Okay, so I wanted to build a little shed in my backyard. You know, just a place to stash my tools, maybe the lawnmower, that kind of stuff. I started looking into it, and man, those pre-fab sheds are expensive! So I thought, “Hey, why not build it myself? How hard can it be, right?”
First thing I needed was a plan. I sketched out something basic on a napkin, nothing fancy. I just needed four walls and a roof, pretty much. Then came the materials. I figured bricks would be solid, but new ones can cost a pretty penny. So I started hunting for cheaper options.
- Fly ash bricks: Found some info about these. They use some industrial waste, which is cool for the environment, I guess. But they weren’t easy to find locally.
- Bamboo: Sounds cool, but probably not the best for a shed in my area. We get some pretty strong winds here.
- Recycled materials: Now this was interesting. I started looking around for used bricks.
- Concrete: Concrete blocks can be used, but I’m worried about its weight. And Cinder blocks are affordable, but I don’t like the holes it has.
- Steel: Steel framing is cheaper than wood framing, that’s great. I don’t need to worry about pests.
I called up a few demolition companies and explained what I was doing. One of them was actually getting rid of a bunch of old red bricks from a building they tore down. They were just gonna crush them up, so they offered me a whole load for practically nothing, just the cost of hauling them over! I had seen that red bricks usually cost $0.40 to $0.90 per brick, but this time I got a very low price.
I borrowed my buddy’s pickup truck, and we spent a whole Saturday moving those bricks. It was a workout, let me tell you. But I ended up with enough bricks to build my shed and then some, all for a fraction of what new ones would have cost.
The actual building process was… well, let’s just say I learned a lot. Mortar is messy, and laying bricks straight is harder than it looks. But, after a few weekends of sweat and a few minor mishaps, I had my shed. It’s not perfect, but it’s solid, it keeps the rain out, and it was cheap!
The best part? I can point to it and say, “I built that.” And I didn’t break the bank doing it. So, if you’re thinking about a little DIY project, don’t be afraid to look for deals on materials. You might be surprised what you can find, and how much money you can save.