Summer heat: why colour and shade matter more than you'd think
Container walls are corrugated steel, and steel soaks up sun. On a still, cloudless Perth afternoon the roof of a dark container gets far too hot to touch, and that heat radiates straight down onto whatever is inside. Candles, vinyl records, paint tins, photos, anything with glue in it and anything made of cheap plastic is at risk. A lighter-coloured container reflects a good share of that load, which is why so many people on the Swan Coastal Plain ask for cream, beige or light grey rather than the darker shipping-line colours.
Shade does even more. Parking the box on the south or east side of the house, or under an existing patio roof line where council rules allow, keeps the worst of the afternoon sun off it. A free-standing shade sail over the top, with a gap of air between sail and roof, is a popular Perth fix. If you're planning to work inside rather than just store, look at a high cube — the extra headroom gives hot air somewhere to go above your head.
Sandy blocks and a firm set-down
Much of metropolitan Perth sits on sand, from the grey sands through the northern suburbs to the yellow sands further south. Sand drains beautifully, which is great news for keeping water away from the floor, but it doesn't carry a point load well. A container rests on its four corner castings, so each corner needs something firm and flat beneath it: a compacted limestone pad, concrete pavers, or treated sleepers on a levelled base all do the job.
Getting the box level also matters for the doors. A container sitting even slightly out of square will make the doors bind and the seals won't close evenly, which lets in dust and moisture. Take ten minutes with a string line before the truck arrives and check the ground falls away from where the doors will be, so winter rain drains off rather than pooling at the sill.
Salt air, the Fremantle Doctor and keeping the paint healthy
If you live anywhere from Cottesloe to Scarborough to Coogee, the afternoon sea breeze brings a fine film of salt with it. Salt holds moisture on steel, and wherever the paint is chipped that's where rust starts. The simple habit that makes the biggest difference is a gentle hose-down every few months, concentrating on the roof, the door hinges and the bottom rail, followed by a look for chips. A small tin of matching paint and a wire brush will sort most scratches before they become rust spots.
Look after the roof in particular. Leaves and sand collect in the dips, hold water and quietly work away at the steel. A quick sweep after the big winter fronts go through will add years to the box. Our container maintenance guide covers the routine in more detail.
Winter rain, condensation and what grade to buy
Perth gets most of its rain between May and September, often arriving in bursts as cold fronts cross the coast. A good container keeps that rain out from above, but on a cold night after a warm, damp day, moisture in the air inside can condense on the underside of the roof and drip. The answer is airflow: whirlybird or passive vents, a couple of pallets to lift boxes off the floor, and a gap between stored items and the walls. Moisture absorbers hung from the lashing rings help in a tightly packed unit.
Grade matters here. Cargo-worthy used containers and new single-trip containers are the grades sold as wind and watertight. As-is units are cheaper but aren't sold as watertight, so they suit things like firewood, garden gear or a rough workshop rather than furniture or paperwork. Our grades explained article sets out the differences.
Getting the truck in
Most 10ft and 20ft containers come off a tilt-tray, which needs a clear, straight run and room overhead to raise the tray. Tight battle-axe blocks and narrow side gates are common in older suburbs, and in those cases a side-loader or a crane truck may be the better choice. A 40ft needs a good deal more space again. Tell us what the driveway and the drop spot look like, send a couple of photos if you can, and we'll match the truck to your block. The deliveries page has an access checker to help you think it through.
