Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Mar 08, 2013 7:21 pm Just wanted to get an open discussion on the pros, cons and methods of procuring, preparing and building with recycled and salvaged materials. I'll start it off with a question, to design and then purchase materials, or buy materials and use them to inspire design? I feel that designing first will often provide better design outcomes, such as use of space, solar access and aesthetics. While purchasing first can still have positive outcomes, the design is often compromised to suit the materials at hand. The real benefit of this method is in cost reduction, purchasing bargains when they are available without having to check the shopping list. Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 2Mar 10, 2013 7:25 pm Hi Large, me again. I would consider myself a self proclaimed expert in this field. Purely from experiencing all the ups and downs of using recycled materials. Firstly you need a design. You need to give yourself a target to shoot for. Once you have a design you work out the quantities of materials you need, lengths and sizes. When you go looking for materials you will have a lot better idea when you see something so you can act fast. Don't seem too desperate to anyone when buying otherwise you know what happens. You will see materials that you can substitute for what is designed. If it provides the same or better appearance then go for it. If you look at my website that has my 'recycled' home you will see the large timber posts and beams. My original plans were for brick posts. When I came across the wharf that was being dismantled I bought the timber off the demolisher on the site and organised a truck. The truck cost me more than the timber. I used a 9 inch angle grinder with plastic sanding pad and the coarsest abrasive paper I could find. It went over nails and everything and left a rustic finish. Even the broad axe marks are still visible. I ended up spending $170/m for all materials. I ended up bagging and painting the bricks because they were a mish mash of colours and styles. I bought seconds and half pallets of leftovers from builders and owners in new housing estates. If you don't have your shopping list you are going to end up with stuff you don't want or can't be used. Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 3Mar 15, 2013 12:37 pm Hello large I am building my own simple retirement home in Alberta, Canada and am purchasing a lot of recycled material and equipment and deeply discounted sales of new stuff. I designed first but am ever ready to make design changes to accomadate good finds. For example door or window sizes and cupboard configuration. The savings are tremendous. I have written a post on my blog that dicusses this plus other buying tips. http://boardsandbricks.com/wise-buying-choices/ Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 4Mar 17, 2013 4:38 pm Large I'll start it off with a question, to design and then purchase materials, or buy materials and use them to inspire design? Bit of both, I've found. Depending on the style of house, you can accumulate salvaged materials over time and then design around them (depending how you feel about what you find). Once the build starts, you can also incorporate salvaged materials, but your options are reduced (I found some bridge beams at the exact time my roof was going up -- serendipity!). As for being cheaper: not on your Nellie, unless you're *very* lucky. The entire world is looking for good quality recycled timber etc, and it's not often cheap. Mass-produced pine will probably always be cheaper, but character-less. My favourite spot for recycled timber has been Gumtree; for light fittings, international ebay (US and UK). For custom-made "reused" items (eg: my copper bathtub) you can get them made in Bali... shipping is a killer, but worth it for the better signature pieces. Good luck! My storybook home build: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=57987 Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 5Apr 29, 2013 10:23 pm Johnson My favourite spot for recycled timber has been Gumtree; for light fittings, international ebay (US and UK). For custom-made "reused" items (eg: my copper bathtub) you can get them made in Bali... shipping is a killer, but worth it for the better signature pieces. Hi Johnson, do you mind to give a bit more info about buying light fittings from US and UK? I was told that most electricitians will only certified and installed electronics that have been certified to comform to Australia standard? Thanks Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 6Apr 30, 2013 8:30 am cyob Hi Johnson, do you mind to give a bit more info about buying light fittings from US and UK? I was told that most electricitians will only certified and installed electronics that have been certified to comform to Australia standard? That's true, but it's usually quite easy to rewire a light fitting to suit Australian standards. Fittings from the US are the ones you have to watch, due to their 110V power (that is, don't buy anything from the US that uses a transformer), but European 220-240V fittings are usually perfectly fine (the German-made Bruck is a good example -- fantastic quality and design). And, as always, you get what you pay for -- beware questionable retailers. Some eBay light fittings look great in pictures, but are flimsy and poorly-made when received. My storybook home build: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=57987 Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 7Apr 30, 2013 10:30 pm Johnson That's true, but it's usually quite easy to rewire a light fitting to suit Australian standards. Fittings from the US are the ones you have to watch, due to their 110V power (that is, don't buy anything from the US that uses a transformer), but European 220-240V fittings are usually perfectly fine (the German-made Bruck is a good example -- fantastic quality and design). And, as always, you get what you pay for -- beware questionable retailers. Some eBay light fittings look great in pictures, but are flimsy and poorly-made when received. Thanks Johnson, it is good to know that it is do-able. I guess I just have to check with the electrician before engaging him/her.... Re: Discussion - building from recycled and salvaged materia 8May 09, 2013 5:40 pm I think a design is a must, but all designs transform and evolve as the build progresses. We had many take place. we used a lot of recycled Jarrah as this is hard to get new (and extremely costly) this presents its own issues though. all floorboards are not created equal!! If you can get a single houseload of Jarrah floors this would be the best way. some tongue and grooves are different heights and widths and can be more hassle than their worth In my house we used recycled: Jarrah - 90 x 90 poles (you can't buy this size as standard anymore) Jarrah - floorboard 80 x 19mm Jarrah - 200 x 50 joists Canadian Maple ten pin bowling alley for benchtops western red cedar pivot door 70mm steel for dividing walls We also went to a few auctions and used gumtree extensively auctions were good for steel c200 Roof Joists, Some timber, Z250 Bearers gumtree we picked up left over roof battens, jarrah decking the jarrah decking is the perfect example of recycled vs new. we got it for $10/sqm, but then had to thickness every board, and arras the edges. It was also different widths so we had to match up widths and lengths on the deck. we ended up with a good looking deck and it is around 27mm thick rather than 20mm but it probably cost about the same in the end due to much more work in sorting preparing and laying them. it is always good to keep an eye out for materials that you know you will need and these are always worth snapping up at the time. but occasionally you do come by something unique and want to work it into the design. sometimes this works really well, other times it doesn't but gum tree is good for solving those problems (I have sold most of my extra material this way, if I didn't use it in the house. overall you will save money and i prefer the look in most cases - second hand wood doesn't shrink or warp nearly as much as green timber. Hope this helps my thread: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=62345&p=968325#p968325 That's a fantastic result! Happy you got it sorted out. cheers Simeon 6 8640 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Hi all, My neighbour has built his 15m long garage on our boundary. It was agreed as part of the planning permit that the wall must be in exposed recycled brick. For some… 0 10911 in the stormwater pit or the drain? Those dont look like theyd fit in the drain. Separately, the pits do get stuff in them during the course of the build. For the most… 1 7933 |