How to Build a Raised Bed Planter on a Budget- Part 1 Info. & Costs

What if building your Raised Bed Planters was easy and did not have to cost a fortune??

You can start your home garden or homestead today with this LOW COST -RECLAIMED MATERIALS raised bed planters build. 

SAY HELLO TO MY PLANTER FRIENDS…

 With easy TRUE DIY construction that helps the PLANET, by using reclaimed supplies, so it’s “SUSTAINABLE”. They are also Locally Purchased, benefiting your community, by supporting your local economy.

I can best describe these Reclaimed Materials Raised Bed Planter by first identifying what they ARE NOT.

A) These Raised Bed Planters DO NOT use the “wavy metal” that that you see at home improvement stores.  The panel we use is much stronger and cheaper to buy.

B) These Raised Bed Planters ARE NOT a wood intensive build. Because the Metal Panel is substantially stronger you only need wood as a corner post to join the materials together. They do not need a wood top or side railing,  such as in many other DIY plans. (The exception is only in a long planter (10’ in length) you will also have a middle support post) 

So we now know these planters use, a strong metal panel and are minimal wood build.

Let me tell you more about what makes these planters so special. They use a reclaimed Corrugated Metal Siding

These planters are made from an INDUSTRIAL GRADE “cargo container/(trapezoidal) ” style metal for long lasting durability. The best way to describe that is the panel is shaped the same as “CARGO CONTAINERS”. It has the same trapezoidal shape.

This metal panel is commonly called “WIDE RIB or TYPE B” metal decking or metal roof decking. You can often purchase these item reclaimed from metal salvage yards as a substantial saving over new materials.

B) You can use Reclaimed Lumber (if available) to further increase savings and have a very low cost Raised Bed Planter Build

C) This is a TRUE DIY, 1 person build.   #nocrewdiy

WHAT ARE THE COSTS TO BUILD RAISED BED PLANTERS?     From $0.50- $0.90 sq ft

I purchased my material from the local metal salvage yard- Bulldog Disposal in Kingman Az. This is what is cost me to build each size planter.

METAL COST

2X2     $ 3.75

2X4     $ 5.00

4X4     $ 7.50

4x10  $ 13.12

 WOOD COST

Each planter (2x2, 2x4 or 4x4) requires 80” of 4” x 4” per planter (or 160” of 2” x  4”- that is ‘doubled up’)  A 4x10 planter uses a middle post.

 I used reclaimed lumber that I was able to get locally. @ time of publishing, local lumber prices are a 4x4x8’= $16.92 & a 2x4x8’(qty 2) = $7.00

**COST SAVING TIP-You can save over 50% in new lumber costs in your Raised Bed Planter Build if you use (2) 2”x4”  rather than a 4”x4” for the corner posts.  It does require 1 extra step in the build process though, doubling up 2 pieces of 2x4 to make a 4x4 corner post. 

This Reclaimed Materials Raised Bed Planter Build may not be for everyone, so I will discuss any potential issues or problems a DIYer can face.

1) Scouting trip-You will need to travel to scrap yard to inquire about material availability.

2) Transport- The panels can be up to 16’ in length so you will need the use of a trailer or large truck.

3) Processing- (The same as with an all lumber build): You will need to cut & drill materials. Some additional processing may be needed, the reclaimed metal paneling I purchased had some latex calking on some edges that I removed with a putty knife.      

If you want to see how we build them check out Part 2- Construction