Building a new reptile room!

I want to build a new reptile room to house my collection and was thinking about using a shipping container approx 20ft x 8ft,anyone know where these can be purchased and roughly the cost of one? I have looked in this weeks trading post and they seem to sell for the average price of
$900-$1200,does anyone know anywhere cheaper?

[Fangs]

That price seems fairly cheap.A couple of years ago I purchased 6(for storage)at work and they costed $1800 each.These were reconditioned though,rust repairs and fresh paint.
I assume you are aware that the inside of these containers get extremely hot in summer?

cheers

[gbskda]

Hi John,
you could try contacting shipping contactors as they would probably have old containers lying around.
You would have to consider the cost of shipping the container from the suppiler to you as this would be expensive.
I tink this is a good idea but you have to think of the cost.

Thanks guys.
And Fang im glad you pointed that out,I hadn't even considered the temperature factor involved in using a container.
I assume it would be much like a caravan being cold in winter and hot in summer.So should I insulate it in some way? or would I be better off to construct a garage type room out of brick? For the time been I am just flicking through idea's so costs are irrelevant at the moment.
Any other ideas :

[gbskda]

Hi again John,
Just to add to the info you already have, if you search around you might find a refridgerated container, so you might be able to keep it at a constant temperture, I dont know how high you can set the temp on containers as they normally run at 2 - 5 degrees Celius.
Or depending on what size you need you can always try want I am going yo do when I eventaully get my Specialist Licence (Qld).
I am going to buy an old portable office like the ones at construction sites as these are air-conditioned and already have a wndow for natural light and a lockable door.

[Fangs]

Yeah they do get really hot/cold depending on the season.Also the containers that get sold off do so because they have hit the end of their service life ie:rust etc.
If you did go that way then you would probably need to build a false roof out of polycarb etc to stop leaks as the roofs do tend to rust right thru in 12 to 18 months.
Also while 20ft long they aint that wide at 8ft.

Cost wise for construction,a timber framed shed with fibro outside,lined with ply on the inside and insulated with fibreglass batts(walls and ceiling) would be the most economical.Plus the fact you can build to a size that more suits your needs.
I used this type of setup for my fish room(cichlids) and heated the entire room and it worked very well.

Hope this helps.
cheers

[africancichlidau]

I just have to back up everything Fangster said. I used shipping containers for storage when up North Qld and boy the heat is horrific!! The shed idea is a far better solution.

[Magpie]

A guy I visited at Wellington on the weekend had one of those transportable offices as his herp room. Aircon in one end, false roof over the top to keep heat down, he was very happy with it. The temps are a lot more variable than sydney there though so you might not even need the aircon. If you do have the aircon, it gives you somewhere to put your rodents on the really hot days in summer.

[moses]

building the shed is probably the best idea, and you can use egg boxes to line the inside of the walls as this helps in the dispersion of the heat and holds the warmth in.

[ackie]

i hav got an idea.
steal one from my school
we hav enought that they wouldnt notice

[jonno]

how bigs your land?
you could always get one of those free houses to remove and locate in the trading post..now that would be perfect

I actually do escorts for house removals and the cost is 15-20,000 after you cut the house in 1/2 then transport it to the location and lay new foundation.Im keen on my snakes but that is wayyyyy outta my priceline.

[Bendragon]

Hows about one of those small "Demountable" buildings you always have at any school, they also use them for work site offices. Not cheap but a lot cheaper than a new house....

[sarahbell]

try aussie barns we looked at a huge one and it was only 6000or you could do what we have under our house is what americans call a basement the house looks one storey but is actually 2 we call ours a dungon

[africancichlidau]

You into dungeon games eh Sarah ??