approved by the State modular and/or local AHJ, and are therefore not legal. ROXBOX ensures that your project is 100% legal (giving your team the peace of mind it deserves upon project completion), manages and executes everything required to construct a legal structure, and ensures you get a high-quality building. While we’re not the most expensive firm in our industry, we are also not the cheapest, and you definitely get what you pay for in this industry. We have had many clients opt for the cheapest solution for their project only to call back within six months when they realize that they can not get a certificate of occupancy because the structure was not built legally and/or asking if we can fix their unit(s) because they were built poorly/low quality.

The cost of building a legal structure out of containers is pretty comparable to traditional construction and the biggest value is the speed. Developers are very smart and shrewd individuals and if building with containers was really 50% cheaper like you often hear then there would be thousands of container structures everywhere. If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is (trust your gut when having these conversations about your project)!

Ultimately, with ROXBOX you get an experienced modular design + build firm that takes your project from napkin sketch to completion without cutting corners. We have a huge indoor manufacturing facility (no building in a dirt lot outside), a comprehensive quality control program, the highest quality standards, and we believe in paying our team a fair and liveable wage.

Container tiny homes and container pools have become very popular due to the high exposure they get on social media and home improvement television shows. We therefore often receive inquiries about both of them. While we get why people love both concepts, there is a lot of information that social media influencers or tv show hosts don’t tell you. We dive a bit deeper into both below.

Does ROXBOX build container tiny homes?

Here’s the deal with container tiny homes… there is a very limited number of places where you can legally live in them in this country (whether they are on wheels or not). There is legislation in different parts of the country that do allow them, but most municipalities have around 500 square foot minimum requirements for a single-family dwellings. That being said, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming more common and legal.

We do have a residential line with various models, including an ADU model as well as larger, high-end container homes. You can find more information about our container home offering here. As of right now we only work with developers on multi-home residential projects and do not currently do custom container homes for individual clients. However, we will build a containeer home shell(s) for any client if they provide us with stamped & approved plans.

We hope that tiny homes become a more viable pathway in the future that could help with more attainable housing options for many Americans. The best way to get the ball rollling and make an impact in this area is to call your local representative and voice your opinion on the topic!

Does ROXBOX build container pools?

Container pools look cool and have become popular on social media, but to be honest they are a horrible use-case for a shipping container. Shipping containers are not designed to hold water and the fluid dynamics and pressure/force that water possesses creates significant problems for a steel box where the sides are not structurally sound. Numerous companies have tried to specialize in container pools, failed, and are getting sued by many unhappy customers. We have built two container pools in the past and we will never build one again.

What is the best way to get in contact with the ROXBOX team?

Thanks for taking some time to dive into the details above about who we are and what we do here at ROXBOX. Now that you’re armed with more information, we would love to hear about your project. Please reach out to us and provide as much information as possible (you can find the inquiry form here). We will review your inquiry, schedule a call to discuss details about your specific project, answer any questions you might have, and give you a ballpark time and cost estimate. The first step will be to engage our firm in our pre-construction agreement so we can begin Phase 1 (Design & Planning) and flush out your design.