One of the most sustainable ways to acquire materials for building a house is to collect parts from soon-to-be demolished homes. You can save money from buying new lumber, which in turn will prevent deforestation, and you can recycle other materials like doors, windows, and bricks that would otherwise continue to fill up landfills.
But perhaps you’re not sure how to go about deconstructing a house. Read ahead to find out how to safely deconstruct a home and build with reclaimed lumber, instead of destroying and ruining precious building materials.
How to Deconstruct a House
I live at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, which is in the depopulated northeastern corner of Missouri. Nearby towns are brimming with abandoned and derelict houses and buildings, and builders at Dancing Rabbit frequently acquire lumber for their own homes from these sources.
Here’s an article describing how to deconstruct an old house and recycle the lumber for building. As is explained, buildings are constantly being demolished, but oftentimes you can track down the owners and convince them to let you deconstruct the building.
You will need but a few tools, and possibly a few friends, and then you will rake in the rewards of acquiring free building materials. You too can investigate the abandoned buildings in your area and learn which are ripe for deconstructing.
Deconstruction versus Destruction
More frequently than not, houses and derelict buildings are destroyed — smashed to smithereens, so that none of the materials can be used again, and then everything is sent away to a landfill.
In fact, 30-40% of all landfill waste is construction and demolition debris in the United States. Why ruin perfectly good materials and then throw them away? Unfortunately, it’s much easier to simply destroy a building rather than to take it apart.
There is much to be gained in using recylced building materials: you can save money, prevent deforestation, and reclaim materials that would otherwise end up as trash.
(Image credit: flickr via webschepper)
Just be careful when using recycled materials. Some councils require windows and structural wood to be engineered certified and this can cost more than buying a new piece.
Just be careful when using recycled materials. Some councils require windows and structural wood to be engineered certified and this can cost more than buying a new piece.
What a great article on how to reuse building materials. What a great way to reuse materials and help save the planets resourses at the same time.
What a great article on how to reuse building materials. What a great way to reuse materials and help save the planets resourses at the same time.
Centennial Woods is a U.S.G.B.C. (U.S.Green Building Council) manufacture of reclaimed, sustainable Wyoming snow fence products for applications including, but not limited to: siding, soffit, trim, & fascia. We also offer a line of tongue and groove products for: floors, walls, & ceiling applications. Ideal for Crafters! Our Product is the best! Don’t get tricked into buying barn-wood. We offer 1×6 rough-sawn, weathered wood in lengths from 4’ up to 16’, where barn wood is typically 10ft on average or less. Unlike most barn wood or salvaged building boards, our product has never been chemically treated and so its beauty is 100% natural. This means no harmful off-gassing or old lead-based paint will make its way into your home. Please visit our web site located at http://www.centennialwoods.com and order today!! Or call us toll-free in Laramie, WY at 866-778-8762 to discuss your project.
Sales Price: $1.69 LF 1”x6” 4′-16′ lengths, rough cut and weathered (extra for wire brushing or additional mill-work).
Sales Price: $6.99 SQ-FT ¾”x 5” tongue and groove plank, 4’-12’ random lengths. 100% smooth or 50% skip-planed.
Also ask about deals on our “short” inventory!!! We sell by the palate
Centennial Woods is a U.S.G.B.C. (U.S.Green Building Council) manufacture of reclaimed, sustainable Wyoming snow fence products for applications including, but not limited to: siding, soffit, trim, & fascia. We also offer a line of tongue and groove products for: floors, walls, & ceiling applications. Ideal for Crafters! Our Product is the best! Don’t get tricked into buying barn-wood. We offer 1×6 rough-sawn, weathered wood in lengths from 4’ up to 16’, where barn wood is typically 10ft on average or less. Unlike most barn wood or salvaged building boards, our product has never been chemically treated and so its beauty is 100% natural. This means no harmful off-gassing or old lead-based paint will make its way into your home. Please visit our web site located at http://www.centennialwoods.com and order today!! Or call us toll-free in Laramie, WY at 866-778-8762 to discuss your project.
Sales Price: $1.69 LF 1”x6” 4′-16′ lengths, rough cut and weathered (extra for wire brushing or additional mill-work).
Sales Price: $6.99 SQ-FT ¾”x 5” tongue and groove plank, 4’-12’ random lengths. 100% smooth or 50% skip-planed.
Also ask about deals on our “short” inventory!!! We sell by the palate
this is the dumbest thing ever