The exterior finish is the layer that gives the character of a container house. At FDC Container Houses, exterior finishes are chosen from three options: thermotreated paneling, wood-imitation sandwich panels and wood ribbing. The same house can look completely different, depending on the finish and shade chosen. FDC container houses are designed and built from scratch, in the factory, and the finish is established from the bidding phase, together with the model. This is where the difference between two houses identical in plan comes from: one clad in wood, suitable for an area with lots of vegetation, and one with clean lines, for an urban courtyard. Below you will find the available options, the shades, the elements that change the appearance of the house and how to choose depending on the location — and if you want some inspiration first, take a look at the gallery of completed projects.
Why exterior finishing completely changes the look of a container home
The finish is the first thing someone sees when they arrive at the gate and is also the element that connects the home to the surrounding context: a courtyard with vegetation, a clearing at the edge of the forest, the shore of a lake. The exterior appearance of a container house is not about the plan or the surface, but about the texture and color that you see from a few meters. The starting point is the same for the entire range. The walls are sandwich panels with PIR foam, and their board is folded on both sides, with a pattern that makes this aspect less visible. The exterior finishes below can be added over this layer, each with its own charm. Important to remember: the finish is chosen in parallel with the model, not after assembly. The house is made entirely in the factory, so the cladding is part of the production process, just like insulation or carpentry. You can see how things are connected in the article about the stages of building a modular house.
What exterior finishes can you choose for a FDC container house?
The FDC Container Houses finish offer includes three exterior cladding options, plus the standard option, without additional cladding. All are determined during the bidding phase and applied during production.
Cladding with thermotreated paneling
Thermo-treated paneling is an exterior wood cladding, available in various shades, from light to dark tones. It gives the house the natural and warm look of wood and is the option that most closely resembles the exterior appearance of a classic house. It is especially suitable for sites with abundant vegetation, where the wood finish helps the house to integrate naturally into the landscape, whether it is located at the edge of a forest or in a mature garden.
Wood imitation sandwich panels
Here, the cladding is not added to the wall — the panel itself has a wood look. The result is a uniform, continuous surface, where the corrugated sheet is no longer visible from the outside. The option is available in a single shade and is the right choice if you want a clean, uncluttered look and easy maintenance. Visually, the facade gets long, uninterrupted lines.
Wooden rifling
Wood ribbing is the vertical slats that give the facade a regular rhythm and a contemporary look. They can be installed both externally and internally, which means you can continue the same texture beyond the door. They work very well as an accent, on a single facade or in the entrance area, in combination with a uniform surface on the rest of the house.
Standard version, without additional plating
If you do not choose an exterior cladding, the house remains in the standard version: walls made of sandwich panels with PIR foam, with corrugated sheet metal on both sides and a pattern that makes this aspect less visible. It is the most balanced budget option and has a modern, minimalist look that works well in urban areas, especially combined with a contrasting carpentry color.
| Exterior finish | Aspect | hue | Right for |
| Cladding with thermotreated paneling | natural, warm wood | different shades available | integration into nature, classic house appearance |
| Wood imitation sandwich panels | uniform surface, wood look (the folded sheet is no longer visible from the outside) | one shade | clean, uniform appearance, easy maintenance |
| Wooden rifling | vertical, modern rhythm; can also be mounted indoors | different shades available | accents on a facade, entrance area |
| Standard — sandwich panels with PIR foam | corrugated sheet on both sides, hardly visible appearance due to the pattern | according to the chosen configuration | balanced budget, modern minimalist look |
To see what each option looks like on a concrete plan, compare container house models.
Shades and combinations that change the perception of the house
The shade weighs as much as the material. Light wood shades give a bright, Scandinavian-inspired look and make the house seem more spacious — suitable for a garden or a yard with limited space. Dark shades go in the opposite direction: they create a modern container house, discreet in the landscape, which highlights the window frames and the lines of the facade. The second variable is the combination. Wooden ribbing on one facade, along with a uniform surface on the others, creates contrast without burdening the house. The same logic works when you continue the ribbing inside, in the living area. The third accent element is the color of the PVC joinery, which frames the windows and can support or temper the shade of the cladding. It is also worth checking the list of ongoing promotions at the time of the offer, because the color option of the joinery is sometimes included in the offer of the month.
Beyond cladding: the elements that change the final appearance of the house
Cladding changes the surface, but the final look comes from what is added on top of the base volume. A container house looks completely different when it receives a terrace, a roof, generous windows or a pergola.
Terrace
The terrace changes the way a house is perceived from a distance the most, because it creates a visual connection between the house and the yard. The two-story models have integrated terraces, and any house can be expanded with a terrace container — a distinct product, with its own structure, ceiling and terrace floor — placed in the continuation of the house. See what a terrace container looks like arranged in the yard and how the terrace is integrated into the two-story models.
Roof option
The containers have a ceiling, not a roof. If you still want a roof, the option exists: it is requested during the bidding phase, and during production, the necessary supports are mounted on the container structure for its subsequent fixation. The actual installation of the roof is the responsibility of the customer, after the house is installed.
Carpentry and stained glass
Windows draw the facade. PVC joinery comes with a 4 or 6-chamber profile and glass with 2 or 3 sheets of glass (tripan glass has 3 sheets), and the size and position of the gaps are established in the project. A generous window on the side with a view changes both the perception from the inside and the proportions seen from the outside.
Pergola
The pergola adds shade and a vertical plane in front of the house, and in combination with a terrace creates an outdoor area that can be used throughout the warm season. If you want one, you communicate it during the bidding phase, and we prepare the supports on the container structure; the actual assembly of the pergola is up to the client. These elements are most visibly combined in two-story container houses : two levels, integrated terraces and large windows, i.e. a container house design close to that of a classic home.
How to choose the right exterior finish for your place
Choosing an exterior finish starts with where the house will be located and the style you want. A lot of vegetation requires something different than an urban courtyard, and a vacation home has different priorities than a permanent residence. The table below summarizes the directions that work best.
| Where do you place the house? | Recommended finish | What makes |
| Mountain or forest area | cladding with thermotreated paneling, medium to dark shades | It integrates naturally into the landscape and gives the appearance of a classic house. |
| Garden or yard of the house | thermotreated paneling in light shades or wooden ribbing | warm appearance, harmonizes with the vegetation and the terrace |
| Waterfront / vacation home | wood imitation sandwich panels | uniform surface, wood look and easy maintenance |
| Urban area / contemporary look | standard version + contrasting joinery color, with ribbing accents | clean lines, modern minimalist look |
If your location is in the mountains, take ideas from the article with house ideas for the mountain area . For a regular yard, see what a container garden house looks like.
What is determined in the bidding phase?
The walls of a container house are sandwich panels with PIR foam and are made entirely in the factory. Therefore, everything related to the exterior appearance is established before production, not after assembly. For the exterior, the list is short and easy to go through at the first discussion: the chosen finish and shade, the color of the joinery, supports for a roof installed later, supports for the pergola, air conditioning and a possible terrace container. It is also worth putting it in a time context: production takes 6–8 weeks, delivery depends on the distance to your location, and assembly takes a few hours for monoblock models and up to 1–2 days for modular and multi-storey ones. Land preparation and connection to utilities are stages that are the responsibility of the client and are also discussed from the beginning. Details can be found on the pages about transport and assembly and about what turnkey means for a modular house.
How exterior finish is reflected in the price of the house
The prices displayed on the site are for the standard version of each standard model. The chosen exterior finish, the level of insulation, the joinery and the equipment are added on top of this base and communicated in the offer, for your configuration. As a reference, the range starts from €2.930 + VAT for the A01 model (9,6 sq m, one bedroom, monoblock) and continues with €6.860 + VAT for B01 (18 sq m, one bedroom and fully equipped bathroom, monoblock) and €8.900 + VAT for C02 (28,8 sq m, one bedroom and bathroom, modular), up to €39.900 + VAT for D01 (90 sq m, 3 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen area, with an upper floor). The prices do not include transport and assembly, which are offered together, as a single service, depending on the distance from the factory to your location. You can also check what the promotion of the month includes when you request the offer.
Real examples of FDC container houses with exterior finishes
The difference is best seen in the delivered houses. The three projects below start from the same finishing options, but look completely different.
- Model house B03 (24 sq m, 1 room + bathroom + kitchen) is clad with walnut-colored wood paneling on the outside and natural-colored wood on the inside, on an anthracite gray monoblock frame, with PVC joinery in the same shade. It has a living room with an open-space kitchen area, a bedroom and a fully equipped bathroom, plus a terrace with wooden ribbing.
- 43,2 sq m house with oak paneling (8 x 5,40 m, Living room with open-space kitchen, bedroom, fully equipped bathroom), delivered to Barnova, Iasi County, combines oak exterior cladding with anthracite gray joinery.
- 64,8 sq m house with natural paneling (9,00 x 7,20 m, living room with open-space kitchen area, two bedrooms, fully equipped bathroom and a storage room with separate access from the outside) shows what partial cladding means: horizontally mounted paneling, in a natural shade, on a white facade, with large glazed windows.
For a direct comparison between claddings, we are waiting for you in the showroom in Bucharest and Bacau.
Why choose FDC container house finishes?
Container Houses FDC is a Romanian manufacturer with its own factory, and the houses are designed and built from scratch, according to standard models or according to the client's specifications. The finishes are applied in production, under factory conditions, not improvised on the ground — hence the uniformity of the final appearance. From the first discussion to the installation, we accompany you with consulting, design, transport and installation, coordinated by a single team. And if you want to see the finishes in reality before ordering, you have a physical showroom in Bucharest and Bacau, where you can compare the cladding side by side. We offer a 24-month warranty for individual customers and a 12-month warranty for legal entity customers. Learn more about Container Houses FDC.
Frequent questions
What exterior finishes can I choose for a container house?
There are three exterior cladding options: thermotreated paneling, wood-like sandwich panels and wood ribbing. In addition to these, there is the standard option, without additional cladding. All are determined during the bidding phase and applied in production.
What is thermotreated paneling and why is it used outdoors?
It is an exterior cladding made of thermally treated wood, used for the natural and warm look it gives to the facade. Being available in different shades, from light to dark, it suits both a classic-looking and a contemporary-looking house.
Do wood-look sandwich panels completely cover the corrugated sheet?
Yes. In this version, the corrugated sheet is no longer visible from the outside, and the facade remains a uniform surface, with a wood look. The option is available in a single shade.
Can I put wooden ribbing on the inside?
Yes, wood ribbing can be installed both externally and internally. Many projects use them as an accent on a facade and continue the same texture in the living area.
When is the exterior finish determined?
From the bidding phase, along with the model. The house is made entirely in the factory, and the exterior cladding is part of the production process, just like the insulation or the carpentry.
Can a container house have a roof?
The containers have a ceiling, and the roof is an additional option. If you request it during the bidding phase, the necessary supports are mounted on the container structure during production, and the actual installation of the roof is the responsibility of the customer, after the house is installed.
How much does an exterior wood finish cost?
The cost depends on the chosen finish and the surface to be plated, so it is communicated in the offer, along with the rest of the configuration. The prices on the site are for the standard version of each standard model and do not include transportation and assembly.
Can I see the finishes before ordering?
Yes. FDC Container Houses has showrooms in Bucharest and Bacau, where you can see the houses and finishes live, plus a gallery of completed projects, with each cladding on complete houses.
Request a quote for your container home
The chosen finish completely changes the appearance of a container house, and the options — cladding, shade, carpentry color, terrace or roof supports — are established during the bidding phase. Tell us which model you are interested in and how you would like it to look:
- consultancy from the first discussion to installation;
- production in 6–8 weeks;
- quick assembly: a few hours for monoblock models, 1–2 days for modular and multi-storey ones;
- physical showroom in Bucharest and Bacau.
Request a quote and together we will choose the exterior finishes for container homes suitable for your location.
