In our special money saver’s edition of Burke’s Backyard, Don had some fun going out and scrounging around for bargains. He found cheap pavers, pots, windows, doors, baths, sinks and landscaping materials.
Simon’s Seconds
For cheap pavers and pots, we recommend places like Simon’s Seconds at Villawood in Sydney. Here you can find real bargains at around half of the recommended retail prices. You can have a bit of fun haggling over prices, but in general it is cheapest to buy in bulk.
The pavers have minor blemishes, chips, air bubbles and spots of colour. There is a consistent supply of most pavers, although Simon only has a limited supply of discontinued lines.
Reconstituted sandstone pots range from $5 or $10 (roughies) up to $70. As with the pavers, buy in bulk for the best price. Even though these are seconds, you can turn the chipped or damaged bit to the back, put the plants in and nobody will ever know!
Kimbriki Tip
If you are interested in bargains, it’s a great idea to check out your local tip. Don visited Kimbriki Tip in Terrey Hills, Sydney, which is one of the best places in Australia for recycled products. There you can find all kinds of timber at about a quarter of the price you would pay in shops, including treated pine in every size and dimension you would ever need. You can buy recycled windows, doors, baths and even kitchen sinks – all dirt cheap!
Cheap mulch
Australian Native Landscapes operate at Kimbriki, recycling green waste and producing mulch, compost, soil conditioners and soil mixes. These products are then sold to the public at bargain prices, for example, mulches range from $20 to $30 per cubic metre.
Recycled concrete
Other interesting and cheap products to be found at Kimbriki include a beautiful 10mm aggregate made from crushed concrete, bricks and terracotta ($19 per tonne). They also sell roadbase (from $7 per tonne) and environmental sand (around $15.50 per tonne). Products like roadbase and environmental sand are useful for growing native plants, or lime loving plants such as lavenders.
Contact information
Simons Seconds
4 Tait Street
Smithfield 2164
Ph: 02 9729 4483 †††
Fax: 02 9729 1864 ††
Mobile: 0411 705 658
Email: [email protected]
http://www.simonsseconds.com.au
Concrete Recyclers (Group) Pty Ltd
Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre
Kimbriki RoadTerrey Hills 2084
Open: Monday to Saturday, 7am-5pm
Phone (02) 9684 6811
Australian Native Landscapes
Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre
Kimbriki Road
Terrey Hills 2084
Open: 7 days, 7am-5pm
Product inquiries: 0409 247 207
Finding your local recycling and waste disposal centre
As a starting point, visit www.resource.nsw.gov.au
This website has links to other states and information on places similar to Kimbriki.
Further reading
These useful discount shopping guides are written by Pamm Durkin, and published by Magpie Books (prices include GST).
Pamm’s Guide to Discount Melbourne and Country Victoria, $23.95
Pamm’s Guide to Discount Sydney and Country NSW, $19.95
Pamm’s Guide to Discount Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, $12.95