This is a short blog post that’s based on a simple concept I haven’t seen done yet. The aim of this method is to speed and strengthen the construction of pallet walls. Feedback is definitely welcome.
pallet building
Pallet Planters
This blog post shows several ways of building planters with free wood shipping pallets. Be sure to use pallets stamped as non-toxic. This stamp denotes that the pallets have not been treated with pesticides. Our Natural Building Blog now has about a dozen pages of free information on almost every aspect of pallet building (floors, paneling, walls, furniture, etc.). Use the search engine on the right side of the page using ‘pallet’ as the search phrase.
Pallet Sheds and $14 Pallet Shelving Units
This is a great idea for DIY low cost storage space. They’re simple enough anyone can build them. If you need a lot of shelving units, then it might be worthwhile to cut the cost in half by using 2x4s from oversized pallets (you’ll have to search around a bit to find them), and bolts or strong screws from yard sales or auctions. Bolts would be much easier to work with since it’s quite difficult to screw into old, dry pallet wood.
Feedback on Rex’s Pallet House
Yesterday’s blog post about Rex’s Pallet House got me thinking of some different possibilities. Rex and the crew have done an outstanding job so far of building a solid, durable home at incredibly low cost (around $4/sq. ft.). One could stop right there, follow in Rex’s footsteps and be quite satisfied with the results. But I’m the type of person who likes to run ‘what if’ scenarios to explore multiple options. (Brainstorming is free and fun, and often leads to improved results.) For instance, not everyone has 6 months available to build their home. Some builders might prefer spending a little more money to reduce the labor and speed construction. $4/sq. ft. is so cheap, that many could probably afford to pay a little extra, so let’s briefly look at some alternative building methods that will raise the cost a little, without breaking the bank.
Update on Rex’s Pallet House in Texas
This is an update on the pallet house in Texas that we reported on earlier. The ultra-low cost is what really caught my attention and kept me following their progress. The latest cost estimate is around $4/sq. ft. Now that is dirt cheap!
Pallet Desert Shelter
This is the second installment of my low cost desert shelters that have been designed with economic refugees in mind. These desert shelters were inspired by Phillip Garlington’s website at Rancho Costa Nada. His book Rancho Costa Nada: The Dirt Cheap Desert Homestead is available through Amazon and Smashwords.