Duo turns shipping containers into homes
EAST WHITELAND » With the rise of the tiny home movement, Guillermo Weston and Carlo Castelanelli may have found the right moment for their company, CW-Dwellings LLC to flourish. Their unique business transforms commercial overseas shipping containers into modern homes.
The two Argentina expats have been working on the business for two years, and have now begun to market their product.
Weston formerly worked in the IT department of SKF, a manufacturer of bearings. He came to the United States from Argentina in 1996 for a two year project and now lives in Tredyffrin.
“I retired and needed to do something,” Weston said while sitting in the company’s sample home, on display at Great Valley Shopping Center. “I’m the numbers and technology partner. Carlo is the creative partner. He’s had the idea for a long time and I thought that sounded like a fun project.”
Castelanelli spent 30 years as an architect in Argentina, specializing in steel building. He came to the United States 15 years ago when the economy in Argentina was in crisis, and now lives in West Chester.
“I entered a competition to build housing for farm workers in California when I realized containers could have potential,” Castelanelli said. “The homes had to survive earthquakes. The design competition was cancelled but I thought this could be good for other places too. After that, I started working on this company.”
“It is cheaper. The inside is just like a regularly constructed house,” said Weston. “The difference is the structure is a less expensive material — steel.”
The company buys what’s called “one trip” shipping containers, that is, they have only
“The life expectancy is forever when properly maintained. No termites, no rust, no sagging. It’s steel. This model is ideal as a mancave, pool house or hunting lodge.” – Guillermo Weston
been used for one overseas shipment and are in the best condition. Most come from China and are made of Corten, a rust resistant steel. They are trucked to a subcontractor in Gap, where they are washed and the floor is removed and replaced with plywood.
The containers come in 20- and 40-foot lengths and are eight-feet-wide. The company modifies the structure with a 16 foot by three foot bump-out that adds 48 square-feet and brings the width of the structure to 11feet. The bump-out gives the structure a less boxy feel.
The interior is framed out in wood, insulated and wired to code and fitted with kitchen and bathrooms. They undergo inspection at the plant by a third party inspector who visits during construction and again for the final inspection.
Weston said the inspections are similar to safety codes for mobile homes. However, shipping container homes are in a different category called industrialized housing and built to the International residential code which is standard for any traditional constructed home. The inspector represents the state in which the home will be located.
“It’s becoming a trend,” said Steve Miller, East Whiteland Codes and Safety officer. “We rely on them meeting the intent of the building codes. As for zoning, they have to meet the same zoning requirements such as setbacks as anyone else.”
Miller said the construction is covered by the 2009 Industrial Housing code. The company engineer would have to present the plans and document to
show they are meeting those codes.
“The life expectancy is forever when properly maintained. No termites, no rust, no sagging. It’s steel,” said Weston. “This model is ideal as a man-cave, pool house or hunting lodge. They can be stacked. A structure in the Netherlands is built 5 high. An Australian building has 13 40-foot containers.”
The model, priced in the $36,000 range, doesn’t include land, sewer hook-up, occupancy fee or township inspections, Weston said.
The men have worked with Kutztown University Small Business Development Center to determine where the demand may come from.
“We had one couple interested as a house for their son returning from college. They didn’t want him in their house all day.”
He feels there could also be interest from the government as temporary housing. They can be moved and are easily set up.
For a mountain house, the inherent security is a plus. The homes can be closed down with steel covering to provide protection from theft and bears. He said in Europe the trend is really gaining traction and is popular for student dorms.
Weston said the company has given out estimates on some homes but none have sold yet.
“It will take some time,” Weston said. “They are becoming more popular but they’re still a new concept. People are more used to contemporary homes.”
A sample model has been on display at Great Valley Shopping Center since October so people can come out and take a look.
Weston says, “It may seem a little bit odd but as people start seeing it, they will get used to it.”