The shipping container store trend is thought to have been pioneered by Starbucks in 2011 when they opened a 450 square foot shipping container store in Washington. Since then, shipping containers have been used as countless retail and entertainment spaces all over the world. Most shipping containers are eight feet wide, 9.5 feet tall, and either 20 or 40 feet long, and if you’re interested in creating an ambient space to conduct business, one important step is to paint the outside of the shipping container so that it’s more visually appealing and can attract customers. Here are some quick tips to help you properly paint your custom shipping containers.
Consider Intended Use
Durable, steel shipping containers average a 25-year lifespan and require minimal maintenance, and adding a layer of paint to the exterior can increase its durability and rust resistance. But before you choose the right paint, consider the intended use you have for your shipping container. While it’s true that modified shipping container stores stand to take between five and 12 weeks off a store’s potential opening timeline, there are plenty of other applications they can make more efficient. Typically, water-based paints that can be applied to metal are the best option. As for colors, you’ll have to consider the intended use as well: for custom shipping containers being used for marketing, bright colors are usually best. But if you’re adding a customized shipping container as an element to another construction project, consider painting it a color that will match the existing color scheme.
Clean the Container Thoroughly
Once you’ve selected the right paint, it’s critical to clean the container thoroughly. This may include sanding interior or exterior components down to a smooth surface to which paint can be more easily applied. Afterward, consider using a pressure washer to ensure that no debris remains in or on the container.
When painting, it’s often most efficient to use a spray painter or a heavy paint roller.
Some 11 million unused shipping containers around the world could potentially be used for a variety of purposes, but it’s important to know how to prepare your custom container properly. For more information about modified shipping containers, contact IPME, where we can help you bring any experiential marketing project to life.