Rust and Corrosion Treatment on Your Shipping Container in Houston, TX

Shipping containers are great for repurposing into storage units or tiny homes. Many people choose to use shipping containers for their projects because they provide a pre-made structure that is weather resistant. Use these tips and tricks to help prevent and treat rust on your shipping container.

Materials Used for Shipping Containers

Steel is the most commonly used material for building shipping containers. This makes the containers susceptible to rusting. Rust occurs when the metal of a shipping container comes into contact with water and oxygen.

The more a container is exposed to the combination of water and oxygen, the more likely you are to have rust spots. These rust spots can get under the protective coating of your container and lead to structural rust. Structural rust has gone below the surface level and can compromise the structural integrity of your unit.

Most containers are built using rust-resistant materials like marine grade steel. Standard dry storage containers are made of a steel known as Cor-ten steel. Cor-ten steel, or weathering steel, was developed to be resistant to corrosion and rust. Even with high resistance to corrosion, Cor-ten steel cannot completely stop corrosion over time. It can, however, slow the corrosion process. This gives you time to prevent future rust spots and treat any rust that has already occurred.

How to Prevent Rust

Prevention is the best method for avoiding rust and corrosion on your shipping container in Houston, TX. Before you place your shipping container, take a look at the weather patterns around your space. If you know that rain commonly moves in from one direction, consider planting trees to prevent exposure to moisture. Likewise, you can add an extra protective layer to the outside of your container if you are worried that the protective coating has been damaged.

Another method for preventing rust on your shipping container is to complete regular maintenance checkups on it. Walk around your container and look for signs of damage. Be sure to check the roof of your container for anything that may have fallen onto it. Dents on the roof can collect rainwater and lead to rust. If you find any issues you can take measures to repair the damage or provide preventative protection.

Treatment of Shipping Container Rust

Sometimes shipping containers come with rust already and you cannot use preventative measures to stop it. In these cases, there are steps to treat rust spots. Treating rust spots involves removing the rust and taking steps to protect the exposed area.

The most effective way to treat rust is to sandblast the affected areas to remove the rust. You can then seal the container and repaint it. This is the best option if you have large patches of rust, but it can be expensive. Luckily, most rust spots are small enough to remove with a wire brush or sandpaper. Once rust is removed, you can use a direct-to-metal paint to cover the exposed areas.

Used Shipping Containers

Use these tips to prevent and treat rust spots on used shipping containers. However, if your shipping container in Houston, TX has too much structural damage, you may need a new one. Contact the experts at A Mobile Box to learn more about our shipping container options.

Categorised in: Shipping Containers

This post was written by Writer