3 tricks to finding second-hand building materials

Not everything you need for a building project needs to be brand new. Keep these tips in mind to find more affordable second-hand materials.

• Most suppliers don't clean up their products. The timber may contain old nails, windows may be only partly glazed, old roofing iron may need patching, and so on.
• Unlike standard materials, which can safely be bought over the telephone, old materials come in a variety of sizes and qualities. You'll need inspect them before you buy.

• Most cities and large towns have at least one or two second-hand building materials suppliers who stock their yards with all manner of merchandise.
• Some companies specialize in specific second-hand materials, such as old bricks or roofing tiles.
• The quality of the goods varies considerably. It's advisable to do some shopping around.
• When searching the used material yard, keep a list handy.
• Try to remain flexible in your thinking. It's unlikely that you will find enough matching products of any sort.

• Classified advertisements sometimes indicate that buyers must dismantle and remove what they wish to buy. This gives you the chance dismantle with care. Entire structures may be bought this way.
• As you look through the ads, you'll often find that the old is sold alongside the new, but at a knockdown price.
• Advertisements are also a source of new materials. Stock may have been over-ordered, the wrong materials purchased or a project cancelled.

Second-hand building materials are available from a number of sources, including junkyards, demolition sites and second-hand building materials suppliers. Search through the local classifieds for deals and keep an open mind when searching through the trash. You may just find treasure.