Clearing the Site Before Your Container Arrives | A Practical Site-Preparation Guide

A container that sits safe, level, dry and lasts for years doesn’t depend on the quality of the unit alone — the most important factor is the ground beneath it.
With the site ready, installation is faster and safer, and long-term problems drop by more than 70%.

This article walks through every step to prepare before the unit arrives — easy to follow, so you can check your own site right away.

✅ 1. Check the actual site dimensions

Before placing the unit, know how big the area is and whether it truly works.

The basics:

✔ the ground must be at least 50 cm wider than the unit on every side

✔ with room for the crane truck to turn and lift.

Example

• • • Containers of 3×6 m → you should have at least 4×7 m
    • For multiple units,allow clearancefor joining units and walkways around them.

👉 Tip: send a wide-angle photo to our sales team for an initial assessment of risks and readiness.

✅ 2. Check access for the crane / lifting truck

Even if the site itself is big enough, if the truck can’t get in, the unit can’t be placed.

What to check:

• • • the road should be at least 3 m wide
    • with no low power lines or branches in the way.
    • If the unit must be lifted over a wall, tell the company in advance.
    • For very narrow access, a long-boom crane truck (Hiab) may be needed.

✅ 3. Clear and level the ground so it bears the load

Before placement, confirm that the ground won’t subside and can bear the weight.

Good ground means:

• • • no holes, no mud
    • firm soil with no settlement
    • slope no more than 3–5 degrees.

Unsuitable ground:

• • • loose sand
    • silt or waterlogged ground
    • areas with constant water flow.

✅ 4. Choose the support: compacted soil / footings / concrete slab

There are 3 ways to set the unit, depending on budget and use.

Option 1: compacted soil + pads (cheapest)

For temporary use — a storage unit or a short-term site.

• • What to do:
    • compact the soil firmly
    • and place concrete pads under all 4 corners.

Option 2: set on footings (most recommended)

Benefits:

• • • keeps out damp and standing water
    • reduces corrosion from below
    • easy to relocate later.

Best for:

• • • office units
    • worker accommodation units
    • storage units.
    • Knock-down houses

Recommended number of footings:

• • • 3×6 m unit → 4–6 footings.

Option 3: full concrete slab (for permanent use)

Best for:

• • • shops
    • a main office
    • a permanent home.

Benefits:

• • • The strongest option
    • precise levelling
    • and minimal long-term tilting.

✅ 5. Sort out the drainage

The most common post-installation problem is standing water — deal with drainage before the unit arrives.

What to do:

• • • cut drainage channels away from the area
    • raise the ground above road level
    • and in flood-prone areas use tall footings of 30–50 cm.

✅ 6. Clear obstructions before installation day

Before the truck arrives, clear away:

• • • debris, brick, stone, timber
    • trees or weeds
    • tanks and underground water pipes
    • anything that could tilt the unit, such as lumps of mortar.

✅ 7. Prepare power and water (for units with a bathroom)

You will need:

• • • a mains connection / main breaker box
    • a ½–1 inch water supply pipe
    • a drain pipe (ideally with a catch pit).

🎯 Summary: a ready site = easy, safe installation and a long life

What good preparation buys you:

• • • faster installation
    • lower risk of tilting
    • no leaks, damp or standing water
    • and years added to the unit’s life.

☎ Contact Container To Build

Thailand’s leading hub for containers and knock-down houses for over 25 years
High-quality materials, Japanese innovation, PU foam insulation

info@containertobuild.com