I recently ran across this article from Building.co.uk, Meet the House Made of Pallets. The article isn’t too strong on content on how to actually build a house like this, but for those with some building experience just looking at the pictures can give you a wealth of information.
My main question about using pallets for building is the integrity of the “joints”. How do you securely attach one pallet to the next to make a strong enough wall? I would think just screwing them together wouldn’t do; bolting them together would be a lot better, at least. Maybe the builder/architect is relying on a plywood or OSB skin to carry most of the stress.
It’s another way to look at building a serviceable little house for the short term if you have an ample supply of quality pallets. Actually, pallets might be a great way to build a little shed and experiment with this building method before actually putting time and money into a “house”. Even a temporary pallet house made of free pallets is going to require money for certain elements of the build (like wiring, plumbing, insulation, house wrap, etc.)
Take a look and see what you think! What’s your opinion of using pallets for building?
I think it is great for outbuildings. More uses for old pallets need to be found to keep them out of landfills.
Yes, I totally agree. I realize pallets have to be built very strong to handle very heavy loads for shipping, but that makes them very difficult to take apart and actually build something with. So using them intact might be a slightly easier answer.