Building Projects With Junkyard Parts

Shacks

• Shacks built of plywood, plastic sheeting or even cardboard collected from junkyards are usually not building projects by choice but out of necessity. Shacks are still found in shantytowns and slums in poorer nations all over the world. They usually lack all amenities, are not waterproof and in certain circumstances are constructed on top of the very junkyard the materials come from. In the U.S., shacks were common during the Depression era in the 1930s, when homeless farmers and workers used discarded pieces of wood to construct drafty huts as housing for their families.

Earthship Tire House

• Earthship is a design principle invented by New Mexico architect Michael Reynolds who builds house by collecting old tires from junkyards. The tires are then assembled on top of each other and packed with dirt to stabilize them. Then the gaps are filled with concrete and covered in plaster. The dirt-packed tire walls are solid and water-resistance, and will keep the inside of the house at a stable temperature through all seasons. Several Earthship houses have already been built all over the world and comply with building codes in the U.S. Even though the construction of Earthship houses relies on recycled materials bought cheaply from junkyards, the construction still will cost the same as a conventional house due to higher labor costs.

Beer Can House

• Houston citizen John Milkovisch used a quite unconventional junkyard material in the construction of the siding of his house. Being an avid beer drinker, Milkovisch started his project in 1968 by flattening the emptied beer cans and adding them to the outside of his house. Within 18 years, the house was covered completely, and it is estimated that he used more than 50,000 cans for his project. Milkovisch died in 1988, but his house has become a landmark in his hometown and a much loved tourist attraction.

Bottle Walls and Houses

• Plastic and glass bottles have become a popular junkyard material used in various building projects around the world. Bottle walls are features in Earthship building developed by Michael Reynolds, but in some countries in South America, builders have gone further and constructed entire houses with plastic bottles. The materials and parts are usually collected from junkyards or through cleaning up neighborhoods. They are then stuffed with dirt, laid out like bricks and fitted with cement or adobe.

Reclaimed Building Materials

• Specialist junkyards, sometimes also called reclamation or salvage yards, store materials delivered after the demolishing of buildings and structures. Materials include bricks, timber, fixtures, fittings and even concrete debris which is used by construction companies in foundations. These reclaimed materials and parts are used in all kinds of restoration projects, but also as special features in new-built constructions.