Recycled building materials can add character to a home while you save money and reduce building waste in landfills.
The cost of every item we purchase is determined in part by the price of oil. This includes products that are in no way petroleum based, since material extraction, manufacturing and transportation will in one way or another, rely at least in part on oil.
As the price of oil continues to rise, the money saved by employing used building materials becomes greater all the time. And that is simply considering the direct cost to the consumer; indirectly, the costs are exponentially higher through environmental destruction and the costs that come with it.
Depending on the type of product, some used building materials will save you a lot of money and add character to your home, some will at times cost more and add absolutely nothing, except perhaps help ease the burden on your conscience.
While we don’t have suppliers listed by region and there is no national supply chain for ‘used stuff’, here is a list of some items that are worth considering. As mentioned a couple of times in our pages, one of our favourite projects is the Hemloft, a secret little mountain hideaway in B.C. that was made entirely from used building materials found for free on the internet. Inspired by that, here is a short list some ways to get your hands on some great stock. Please feel free to add comments below if you have ideas of your own.
Collecting used building materials
Doors: Exterior doors from the past might be best left alone, since they are part of your building envelope and should be well-insulated and well-sealed. We are speaking more so about interior doors, and you can find some really nice ones. If they need refinishing, professional sandblasting is ideal for the safe removal of old paint, as it will most likely contain lead. If picking it up from a salvage yard its worth asking if they offer a sandblasting or paint stripping service.
It’s much easier if you purchase any reclaimed doors before you design and construct rough openings, olders doors tend to be of widly varying sizes. Out of commision barn doors can contribute greatly to an atmosphere while also being practical, used as a door or table they can standout as strong accent piece. Read more
Source: http://www.ecohome.net/guide/recycled-reclaimed-materials
