Building a home for your family is a rewarding experience.
A house is one of the biggest investments one will make. Building a house from the ground up can save you a lot of money, especially if you save on material costs. There are many places to find materials for free, or purchase them cheaply. For the average 1,700 sq. ft. home, there are hundreds of materials to gather. At least 302 pounds of nails are required to construct a home this size.
Instructions
1. Purchase lumber from lumber surplus yards, home improvement stores or construction surplus sites. For a 1,700 sq. ft. home, you will require about 9,726 board feet of lumber. Sometimes, construction surplus sites sell extra lumber cheaply. To find a construction surplus site, call local construction companies and ask if each sells surplus materials.
2. Get cement to create the slab from home improvement stores. A 1,700 sq. ft. home requires about 55 cubic yards of concrete. Habit for Humanity Restore locations often have bags of cement for a reasonable price.
3. Find a home that is being demolished to reclaim insulation materials. At least 2500 sq. ft. of insulation is required to complete a 1,700 sq. ft. home. A home that is soon to be demolished is a great source to also grab cabinets, doors and fixtures.
4. Purchase exterior finish materials from home improvement stores. For a 1,700 sq. ft. home you will need about 2,528 ft. of exterior finish. Rarely will a single free or used source offer enough materials to cover the entire outside of your home.
5. Purchase drywall boards, drywall tape, mud and paint new at home improvement boards. You will need around 6,500 ft. of drywall and 55 gallons of paint to complete a house this size. Leftover cans of paint are often available at construction surplus yards; you may need to paint each room a different color.
6. Find at least 10 interior, four exterior and one sliding glass door used and new doors at thrift stores, construction surplus locations, and online. A solid door is not difficult too refinish or paint, so find these items for free when possible. These locations also tend to have sliding doors, French doors and closet doors.
7. Purchase roofing and wall materials from home improvement stores or a Habit for Humanity Restore. Wall materials include paint and drywall sheets. For a 1,700 sq. ft. home, you will need about 4650 ft. of sheating for the roof, walls and floor, 250 sq. ft. of plywood for the roof, and 2000 sq. ft. of asphalt shingles. Many roofing companies donate excess materials to this charity.
8. Purchase electrical wiring, studs and joists new from home improvement stores, or a Habitat for Humanity Restore. For the same size house, you will require at least 750 ft. of wiring. Sometimes Restore locations get these types of items donated from electrical companies, but often construction and electrical companies can use these items on a later job so they aren't often donated.
9. Find sinks, toilets, plumbing fixtures, plumbing fittings, cabinets, mirrors, bath tubs, towel and toilet paper holders, electrical outlets, and switch covers for free at sites like Freecycle or Craigslist, or sold used online, at Habitat for Humanity Restores or construction surplus yards. You will need at least 100 plumbing fittings for the water supply in a 1700 sq. ft. home, two or three electrical outlet covers for each room, one light cover and about 15 cabinets for the kitchen. Often construction companies will not use these items because they are slightly damaged or no longer in vogue, so they would rather sell it than store it.
10. Purchase PVC pipe from home improvement, construction surplus and Habitat for Humanity Restores. Cut PVC is often available at surplus or Restores. These leftovers can be had at a reasonable price and could be the right size for your construction project. Two hundred and eighty feet of linear feet is required for the piping in a similar size house; 170 ft. of plastic pipes for waste and drains and 70 additional fittings will also be required.
11. Go to a Habit for Humanity Restore location or a construction surplus site to find left over tile and counter top materials. Many construction companies have boxes of tiles leftover from a job, so they are willing to sell them. Restores typically get these leftovers from construction companies. Home improvement stores will also have this material.
12. Find used appliances posted in classified ads or on auction websites. For new appliances, go directly to a major department or home improvement store.
13. Purchase at least 12 windows for a 1700 sq. ft. house at home improvement stores. Since windows should be uniform and will need to be sized according to your architectural plan, it will be difficult to find these for free or at a surplus place.
14. Purchase a garage door used online or from a construction surplus yard. Garage doors can be refinished with a fresh coat of paint to look brand new. Many construction companies replace old garage doors. They usually throw away or recycle the old one, but if you contact them before they hit the junkyard, they might sell or give it to you.
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