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KC cabin
Member
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:43pm - Edited by: KC cabin
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When I first built our honeymoon cabin (12x18' with loft) I was just a starry eyed single guy without a lot of money. I come from a long line of shameless scroungers so I was determined to spend as little out of pocket money as possible on my humble dream project. At least 80% of the construction and furnishings for our cozy SC was from repurposed (another man's trash) materials.

One of my favorite salvaging memories is of the night my future bride and I took apart a large abandoned fireworks stand in a grocery store parking lot. The store manager gave us permission to "quietly make it disappear". With hammers and crowbars and giddy enthusiasm we tore into the task of harvesting our "treasure". It was fearless and silly and joyful ... and we still laugh when talk about it today. And we got enough 5/8" plywood to entirely sheath the roof. ;)

So, did you do any "frugal acquisitioning" when you built your place?

MikeOnBike
Member
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 05:57pm
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I have a sad salvaging story. We have an ~25x35ft. shed that has a beautifully aged barn wood exterior. It would be perfect siding for our cabin to get that always been there look. Unfortunately our property is in range fire country and there is no fire department. We simply can't use anything but metal, brick/stone or fibercement siding.

Too bad, it would be perfect.

Erins#1Mom
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 07:49pm
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My brother is taking down an old barn that my grandfather built. It is at least 55 years old. I'm hoping to salvage some of the wood for the inside of my future cabin. My problem now is where to store.

turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 08:55pm - Edited by: turkeyhunter
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i built my 1st cabin 21 years ago, with gimme/freebie/road kill materials etc./i tore down a smoke house/tore down a friends barn who was getting a divorce (and his bride -said to get his barn off her property) good for me---sad for him......
on my new cabin i went to Restore today, 1st trip got a nice window for 20 bucks out the door brand new. I love a DEAL!!!!!





bobrok
Member
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 09:04pm
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Quoting: Erins#1Mom
old barn

Quoting: Erins#1Mom
salvage some of the wood for the inside of my future cabin

I'd be careful about 'buggy' wood. Have it tested and treated as necessary b4 you store it and eventually build with it.

Just
Member
# Posted: 29 Mar 2011 10:16pm
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You know it isen't so much finding great salavage it's storing it till you find that spot u need it !! I have a bad habit of finding more than i can use .. this has been Kates largest greef for 43 years .. any one need 50 sheets of used barn tin ,,but i digress..

turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 30 Mar 2011 06:57am
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Quoting: Just
it isen't so much finding great salavage it's storing it till you find that spot u need it !! I have a bad habit of finding more than i can use ..


FOR SURE!!!!! AND TRUE!!!!.............when i had my hunting club, everyone coming down to my camp, would say hey ya need __________????...sure. and then i left stuff/materials out in the weather etc. this year i hauled off about 400 bucks in scrap metal, and 3 ulit. trailers full of "stuff", i never used about 2000 lbs of junk........i was time to clean out the pole barn at camp, and area. It looks a lot better without all my JUNK, i had collected over the years.

bugs
Member
# Posted: 30 Mar 2011 08:27am
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Err barns are great for salvaging but one has to be aware that if they were used to house livestock the lumber can be very odoriferous (od' de bovine et swine et equine) if the lumber is not sealed completely particularly if things turn humid and warm the smell can be stifling.

MoB could the siding be used on the inside maybe as a character wall?

RnR
Member
# Posted: 30 Mar 2011 10:44am
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I'm really saddened that the town dump closed because the few times we went over we scored a few great finds, namely a beautiful solid wood door and like-new very compact bathroom sink which I hope to install this year.

MikeOnBike
Member
# Posted: 30 Mar 2011 12:19pm
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Quoting: bugs
MoB could the siding be used on the inside maybe as a character wall?


Yes it could and probably will. It's just a shame to have the wood that could make the cabin look like it has been there 100 yrs and not be able to use it.

squirrel
Member
# Posted: 31 Mar 2011 10:14pm - Edited by: squirrel
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most of my cabin is built from salvage finds where I work a building was being remodeled and the whole insides was torn out and put in a dumpster I managed to get insulation ceiling tiles boards and and old cooler unit for my cabin here I was with my kids (17,18,20)dumpster diving in my dress clothes and lovin it . the doors are out of my mother in laws neighbors yard for 20$ I never turn down anything I may be able to use My patio at home came from the dump oh yea our cabin started out as a small rv now is a 10x20 plus 6x8 bathroom
what I started with
what I started with
cooler unit
cooler unit
so far not finished just yet
so far not finished just yet


Erins#1Mom
# Posted: 2 Apr 2011 07:53pm
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Today, I decided that even though I don't know when cabin will be built, I wanted to buy something that would be a part of it. Window, light fixture, tile, anything that I could look at and know would be used one day. With saved money in hand, I went to my favorite salvage store and NOTHING! My husband laughed....

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