What is container flooring? Get the definition and understand the top 6 types of flooring (2024)

You’ve got to factor in container flooring when you think about the long-term durability of your box. Why? Because a well-maintained container floor has a direct impact on the goods you are shipping. Read on to find out more on this blog as we take you through the definitions and types of container floors.

Your units are responsible for transporting and storing huge amounts of goods for long durations. So naturally, you want them to be heavy-duty, reliant, and durable for long-term usage. This is where the right flooring can help your boxes stay sturdy to transport cargo for years on end without too much wear and tear. In short, the lifespan and sturdiness of your shipping containers are greatly improved by the floors you line them with.

Hence, when you buy or lease a box you must pay close attention to the floor.

It’s important that you know what container floors are made up off. And that there are some flooring alternatives that are better than others depending on how you want to use the container (transporting, storing, etc).

So, let’s deep-dive into what constitutes container flooring and also find out alternative flooring materials.

Container flooring: What are shipping container floors made of?

A container carries all kinds of cargo throughout the year. Thus, it needs a strong structure to improve longevity and protect goods from harsh climates and other external impacts. You’ll find a typical container made of corten steel with hardwood flooring. This robust construction can withstand long-distance ocean travel and has a lifespan of 10-12 years (depending on the number of trips your container makes).

Usually, container floors are made of plywood made from tropical woods like Keruing or Apitong. These woods provide the highest resistance against high temperatures, and humidity, and can withstand the load of different types of cargo.

The issue with this material however is that the wood attracts pests. And to fight off the pests, you need to use pesticides often. But infusing the container floors with pesticides can turn the container floors toxic and harmful for those handling your container.

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to pesticides. And we want to give you the intel on pesticides and plywood in our section below, so you’re well-informed. So go ahead and scroll down to take a look.

Shipping container flooring: Plywood and pesticides

When it comes to treating plywood with pesticides, the use of highly aggressive pesticides such as Aldrin is banned. But other milder pesticides can still cause health problems overall for humans.

These health impacts are something you should consider since your containers come into direct contact with many handlers throughout your box’s journey. Also, if you intend to use your containers for home or office spaces, these chemicals can be detrimental to human life.

A container’s exact pesticide treatment information can be found on the front door of the container. The section “Timber component treatment” on the CSC plate will give details about the applied treatment and the used chemicals. However, the plate won’t provide other important information about floor replacements, repairs, or any other damage caused by any spilled chemicals inside the container.

Therefore, we recommend that you always change the container floor when acquiring a new box. You can always request an alternative floor such as steel or bamboo or not apply any treatment on the floor.

Speaking of which, there are a few commonly used types of container flooring. We will take you through the 6 topmost materials that you can consider for your next box.

Top 6 shipping container flooring to ensure durability

More and more container manufacturers are looking for alternatives to plywood. Bamboo, for example, is gaining popularity.

But, depending on the purpose of the container, you can check out these flooring choices:

Steel and Aluminium

You can use both these materials for your refrigerated containers or insulated containers. As it locks the temperature inside. Both of them are easy to maintain and are very strong. You can easily clean it without the fear of scratches. The flooring provides safety from harsh weather conditions and is resistant to any deep wear and tear. The most important benefit of steel or aluminum flooring is that they don’t need any pesticide treatment.

Coin Vinyl

If you have to transport oils and acids vinyl floors are just what you need. It is easy to place and can be rolled out on the existing floor, and is just glued on the surface. Furthermore, it is water, liquid, and slip-resistant, and easy to clean. It’s also durable and provides resistance to any type of wear or tear.

Epoxy Coat

You can use the epoxy coat as an additional option to be added to the floor. Sealing your container floor with epoxy increases its resistance. Since the epoxy coating is a mix of resin and hardener, it seals the plywood or bamboo flooring fully from harmful pests. Thus, eradicating the need to use pesticides.

Imitation wood vinyl planks

Imitation wood vinyl provides resistance against water, needs less maintenance, is cost-effective, and is highly durable. If you have this in place, you won’t require extra effort during the cleaning process.

Bamboo Flooring

Just like plywood, bamboo is also very robust and strong and therefore is one of the most common and resistant options when it comes to container flooring. And unlike plywood, with bamboo, you don’t need to treat the floors with crude pesticides. Therefore, it is an excellent alternative to a plywood floor.

Get container flooring inspections done with Container xChange

By now you’ve got an idea about the various types of container flooring and what will suit your needs. But what’s next? What about the periodic inspections that ensue? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Our product Container Control is here to not only make your daily logistics operations smoother by helping you:

• Track and monitor containers in near real-time.
• Access data with ease directly from depots, and
• Manage all your bookings in one place.

But Container Control also helps with container surveyingand insurance. You can use Container Control by leasing boxes on our platform at competitive rates with zero hidden fees. You can get your containers from vetted members and negotiate prices. We offer full market transparency to find deals that suit you.

After you’ve leased a box, simply click on the ‘Request Survey’ button and connect with qualified surveyors in 4000+ locations globally. You can then get your container floors inspected for any damages at a reasonable fee.

After the inspection, if the surveyors find any damages don’t fret! Because you can also insure your containers using the insurance manager under Container Control to secure your containers as well. So, if there are any damages found in the flooring, your container insurance can cover the damages.

So, as you can see after you choose a container floor that’s to your liking, Container xChange can help you connect with licensed surveyors to ensure your floors are inspected and damage-free. All you have to do is lease a container on our platform to get access to Container Control. After which, we can help you with insurance and surveys of your container flooring without you having to lift a finger.

Container flooring: How to ensure a pesticide and chemical-free floor

Secure your container flooring inspections with Container xChange

Armed with all the information we just gave you, are you now ready to pick out a container floor for your box? If you are looking for the right container for you, hop onto our leasing platform to take your pick from 10,000+ containers in 2,500 locations worldwide.

Lease your boxes from 1000+ vetted and certified members directly and negotiate prices that suit you. With full market transparency, you get competitive and comparable prices with zero hidden fees. After you lease, click the ‘Request Survey’ button and connect with skilled surveyors in 4000+ locations globally to get damage inspections done periodically. All at reasonable fees.

And with Container Control, get your containers insured (choose any insurance type you prefer from our list here). If there are any damages found in the flooring during the inspection, your container insurance can be a backup plan to cover the damages.

With Container Control, you get your boxes insured for any unforeseen damages to the flooring at cost-effective rates. And you get certified surveyors to carry out a thorough inspection to keep your floors healthy, all at a reasonable fee. So, if you want a good deal on container flooring that’ll last a lifetime, come and join our platform today.

Container flooring: Common FAQS