All year long, sea containers transport a variety of cargo. To increase their endurance and secure goods from any damage, it needs a sturdy structure. A standard shipping container is furnished with a thick marine grade plywood floor and built of solid corten steel wall. It is meant to endure heavy weight and provide high resistance against humidity and liquid. This sturdy construction has many good years of lifespan and is resistant to extreme conditions during the journey. Though plywood flooring offers a high level of strength to heavy weight, wood easily attracts pests. To get rid of the pests, plywood floors are often infused with pesticides which can affect the cargo with toxic substances and are harmful to those handling the storage.
While wood flooring may damage over time, you might want to find other references for flooring material to overcome the situation. Choosing flooring substitutes may come off tricky as you need to adjust the material depending on the cargo type you would carry. Here are a few options for shipping container floors that you can use, along with tips on what suits them best.
Aluminum or Steel Flooring – best for heavy machinery
One of the main advantages of steel or aluminum flooring is that they don’t need any pesticide maintenance. Normally, steel flooring comes in a corrugated style which can withstand heavy machinery a lot more than other types of flooring materials. This flooring suits best for reefer or insulated containers as well where it locks the temperature inside. They don’t absorb any odor or liquids coming from any possible leaks and are very easy to maintain. Aluminum or steel is known to be resistant to rusting and is very strong. For a long-term investment and reliability, this material could be one of the best options.
Bamboo Flooring – best for dry cargo
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly and sustainable flooring option, bamboo sits in one of the excellent alternatives. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and is available in large quantities. They are relatively inexpensive rather than hardwood flooring, yet still serve a tough capability to hold heavy weights. The benefitting point of bamboo flooring for sea containers over alternatives like plastic-wood composite is their availability and low price. Bamboo flooring is easy to clean, doesn’t stain, and does not require pesticide control. Dry cargoes like clothing, grains, and textiles fit well with this flooring material type.
Coin Vinyl – best for liquid goods
Vinyl floors are ideal if you need to transport oils and acids. It has a simple roll-out installation by gluing on the surface of the existing floor and applicable without any adhesive. Coin vinyl flooring is tough, waterproof, and resistant to slip. Certain food products like wine and milk or chemicals like ammonia are also transportable in the form of bulk liquid. Vinyl flooring offers a range of textures, colors, and thicknesses. They are also applicable in a variety of different functions. However, vinyl flooring is more prone to sharp objects and extreme weather than other types of flooring.
Epoxy Coat – best to enhance durability
The epoxy coat is another beneficial option that you can add to the floor. Epoxy coats protect any type of solid surface like wood, metals, or plastic. It helps prevent rusting, strengthen the floor, and protect against chemicals, paints, or leaking liquid. It can also lessen slippery surfaces, especially in winter times when it’s risky for the workers to step onto the wet floor for leaving snow and ice tracks from the outside. Epoxy coating is a popular option for floors that must resist constant industrial hassle, machine traffic, extreme temperatures, oil, and chemicals without peeling or rusting over years. It is considerably low cost to coat the flooring rather than replacing them with new ones when damage happens.
Imitation Wood Vinyl Planks – best for oils and acids load
One of the most common substitutes to standard plywood in a shipping container is imitation wood or vinyl. Vinyl is relatively waterproof and takes less maintenance than real wood. Though it tends to cost less than the other alternatives, vinyl is notably to be highly durable. The side benefit is, they look more attractive in terms of design since they come in many styles and colors. The flooring is easy to install and maintain.
Looking to invest in a shipping container of your own?
Any of these preferences is an effective way to adjust your sea container for sale. Deciding which floor alternative to customize your shipping container that fits your ideal container structure is only a step of the modification process. Each alternative offers its flexibility and advantages.
Other than picking the right container flooring, choosing the right container type will also help you most in cutting the cost for regular shippers. If you’re thinking of getting a new or used one, or still unsure of how or which to pick the right container for your business, don’t hesitate to consult with us. Tradecorp has a variety of types and sizes of shipping containers, from standard ones to tanks, and specialized ones. We will have them ready for you also at a reasonable price. Fill out a quote on our page here we will respond to your inquiry promptly.
