Stacking containers wrong - weld strength vs cosmetic seams

I keep seeing people post builds where they weld container corners together and call it good, but they never seal the roof seems or add any drip protection. On my build in Austin last summer, I watched three pros argue about this for 2 hours before one pulled out a tape measure and showed 1/4 inch gaps between the corrugation ridges. That gap lets water pool and rust starts inside 6 months flat. Why do so many folks skip the simple step of adding a rubber gasket or at least a drip edge before stacking?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_dixon8d ago

You're overthinking it. Those gaps between corrugation ridges aren't a problem if you weld the corners right. Proper welds at the contact points create a seal that sheds water better than any gasket ever could. Rubber gaskets trap moisture against the metal and accelerate rust worse than leaving it open. Saw a guy in Colorado who skipped all that and just welded his corners tight, no roof seal, no drip edge. Three years later his container was bone dry inside. Welding is structural and weatherproof if you do it right. Gaskets are just a crutch for bad work.

milam427d ago

@blair_dixon must have gotten lucky with dry Colorado air. Down here in humidity country, a proper drip edge is cheap insurance. Welds alone won't stop capillary action.