Maybe you're part of the "prepper" movement and want your own survival cabin or bugout shelter. Or maybe you're inspired by Henry David Thoreau and want your own version of his cabin on Walden Pond. Whatever your motivation, you don't have to spend a small (or large!) fortune to build your own wilderness cabin. This article will give you valuable tips and tricks to get the cost of your cabin as close to zero as possible. This article also assumes that you already have some land where you can build your cabin.
Search online for free materials for your survival cabin or bug out shelter
Obviously, the preferred option for building your cabin is to find as much free material as possible. Fortunately there are a number of places to find freebies. Craigslist is a wonderful source for free or almost free materials. First, check out the "free" category in your area's "for sale" section. A recent search in my area found several postings for free lumber, even more for free firewood and one posting for free bricks.
Next, check out the "household", "materials" and "farm + garden" sections. While not offering freebies, these sections are often chock full of items at good prices. A brief search through these sections yielded multiple wood stoves, more lumber, deck materials, roofing and just about any other type of material necessary for constructing a cabin. Remember, one man's trash can be another man's treasure. Often times people are just happy to get rid of this stuff. Even those that are selling it will probably be willing to negotiate on the price - especially if it's something they've been trying to unload for awhile.
Spend some time scouring your area's Craigslist postings and don't be afraid to expand your search to other areas. You may find the motherlode of free materials that will more than justify making a road trip to pick it up.
Make your country drive a material finding mission
I live in eastern Washington state and am surrounded by miles and miles of rural country roads and farm land. We love to go for drives in the country. Now, our country drives have taken on a new purpose: we make these drives a scavenger hunt for building materials. Those old, broken down farm buildings you see so often can be a boon to the salvage builder. Sometimes, not always, a farmer is happy to let you haul away lumber from these caved in buildings. Exercise extreme caution as these buildings can be dangerous and make sure you're not grabbing rotten wood. Tthere is often good, useable lumber in these old structures. Always ask for persmission. And while you're at it, ask your new farmer friend if he has any other old out buildings that you could haul away for him.
Use your network for finding free building materials
This sounds super simple but give it a try: ask your friends on Facebook if they know of any free building supplies. You'd be surprised at how many folks have a stack of boards or bricks taking up space in their backyard, shed or garage that they would be happy to get rid of. Often times people have items left over from past home improvement projects, things like shingles, tar paper, nails - that are still brand new! You would be amazed at how much brand new stuff is sitting out there going to waste. Just ask.
Perhaps the most fruitful relationship you can foster within your personal network is with a carpenter or contractor. These guys or gals are regularly doing remodels and installations and may have access to used lumber, doors, windows, molding, etc. I have a family member who specializes in residential remodels and door/window installations. He removes doors and windows on a daily basis! Most of these items are still in perfectly good working condition and I am actually doing him a favor to take them off his hands. Otherwise, he has to pay to dump them.
Put the word out with your carpenter friends that you're looking for good, useable salvage lumber and building supplies and you'll likely have more than you can handle in a short amount of time.
Talk up your plans
I announced to my family a couple months ago that my plan is to build a cabin for free this summer. To be honest, they laughed a little at first, but the more we talked about it the more excited they got. Now my wife and kids are keeping their eyes open for free materials. Tell your friends about your "crazy scheme" and chances are they will get a little excited too and will start helping you look for free materials as well.
Jeremy Lunnen - Jeremy Lunnen is a 44 year old MBA and father of seven whose "grown up" job is as a corporate leadership trainer. His love affair with ...
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