Building with Secondhand Stuff: How to Re-Claim, Re-Vamp, Re-Purpose and Re-Use Salvaged and Leftover Building Materials

Building with Secondhand Stuff takes green remodeling and construction practices to new extremes. From deconstruction methods and salvaging tips to plotting efficient cutting plans and devising creative new uses for everyday items, it is packed with clever ways to obtain low-cost materials (and reduce landfilling in the process). This book contains the answer to a question most of us have wondered about at some point: Is that pile of used maple flooring I saw on Craigslist worth taking? From plywood to hardwood flooring, to windows, doors, carpeting and more, salvaging building materials can save you thousands of dollars (and is about as green as you can get). This book is a hands-on, do-it-yourselfer's guide that shows you how to identify materials that can be salvaged efficiently and then gives you step-by-step instructions on how to go about doing it. Plus, it provides over one dozen complete plans featuring clever ideas for putting salvaged materials to good use as useful home furnishings. "A practical guide to choosing, salvaging, refreshing and reusing materials such as wood, metal, stone and glass." — The Chicago Tribune Anytime you're checking out Craigslist, cleaning the basement, or patrolling the springtime garage sales, you'll encounter opportunities to collect and reclaim usable building materials. If you exercise good judgement and know a few salvage tricks, you can take advantage of these chances to obtain free (or nearly free) project supplies and put them to work in your house. When you build with secondhand stuff, you'll save money and reduce pressure on your local landfill. You'll also help curb the consumption of brand-new materials that need to be manufactured from raw resources and shipped across the country or around the world. But perhaps best of all, when you use salvaged materials to build your home projects, you'll get unique results and original outcomes that satisfy you in a way that new stuff just can't. Building with Secondhand Stuff is about making good decisions and learning specific techniques for getting unusable material into useful condition. It covers wood, glass, metal, windows, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and much more. Practically any material can be reclaimed using the tools and techniques you'll learn in this helpful book, and all for a fraction of the cost of buying new materials at a building center. Praise for Building with Secondhand Stuff "How can you get a new look—or a new shed, garage, outbuilding or playhouse for the kids—for cheap or for free? Start with the ideas in Building with Secondhand Stuff . If you're looking for something old to lend a new look, then look here first." — Georgia Times Union Completing home remodeling projects on a budget is tough. Building with Secondhand Stuff is loaded with all the green construction and money saving techniques you’ll need! From deconstruction methods and salvaging tips, to plotting efficient cutting plans and devising creative new uses for everyday items, Building with Secondhand Stuff is packed with clever ways to obtain low-cost (or no cost!) materials and keep debris out of landfills in the process. Building with Secondhand Stuff answers questions most of us have wondered at some point: Is that pile of used maple flooring on Craigslist worth taking? Can I do anything with those window panes by the dumpster? Can I take a pick up load of bricks from that building they knocked down? From plywood to hardwood flooring, to windows, doors, carpeting and more, salvaging building materials can save you thousands of dollars (and is about as green as you can get). Building with Secondhand Stuff is a hands-on, do-it-yourselfer's guide that shows you how to identify materials that can be salvaged efficiently and then gives you step-by-step instructions on how to go about doing it. Plus, it provides over one dozen complete plans featuring clever ideas for putting salvaged materials to good use as useful home furnishings. "From plywood to hardwood flooring, to windows, doors, carpeting and more, salvaging building materials can save homeowners thousands of dollars. This book is a hands-on, do-it-yourselfer's guide that shows how to identify materials that can be salvaged efficiently and then gives step-by-step instructions on how to go about doing it"-- Provided by publisher