If you see a construction site or a renovation near your house, ask the contractor or site manager if you can have some of the scrap building material. They usually will be happy to oblige you as long as you don't get in their way. They are going to have pay to dispose of the refuse so any that you take off their hands will save them money. It's a great way to get scraps for fire wood, wood for small projects, or old bricks to use in your garden. Of course, always ask permission before removing anything from a construction site!
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This is a really good idea for crafters....especially to get nice pieces of 2 x 4's and such that can be used in dolls, etc. My only advice is to be sure you can use the stuff you collect and haul away. My hubby and I used to be big into craft making and we did just that several times but then got away from the crafts but still had so much of that stuff stored in our garage.
PS: If the building site is pretty close you might just want to walk over with a wheelbarrow to collect scrap wood and such, or go in a pick-up truck. Most definitely you should ask permission. The builder and workers would be most happy for you to haul away the leftovers; however they may not take too kindly to you helping yourself w/o asking.
Operated a successful craft business during the 80's and 90's selling most of my products to upmarket stores and craft shops.The products were constructed with between 40% and 70% recycled and excess materials from building sites and skips with permission from site managers and skip hirers. The secret is to look at materials with a broad eye and an open imagination, often out of the box.
Isn't most lumber that is to be used for housing, chemically treated? Not sure I would want to use it for fire wood! No telling what chemicals you would be inhaling.
We have a pallet company near my house and we were told to not burn the wood indoors because it had been chemically treated. We do use it for camping but not for anything else.
Some of these leftovers can be offered on other sites like Freecycle.org if you get more than needed rather than trashing them.
Several years ago we wanted to enclose part of our back patio for a laundry room so I looked in phone book for builders & home repair ads, I called a few & found some free sliding glass doors,he ask, "how did you know I had these items?" I said, "you are in home repair aren't you?" "Yes" he stated,"I wish every body would use their mind like that". He were happy to get the doors out of his yard, and we were very happy to get them for free.
About 2 years ago I were looking for some bricks to make a flower bed. I called a few home repair ads in the newspaper. A builder told me where to go to get all the bricks I wanted at a place where a brick building were torn down.
Most definately DO NOT BURN TREATED WOOD INSIDE it burns hotter and chemicals in the smoke can be harmful and never on a cooking campfire contaminates the food.
Just be careful walking around the site, as there could be rusty nails and lots of other hazards.
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