Painting a shipping container in a colour of your own is about more than taste: the right coat of paint protects the steel against rust and considerably extends the container's lifespan. Anyone who picks up a brush or spray gun themselves soon runs into the limits of amateur work. Below you can read which types of paint are suitable, which colours are possible and why professional spraying in a dedicated workshop, as at HEROX, delivers a more reliable result.
There are two main reasons to have a shipping container painted: appearance and protection. A container in a company's house colours looks more professional on a building site or business premises, and anyone who converts a container into an office, workshop or garage often wants the exterior to match the function too. On top of that, a good coat of paint is the first line of defence against rust: steel exposed by scratches or wear to the coating is vulnerable to moisture and salt, certainly in coastal areas.
Colour also plays a part with a container home: a sleek, even finish makes the difference between a bare shell container and a fully fledged, well-kept space.
A shipping container leaves the factory with a coating that withstands seawater and prolonged outdoor use. If you want to change that colour, you need a paint system that ties in with it: first a rust-resistant primer on areas where the steel is exposed, then a durable topcoat, usually polyurethane- or alkyd-based, that stands up to UV light and the weather. A single coat of paint without primer adheres poorly and flakes off sooner, so rust actually gets a chance earlier rather than being prevented.
| Aspect | Painting it yourself | Professional spraying at HEROX |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Manual degreasing and sanding, time-consuming | Carried out in the workshop before spraying begins |
| Evenness of the coat | Brush or roller marks possible | Even, thin coat thanks to spray technique |
| Rust protection | Depends on your own care | Primer and topcoat matched to each other |
| Colour choice | Limited to available paint | Any RAL colour possible |
| Timing of the work | After delivery, on site | Before delivery, together with modifications |
Damage to the coating, for example around the double doors or weld seams, is where rust strikes fastest. In the article on shipping container maintenance and preventing rust you can read how to limit this between paint jobs.
Unsure about the right RAL colour, type of paint or which modifications make sense for your situation? The local team is happy to think along free of charge and sends a concrete proposal within an hour on working days.
With professional spraying, any RAL colour is possible, from a neutral grey tone that blends into the surroundings to a bold house colour that makes the container stand out. Parts such as a container's double doors are sprayed in the same session too, so there is no colour difference between the doors and the body. For anyone having a container converted into a workspace, it is practical to combine colour and modifications in a single process: that way spraying is done just once, over the complete, finished container.
Anyone buying a second-hand container with a damaged coating would do well to ask about the state of the paintwork and any rust spots before any money changes hands. With a direct importer like HEROX, every container is inspected before delivery, and buying safely without a middleman with payment after delivery or spread-out financing is available as standard. That way you can be sure you are getting not only a nice colour, but also a wind and watertight container.
Browse the current range in the shop or request a quote with your desired RAL colour and any modifications. On working days you receive a concrete proposal, including lead time, within an hour.
Yes, with professional spraying any RAL colour is possible, from a neutral colour that blends into the surroundings to a striking house colour. HEROX sprays the container in its own workshop before delivery, including the double doors and any extra personnel doors or windows, so the whole container is delivered in one even colour.
Painting it yourself is perfectly fine for touching up small scratches, but for a completely new colour it is hard to achieve an even result. Degreasing, sanding and the right primer are essential to prevent rust; without that preparation, the coat of paint wears away faster and rust appears sooner around weld seams and corners.
A suitable paint system consists of a rust-resistant primer, followed by a durable topcoat based on polyurethane or alkyd that withstands the weather and UV light. This combination ties in with the coating that containers already have as standard and prevents the new coat from coming loose quickly.
Spraying gives a thinner, more even coat than a brush or roller, without transitions or overly thick spots where paint can later flake off. At HEROX this is also done before delivery in the workshop, so the coating ties in directly and completely, even in tricky spots such as around the double doors.
Yes, it is possible to have only certain parts, such as the double doors, resprayed, for example after damage or wear. Get in touch to discuss what is possible for your container and which colour best matches the rest of the container.
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