Recycling and Building in Tonga

One of the primary goals when building our house in Tonga was to see how cost-effective we could make it. With covid arriving, it was evident that prices would soon rise. This prompted a challenging yet adventurous question—could we build almost everything in the house from recycled and second-hand materials?
As an avid op-shopper, finding value in second-hand items has always excited me. However, sourcing second-hand building materials was an entirely new venture. Although there were certain essentials we had to buy new for the integrity and longevity of the house, I was determined to use recycled materials as much as possible.
We started by salvaging exterior wood, the largest quantity we required. Finding a house slated for demolition, we managed to salvage wood for a small fee. This meant our weekends were spent feverishly ripping wood off houses, working under tight deadlines to gather as much as possible in three days. Removing wood is tough work, but if there’s one job I detest more, it’s denailing. If I never see another denailing task again, it’ll be too soon!
Just as we had collected half of our wood, a cyclone hit Tonga, causing significant damage to many homes, including those of our family members. Unfamiliar with the cyclone seasons in Tonga (having never been there before)I quickly learned that cyclones are common in the summer months. This realisation made us rethink our plans and pivot to building a concrete brick house for longevity and safety.
Concrete bricks, though nearly three dollars each, became the cornerstone of our build. Unlike wood, which deteriorates over time without meticulous care. I like the ideas of bricks as they will stand the test of time and have the house still standing for our kids, kids.
Our house building journey was slow—painstakingly slow, to be precise. Each brick was paid for slowly, often leaving our project dormant for up to six months while we saved up. Covid stretched my patience thin, but this was our only option.
Patience wore thin frequently as we laboured long hours late nights on weekdays and all day on the weekends, with little visible progress to show for it. To keep costs down, we continued our quest for second-hand windows and doors, spending endless hours scrolling through Pinterest for design inspiration and scouring Trade Me and Marketplace for bargains. The key? Consistency.
The treasure hunt on these platforms was time-consuming but rewarding. Persistence paid off as we found incredible deals—proof that some people just want to get rid of their stuff.Building with recycled and second-hand materials is more than just a cost-saving exercise; it’s a labour of love and a testament to sustainable living. Despite the frustrations and slow pace, the journey has been fulfilling. Our concrete brick house may have taken longer to build than anticipated, but it stands strong, ready to shelter our family for generations to come.