One Flat Pack House Shipped to London: How We Pack Small Orders

A customer from London recently purchased one standard flat pack house from Dongji House. He plans to sell this type of modular building in the local market, but before moving forward with a larger order, he wanted to inspect the materials, structure and overall quality for himself.

Starting with one house gave the customer a practical way to evaluate the product while keeping the initial investment manageable.

The house measures 5.95 × 3 × 2.8 metres. Because the customer already has import and export experience, we arranged to send the packed house to the designated port in China. It was then shipped to the UK as LCL cargo, allowing the customer to handle customs clearance and collection after arrival.

Why Does a One-Unit Order Require Special Packing?

A complete flat pack house contains many different components, including the main steel frames, square tubes, wall panels, roof sheets, floor materials, doors, windows and installation accessories.

When only one or two houses are shipped, booking an entire container is not always economical. LCL shipping is often the more practical option, but it also means the house components will share container space with other cargo.

For this reason, the materials must be properly classified, protected and secured before leaving our factory.

One House Packed in Two Timber Frames

For this London order, we divided the house components between two timber packing frames. This keeps the heavy steel structure separate from materials that are more vulnerable to scratches, bending or pressure.

Timber Frame 1: Main Steel Frames and Square Tubes

The first timber frame contains the main structural frames and square tubes.

These steel components are heavy and rigid. If they are not properly secured, they may move during inland transport, port handling or sea shipping. This could damage both the house components and other cargo inside the shared container.

After arranging the steel parts in order, our workers secured the complete bundle with strong packing straps. The timber frame provides external support, while the straps prevent the materials from shifting during transportation.

Timber Frame 2: Panels, Flooring, Doors and Windows

The second timber frame contains the wall panels, roof sheets, floor materials, doors, windows and other house components.

Many of these materials have similar widths, making it possible to stack them flat and distribute the weight more evenly. This improves stability while reducing the risk of panels being bent or damaged by heavier structural materials.

Separating these parts from the main steel frames also makes it easier for the customer to identify and unload the components after the shipment arrives.

Protective Packaging for Individual Components

The timber frames are not the only form of protection.

Before the components are placed inside the wooden packing structure, the main frames, doors and windows are wrapped separately with protective bubble film. This helps prevent scratches caused by contact and vibration during handling and transportation.

For windows and doors, surface protection is especially important because frames, glass and painted finishes can be damaged if they come into direct contact with steel components.

The combination of individual wrapping, timber supports and packing straps gives the shipment several layers of protection without creating excessive packing volume.

When Do We Recommend Timber Packing?

Timber-frame packing is normally recommended for small orders of one or two flat pack houses, particularly when the goods will be transported as LCL cargo.

For small orders, this method offers several advantages:

• It keeps different components organised.
• It prevents heavy steel parts from pressing against lighter materials.
• It maes the cargo easier to load and unload.
• It reduces unnecessary shipping volume.
• It provides better protection when sharing container space with other goods.

For larger orders loaded into full containers, the packing and loading plan may be adjusted according to the number of houses, component specifications and available container space.

DDP, DAP, FOB and Delivery Within China

Different customers require different shipping arrangements. Dongji House can recommend a suitable delivery option based on the destination, order quantity and the customer’s importing experience.

DDP and DAP: Door-to-door or destination delivery can be arranged where the service is available. The recommended terms will depend on local customs requirements and the delivery address.

FOB shipping: If the customer already works with a freight forwarder in China, we can transport the packed goods to the designated Chinese port and coordinate with the forwarder.

Delivery to a Chinese warehouse: If the customer has a warehouse or consolidation address in China, we can arrange domestic transportation to that location.

Factory pickup: A customer’s freight forwarder may also collect the packed goods directly from our factory after the order is ready.

For this London customer, delivery to the port and LCL shipping were suitable because he already had experience with customs clearance and international cargo collection.

A Practical Way to Evaluate a New Supplier

Purchasing one sample house before placing a bulk order allows customers to check the steel structure, wall and roof materials, doors, windows, surface finishes and installation system in detail.

It is also a useful option for distributors and building-material suppliers who want to test local demand before introducing a new product to their market.

Dongji House supports both small trial orders and larger project orders. We can provide packing lists, installation drawings, assembly videos and remote technical guidance to help customers receive and install their flat pack houses more smoothly.

Planning to order one house before purchasing in bulk? Send us your destination, required size and intended use. Our team will recommend a suitable house configuration, packing method and shipping solution.

Website：www.dongjihouse.com