Not sure which option really costs less? Get apples-to-apples math.

Permits & bylaws in New Brunswick (confidence before you book)

Rules vary by municipality. Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• Temporary on-site storage (moves/renos) is often treated differently from permanent structures.
  
  
• Street placement or extended durations may require a permit or adherence to setbacks/visibility rules.
  
  
• Conversions (e.g., using a sea can as a workshop or dwelling) almost always trigger full building approvals.
  
  
• HOA/strata policies can be stricter than municipal rules—best to check.
  
  

How Alloy helps: we provide a New Brunswick quick-check with the correct office to call and typical questions to ask, so you don’t lose time. We’ll also flag when a yard container is a better fit than on-site placement.

When Flat-Pack Containers win (and why)

Choose Flat-Pack Containers when you want:

• On-site convenience in a tight driveway or small pad
  
  
• Short- or medium-term storage (weeks to months) without ownership headaches
  
  
• Predictable in/out dates tied to a renovation, staging, or move
  
  
• A tidy residential look with clean lines and flexible door orientation
  
  
• Minimal heavy-truck exposure on your property
  
  

Use cases: apartment/condo moves with limited parking, urban renos, seasonal gear rotation, short timeline between closings, e-commerce overflow at home, or mixed materials staging for a small crew.

When Used Shipping Containers win (and why)

Choose Used Shipping Containers when you want:

• Maximum ruggedness and long-term durability
  
  
• The economics of owning (and possibly re-using) a container for years
  
  
• High-volume capacity (20′ or 40′) and heavy items
  
  
• Straightforward access/turning space for delivery
  
  
• The option to keep it at a storage yard if your property has constraints
  
  

Use cases: rural properties with room to spare, contractors with recurring projects, restoration companies staging materials between jobs, or long-term equipment storage.

Right-sizing: how much space do you really need?

• Flat-Pack sizes (e.g., ~7×7, 7×10, 7×13, 7×16 ranges) are perfect for rooms-out moves, renos, and tidy inventory zones. Think: a couple of rooms’ furniture, boxed goods, tools, fixtures.
  
  
• Used Shipping Containers commonly come in 8×20 and 8×40 footprints—ideal for large multi-room moves, palletized inventory, or heavy equipment staging.
  
  

Fast path to a decision: tell us what you’re storing, how long, and where it will sit. We’ll suggest a size, share the price delta between options, and let you choose.

On-site vs. yard: you don’t have to pick just one

One of Alloy’s strengths is our dual offer. If on-site access is tight—or bylaws say “not here”—we can set you up with a Storage Yard Container at our Saint John facility. Many customers:

• Start in the yard while they sort or wait for permits, then
  
  
• Switch to a flat-pack on-site for the final push, or
  
  
• Buy a used container later once they know they’ll use the capacity long-term.
  
  

We’ll price both paths so you can compare apples to apples.

Make your container work harder (simple best practices)

• Plan the load: heavy items on the floor and toward the front; lighter items above.
  
  
• Keep a center aisle: reach the back without unloading everything.
  
  
• Shelving & pallets: better airflow, faster retrieval.
  
  
• Label by room/task: boxes and totes land in the right place on day one.
  
  
• Moisture control: avoid loading wet items; add desiccant packs for soft goods stored long-term.
  
  

A smooth process with Alloy (start to finish)

1. Tell us your goal — move, reno, seasonal hold, or business overflow, and your ideal timeline.
   
   
2. Share a quick site photo — driveway or pad; we’ll advise on fit, surface prep, and door orientation.
   
   
3. Get an itemized quote — flat-pack on-site vs. yard vs. used container path (if you’re leaning that way).
   
   
4. Schedule delivery or pickup — we place the unit, confirm level, and walk you through the basics.
   
   
5. Switch paths if needed — change sizes or move from yard ↔ on-site as your project evolves.