[Mary]

What are some resources for free wood? Do contractors who are building homes mind if we take scraps from what looks like a scrap pile?

Where can you get pallet wood?

I’m looking for places where I can find free wood or take scrap materials from construction sites.

Are there any specific locations, tips, or methods that have worked for you?

How do you approach construction sites to ask for leftover wood?

Are there any particular times or types of sites that are more likely to have usable scraps?

Additionally, what are the best practices or etiquette when collecting these materials to ensure safety and maintain good relationships with site managers?

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

[Donna]

Please do not burn pallets. (or any other pressure treated lumber). It contains preservatives like arsenic, and other heavy metals.

[Melissa]

Contractors throw away Soo much good scraps. Just go and ask them

[Susan]

What are you needing the wood for?
I have a lot of scrap wood if its for hobby stuff.

[Debbie]

Farmer might let you cut already down trees or tree tops if you pile up the brush.

[Jill]

Lumber yards, businesses, etc usually have a place where they pile up free pallets, etc… just look…and when in doubt, ask.

[Kay]

Look at flooring and tile stores…they get inventory on pallets and usually give away stacks of pallets

[Jody]

We have a side business using old fence boards that a local fencing company put out in a free pile.

Win for them and those of us who benefit from this.

[Bob]

Ask. Don’t just take wood from a job site. What may look like scrap may have a purpose.

Sometimes stores give away pallets.

They receive shipments and then are often stuck with pallets.

A little less likely with chains because they can easily send them back to the central distributor and they’re reused.

[Penny]

If you want wood for heat, do not use construction scraps. Most of it is soft wood such as pine.

The wood does not burn hot enough and creasote will build up increasing the potential for a fire.

[Penny]

If you want wood for heat, do not use construction scraps. Most of it is soft wood such as pine.

The wood does not burn hot enough and creasote will build up increasing the potential for a fire.

We burn and have used free wood for years.

First thing is to let everyone you know that you want wood.

Get a good chain saw and be prepared to cut up anything that comes down.

People will let you know when a tree comes down.

Second watch for towns and power companies when they are clearing and trimming trees.

My husband carries a chainsaw in his truck and stops and cuts anything on public land.

We have not paid for wood in over 18 years at 2k savings a year for heat we have saved over 36k over the years.

[Toni]

I saw construction area. They had trash containers full of good wood. They don’t want or need it.

They said I could take all I wanted.

They were going to take it to the dump.

I was from out of town and didn’t have my truck.

[Cindi]

I helped people clean up their wood lines or down trees. I’m not very skilled but I got paid with the wood.

You can also go to the local landfills and they usually have a wood pile.

Road crews doing work often have a tree pile somewhere

[Author]

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