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RE Stores are growing organically. Reused building materials are available as used building materials, salvage, architectural salvage and fill a need in between garage sale stores, Lowes, antique store and definitely eclectic salvaged treasures!
RE Store is an outlet REsources in Bellingham, WA that pulls reusable materials out of projects and they then set up a store to handle all the materials. They are now the largest retail store in downtown Bellingham. The store staff are paid employees, and they use volunteers from community service programs, and interested volunteers as well.
These people are like minded and concerned about their communities. Newish items run about half of new prices. Other items are based on gut feel. Donations are accepted and sometimes are bought at about 25% of their value.
Goals for used building materials are to keep things out of the landfill, help low income families, and assist artists. Lots of used building material treasure hunting goes on here!
Kinds of used materials vary from: doors, dimensional lumber, cabnitry, hardware, windows, flashing, plumbing, hardware, toilets and sinks, lighting fixtures, and even science room cabinets. Salvaged materials look for cool and valuable. Appliances are sometimes usable such as refrigerator and ovens.
Public donations. Deconstruction crews take houses apart by hand. Salvage crews reclaim used remodeling parts. Pickup crews pick up used building materials and appliances from homeowners. These salvage operations are all safer and more time efficient than mining the landfill.
Employees at Re Store are over educated, environmentally minded and have a very positive energy! Their dedication shows in the service and sorting skills applied to the used and salvaged materials.
They can presort, restore and make it recyclable. And can recycle other materials such as asphalt roofing materials to recycle 60-80% of a building. It can take 3 weeks (300-400 hours) vs. 2 days to deconstruct a house...save the homeowner landfill costs and give the homeowner a tax deduction. Reuse of the materials can help cover costs. Breakeven is the mission, the goal. Mission driven vs. profit driven. But they are sucess driven for the community!
A deconstruction industry is forming, and new tools are being designed for effective work productivity. Deconstruction provides a lot of jobs, and teams typcally work with crews of 6 people on their deconstruction and recycling projects.
One new tool is a pneumatic nail remover -- and is seen as the most exciting new tool because it saves time, and can save additional amounts and kinds of wood.
Reality inspires community! People support and gather around solutions to real needs -- the Re Store is about connections!
RE Store is an outlet REsources in Bellingham, WA that pulls reusable materials out of projects and they then set up a store to handle all the materials. They are now the largest retail store in downtown Bellingham. The store staff are paid employees, and they use volunteers from community service programs, and interested volunteers as well.
These people are like minded and concerned about their communities. Newish items run about half of new prices. Other items are based on gut feel. Donations are accepted and sometimes are bought at about 25% of their value.
Goals for used building materials are to keep things out of the landfill, help low income families, and assist artists. Lots of used building material treasure hunting goes on here!
Kinds of used materials vary from: doors, dimensional lumber, cabnitry, hardware, windows, flashing, plumbing, hardware, toilets and sinks, lighting fixtures, and even science room cabinets. Salvaged materials look for cool and valuable. Appliances are sometimes usable such as refrigerator and ovens.
Public donations. Deconstruction crews take houses apart by hand. Salvage crews reclaim used remodeling parts. Pickup crews pick up used building materials and appliances from homeowners. These salvage operations are all safer and more time efficient than mining the landfill.
Employees at Re Store are over educated, environmentally minded and have a very positive energy! Their dedication shows in the service and sorting skills applied to the used and salvaged materials.
They can presort, restore and make it recyclable. And can recycle other materials such as asphalt roofing materials to recycle 60-80% of a building. It can take 3 weeks (300-400 hours) vs. 2 days to deconstruct a house...save the homeowner landfill costs and give the homeowner a tax deduction. Reuse of the materials can help cover costs. Breakeven is the mission, the goal. Mission driven vs. profit driven. But they are sucess driven for the community!
A deconstruction industry is forming, and new tools are being designed for effective work productivity. Deconstruction provides a lot of jobs, and teams typcally work with crews of 6 people on their deconstruction and recycling projects.
One new tool is a pneumatic nail remover -- and is seen as the most exciting new tool because it saves time, and can save additional amounts and kinds of wood.
Reality inspires community! People support and gather around solutions to real needs -- the Re Store is about connections!
Building deconstruction and demolition can be profitable...and definitely a greener use of natural resources...even if they are used! (Especially when those materials are used!)
There are some pathways to explore if you want to deconstruct buildings...or use the materials. Here are some tips:
Prices for deconstruction vary from $3 to $14/sq ft. depending on location and market timing. Labor is usually priced per square foot. The value of materials vary.
Clever contractors can deconstruct and salvage a building in smart ways that saves costs. Experience, creativity and efficiency make a difference.
Owners benefit financially because they get tax deductions for the value of materials they donate to nonprofit organzations vs. landfilling. Habitat for Humanity ReStores is an example. Local historical societies sometimes have antique parts shops to help restore old properties.
A general list of materials that can be salvaged from deconstructed buildings include:
Reuse isn't the only market for salvaged materials. They also have "recycled content" potential: lumber can be ground into use for fuels, mulches, etc. Gypsum drywall can be used as soil amendment or returned to factory, or used for other agricultural purposes.
New construction can also use recycled materials and reuse materials: High end use of these salvaged materials can create a distinct green statement and brand a design or construction firm as a "green building" company when they excel at the practical and aesthetic use of recycled content.
For more resources about green building and salvaging, check out GreenBuildingTalk.com
There are some pathways to explore if you want to deconstruct buildings...or use the materials. Here are some tips:
Prices for deconstruction vary from $3 to $14/sq ft. depending on location and market timing. Labor is usually priced per square foot. The value of materials vary.
There are other reasons beyond value of materials to consider responsible deconstruction of old buildings.
- Mundane materials can run $2-4 per sq ft of materials.
- Other valuable materials vary greatly -- the sky's the limit.
- Cost avoidance -- avoid disposal costs,
- Avoid taxes -- tax benefits to property owners,
- Value of antique and reusable materials
- Babysitting disposed materials.
- Saved labor rates.
- Saved landfill tipping fees/disposal
- Donation of materials for tax deductions
Clever contractors can deconstruct and salvage a building in smart ways that saves costs. Experience, creativity and efficiency make a difference.
Owners benefit financially because they get tax deductions for the value of materials they donate to nonprofit organzations vs. landfilling. Habitat for Humanity ReStores is an example. Local historical societies sometimes have antique parts shops to help restore old properties.
A general list of materials that can be salvaged from deconstructed buildings include:
- Antiques, artifacts, ornaments, mundane building materials.
- Fixtures (the older the better for high end design -- antique salvage is a strong market)
- Appliances: antique water heaters, stoves, etc. can be sold for @$20.
- Fixtures: toilets and sinks can be valued in restoring old buildings
- Doors and windows -- There are a thousand and one uses for doors
- Flooring is easy to extract and marketable. Very valuable. Oak or fir go for $14 sq ft.
- Roofing - slate and tile are popular and valuable
- Siding - common used building materials include aluminum. Wood siding can also be used for millwork.
- Heavy timbers - very active.
- Dimensional timbers have less market, but old growth, heart pine, Douglas fir, etc. can be milled and converted to other products.
Reuse isn't the only market for salvaged materials. They also have "recycled content" potential: lumber can be ground into use for fuels, mulches, etc. Gypsum drywall can be used as soil amendment or returned to factory, or used for other agricultural purposes.
New construction can also use recycled materials and reuse materials: High end use of these salvaged materials can create a distinct green statement and brand a design or construction firm as a "green building" company when they excel at the practical and aesthetic use of recycled content.
For more resources about green building and salvaging, check out GreenBuildingTalk.com
Used building materials are a time honored conservation strategy. My father was an old world carpenter who maintained a shop that was half workspace and half storage of used building materials from previous jobs that could be used in future jobs. It was part of his work habits to conserve good used materials. Maybe that was because we didn't have curbside pickup of trash -- we lived in the country and had to haul our own trash to the city dump and pay to dump it. So the trash was minimized ... and the annual trip was seen as a necessary evil, not a solution. That meant we learned every trick to use old building materials like wood and brick and even old nuts and bolts.
The solution to conserving materials was to carefully use every bit of material bought for a job, and to save anything left over -- both new materials and used materials. Recycling used materials is smart. Using "used" saves money. AND it saves our increasingly precious natural resources.
But what are the tricks to maximizing the value of used building materials?
Pre-planning the job.
During the design phase of your job, when you're sketching possible solutions...revisit your stash of used building materials. Sort through your used hardware. And used plywood,. And used boards. And used or remnant laminate. Let your imagination roam among your current resources -- your treasure chest of used building materials and make them an integral part of your design.
Designing with used building materials
Used materials have not only pragmatic value...but aesthetic value. The patina of old wood is rich and textured with use. Old paint can be decorative and unique. Used hardware has character.
Sourcing used building materials
Architectural supply houses deconstruct old buildings and make these used, aesthetic and practical materials available for new projects. Habitat for Humanity also has a growing chain of reuse materials that are salvaged materials from remodeling jobs and old buildings. These used and remnant materials are sorted and stored to protect their value and integrity. And the discounts are amazingly affordable.
The Habitat ReStores of used building materials are found on the Internet by searching for your local region (city, county, or state) and "Habitat Restore".
Local building tear downs
Many people have old buildings on their property that they want torn down (with a treasure trove of used building matrials!). Reasons vary. Often they don't have the tools or the truck available to handle the job of reclaiming or storing the used materials themselves, but would welcome your help in tearing down the building and hauling away the valuable used building material salvage...in exchange for your proud acquisition of the used building materials.
Sometimes people advertise that they are looking for a deal to exchange labor for the used building materials and salvage. Sometimes it the "friendship network" that connects you can connect you with used materials. Sometimes you can find reclamation opportunities at a local resource center such as the local hardware store, lumber yard or restaurant bulletin board.
Salvaging new construction materials
When you see a construction site -- whether it is a new home or a remodeling job, you can stop and ask the owner and construction supervisor if you could have their left over and salvaged, used building materials. You could work out a deal for a good price...and save them tipping fees at the landfill. You can also purchase excess materials they purchased because they need a safety factor on large scale jobs -- this excess inventory can often be bought at a savings.
Consider all your costs
Before you scavenge for new or used building materials a long way from home, consider your own costs: the fuel, the wear and tear on your vehicle and the storage costs. It pays to save...but it pays more to carefully time your used material purchases to meet your needs. Most people don't have a working shop in which they can store used and salvaged materials for some future possibility. Storage takes money to heat and cool, to pay taxes on...and to clean.
But reclaiming used building materials has many benefits ... for you, for your community and for our natural resources.
The solution to conserving materials was to carefully use every bit of material bought for a job, and to save anything left over -- both new materials and used materials. Recycling used materials is smart. Using "used" saves money. AND it saves our increasingly precious natural resources.
But what are the tricks to maximizing the value of used building materials?
Pre-planning the job.
During the design phase of your job, when you're sketching possible solutions...revisit your stash of used building materials. Sort through your used hardware. And used plywood,. And used boards. And used or remnant laminate. Let your imagination roam among your current resources -- your treasure chest of used building materials and make them an integral part of your design.
Designing with used building materials
Used materials have not only pragmatic value...but aesthetic value. The patina of old wood is rich and textured with use. Old paint can be decorative and unique. Used hardware has character.
Sourcing used building materials
Architectural supply houses deconstruct old buildings and make these used, aesthetic and practical materials available for new projects. Habitat for Humanity also has a growing chain of reuse materials that are salvaged materials from remodeling jobs and old buildings. These used and remnant materials are sorted and stored to protect their value and integrity. And the discounts are amazingly affordable.
The Habitat ReStores of used building materials are found on the Internet by searching for your local region (city, county, or state) and "Habitat Restore".
Local building tear downs
Many people have old buildings on their property that they want torn down (with a treasure trove of used building matrials!). Reasons vary. Often they don't have the tools or the truck available to handle the job of reclaiming or storing the used materials themselves, but would welcome your help in tearing down the building and hauling away the valuable used building material salvage...in exchange for your proud acquisition of the used building materials.
Sometimes people advertise that they are looking for a deal to exchange labor for the used building materials and salvage. Sometimes it the "friendship network" that connects you can connect you with used materials. Sometimes you can find reclamation opportunities at a local resource center such as the local hardware store, lumber yard or restaurant bulletin board.
Salvaging new construction materials
When you see a construction site -- whether it is a new home or a remodeling job, you can stop and ask the owner and construction supervisor if you could have their left over and salvaged, used building materials. You could work out a deal for a good price...and save them tipping fees at the landfill. You can also purchase excess materials they purchased because they need a safety factor on large scale jobs -- this excess inventory can often be bought at a savings.
Consider all your costs
Before you scavenge for new or used building materials a long way from home, consider your own costs: the fuel, the wear and tear on your vehicle and the storage costs. It pays to save...but it pays more to carefully time your used material purchases to meet your needs. Most people don't have a working shop in which they can store used and salvaged materials for some future possibility. Storage takes money to heat and cool, to pay taxes on...and to clean.
But reclaiming used building materials has many benefits ... for you, for your community and for our natural resources.
My father was an old world carpenter and everything had its place in his shop. His six kids were allowed -- even encouraged -- to "work" in his shop, but tools were expected to be put back into place and cleaned properly. Period.
I was thinking about that today when I was cleaning my studio. Old equipment tucked away. Old supplies. Old batteries. Old...underused...makiing clutter.
Tool Inventory
It's time to do an inventory on my tools, and remove those that aren't being used properly in today's workflow. Tools just get old, especially power tools. Their parts freeze and batteries leak and they lose value just sitting unused. And they take up valuable space, and the clutter makes it more difficult to find adequate space for productive work. So...
Clean Up the Shop
It's time for cleanup. Take an inventory of where all your tools and equipment are kept. Include every toolbox in every nook an crannie...every truck, locker, cage or closet. Review your inventory. Clean and fix these tools or pass them along to someone who can put them to better use. Recycle dead batteries at your home center or building supply store.
Storage System
Rethink your storage sysem. Put some thought into what is convenient for your upcoming remodeling projects and put a system into place for easy locating, cleaning and replacing your tools each time. Your productivity will take a jump and I'll bet you do a bit of whistling occasionally as you enjoy your new working space that lets your creativity and craft shine!
I was thinking about that today when I was cleaning my studio. Old equipment tucked away. Old supplies. Old batteries. Old...underused...makiing clutter.
Tool Inventory
It's time to do an inventory on my tools, and remove those that aren't being used properly in today's workflow. Tools just get old, especially power tools. Their parts freeze and batteries leak and they lose value just sitting unused. And they take up valuable space, and the clutter makes it more difficult to find adequate space for productive work. So...
Clean Up the Shop
It's time for cleanup. Take an inventory of where all your tools and equipment are kept. Include every toolbox in every nook an crannie...every truck, locker, cage or closet. Review your inventory. Clean and fix these tools or pass them along to someone who can put them to better use. Recycle dead batteries at your home center or building supply store.
Storage System
Rethink your storage sysem. Put some thought into what is convenient for your upcoming remodeling projects and put a system into place for easy locating, cleaning and replacing your tools each time. Your productivity will take a jump and I'll bet you do a bit of whistling occasionally as you enjoy your new working space that lets your creativity and craft shine!
