Reclaimed Materials – What They Are And Their Uses Today

Reclaimed materials can be anything at all, from old doors and windows from abandoned buildings to bits of scrap metal. You could think of it, I guess, as recycling on a different level. All building components, metal, glass, wood, fabric and brick can be salvaged from buildings which are scheduled for demolition and reused. Many of the original features, fireplace mantels or wood trim, are much more elaborate and better quality than their equivalent made today. Of course reproductions are plentiful, but I love the idea of taking something old and using it in a new and perhaps different way.

Long before recycling as we think of it today was fashionable, husband’s grandfather dealt in scrap metal. He retrieved all kinds of metal that was being discarded and sorted it out into different elements before heading off to the scrap yard to sell it. Once, when the electric company decided to get rid of some copper wire he bought it and my husband and his cousin were persuaded to remove the coating by burning it off so it could be sold. These days many people deal in scrap metal. Every spring our town has a special clean up day when you can put out of all kinds of junk and get it picked up. It’s a great opportunity to clear an attic or cellar and have stuff taken away at no charge. During the last several years, the scrap metal “pickers” have been first on the scene, long before the garbage trucks come to take it away for recycling.

I think it is very unfortunate that we live in such a throw away age and it really breaks my heart when beautiful old buildings are torn down to make way for shopping centers or parking lots. Latterly, architectural salvage has become increasingly popular and salvage companies bid on old doors, windows, trims, and architectural elements and take them away before demolition begins. Things such as old bricks, slate roofing, and floorboards can be reused in new construction and are especially in demand when restoring older homes.

The last repurposing project I undertook was a huge bone of contention between my husband and me. An old slate sidewalk in front of the building where I worked was being torn up and I thought it would look nice at our house so asked if I could have it. The construction foreman said he would keep it for me. Unfortunately, I did not realise how thick the slate was and it turned out that each piece weighed easily300-400 pounds. My husband asked a few strong friends to help him and they loaded it onto our pickup. It was so heavy that they could only take a few pieces at a time. When we eventually got it home laying it was another challenge, but we succeeded and it looked wonderful. It took a year before my husband finally admitted that it had been a good idea. What can I say? Thankfully he is a patient man when it comes to me and my repurposing projects.

Reclaimed materials can be used both in new construction and for carrying out restoration projects and most major urban areas have a salvage company or two or a re use it center. This way you can not only have little bit of history in your home but you can often save money as well when you use reclaimed materials.






 

Building Salvage News:

 

All aboard for NoHo Depot restoration
After more than a decade of delays, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun the long, slow work of restoring the century-old Lankershim train station in North Hollywood...


EV Race Car Uses Green Composites Under the Hood - Design News

EV Race Car Uses Green Composites Under the Hood
Design News
For the recycled materials, the company worked with ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd. and WMG at the University of Warwick. ELG reclaimed end-of-life carbon fibers from Umeco's MTM49 epoxy prepreg and re-impregnated them with Umeco's MTM49 toughened epoxy resin.

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Omni Dallas Hotel Receives LEED Gold Certification - Sacramento Bee

Citybizlist Real Estate
Omni Dallas Hotel Receives LEED Gold Certification
Sacramento Bee
This designation was made possible by the development and execution of a highly disciplined plan that included the use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives.
Omni Dallas receives LEED Gold certificationBizjournals.com

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'Salvage and recovery mode
This is a view of the east side of the destroyed Green Hills AEA building, 1405 N. Lincoln St., Wednesday afternoon. (CNA photo by AMY HANSEN)..


Sally Falk Nancrede: Recycled Emeco chair stacks up well - Indianapolis Star

Sally Falk Nancrede: Recycled Emeco chair stacks up well
Indianapolis Star
It's 90 percent post-industrial material." Broom is manufactured from a new composite, combining reclaimed polypropylene and discarded wood fiber. It's industry waste from lumber factories and industrial plastic plants. In other words, it's sawdust and .

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Salvage worker dies from injuries
The Colusa salvage worker who had a wall fall on him Thursday morning, died of his injuries at Enloe Medical Center in Chico late Sunday afternoon, interim police Chief Ross Stark said today. Daniel Kesterson, 58, died at 4:37 p.m. Kesterson was...


Skagit Building Salvage Architectural Salvage
http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/skagit_building_salvage-b2497401. At Skagit Building Salvage, we are your source for top quality, affordable reusable building materials. Our inventory is constantly changing, ...


 

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