It’s almost the weekend. Are you holding off on that home improvement project (or projects) because you don’t have the money? I know I am.
Have you ever thought of heading down to your local building materials salvage shop and buying some reclaimed materials?
This is part of a practice known as sustainable building.
Chances are great that you’ll get higher quality products at a fraction of the cost! Weekend warriors, strap on the tool belts and wait no longer on those home improvement projects.
Where Do You Find A Salvage Store?
Meredith, who writes The Fun Times Guide to Brentwood, TN, one of our sister sites here in The Fun Times Guide network, turned me on to this idea with a post she wrote yesterday.
In her post she shares some incredible finds unearthed at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore near her home. Did you know that there is most likely a Habitat for Humanity ReStore near you?
Meredith says:
- Savaged building materials save money.
- Salvaged building materials means more quality for the money.
- You can go green by reusing items which are still good.
- Habitat ReStore uses its profits to build new homes for people in our community — your building material donations AND purchases directly help local families.
On Her Trip To The Habitat ReStore Meredith Found:
- A granite counter top and sink (pictured right) for $30
- A salvaged door for $30 (which was priced $175 at Home Depot)
- Leftover paint for $5/gallon
- And more!
Where To Purchase Salvaged Home Goods
If you don’t have a Habitat ReStore in your area (see store locator above), try checking the directory at the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA). Their directory lists all known salvage lumber, building materials, antique, and hardware stores by state.
How many stores are near you that you never knew existed?
There are 7 salvage stores near me… and I’ve never paid any attention to a single one.
So who’s off to their local construction/building materials salvage store this weekend for some sustainable building bargains?
Be warned, not all finds are necessarily good deals. Follow Meredith’s tips for how to pick and choose wisely.
I think every little step toward living green is an awesome one… but eco-snobbery sucks! My goal is to help newbies learn the most important steps toward living green — individually and collectively. Personally, I strive to have as little impact as possible on Planet Earth while I'm here.
