What's New in the Yard!
updated 2/20/06
What Is Deconstruction?
Although you won’t yet find it in the dictionary, deconstruction is defined as “the selective dismantling or removal of material from buildings in reverse order of assembly, to maximize the re-harvest of materials for reuse.” Whether your project is a bathroom, a kitchen, an entire upstairs, or a complete site redevelopment, typically there is plenty to salvage for reuse.
Deconstruction = Less Waste
It is estimated that 136 million tons of construction and demolition debris enters our landfills annually. This has significant cumulative economic and environmental effects. We can do better!
At The ReStore, we are making an effort to mitigate the impacts of construction and demolition debris by systematically disassembling buildings and recycling or reusing much of the old building (as much as 90%). Wood that is not fit for resale or reuse can be shredded and used for mulch. Concrete can be crushed for structural fill and roadbase. Metals are salvaged for recycling. Doors, windows, lights and other fixtures are salvaged for reuse. We are investigating the establishment of a gypsum (sheetrock) recycling facility as well as an asphalt shingle recycling option.
Deconstruction = Employment Opportunities
Deconstruction differs from traditional demolition in labor strategy as well. Rather than employing an operator and using heavy equipment to smash and trash, we employ a crew of individual workers, which serves as a local economic development engine.
Deconstruction = Smaller work-site damage & Less Pollution
Because we utilize a manual process wherever possible we can often complete a deconstruction project in areas that are sensitive to noise, pollution and/or on sites where there isn’t enough room for large demolition equipment.
The demolition debris from a typical residential kitchen or bathroom remodel equals, by weight, four years of curbside recycling from an average household. Using deconstruction, up to 85% of a building’s major components can be salvaged, non-useable materials are sorted and recycled, and waste is minimized. Deconstruction is one key step in remodeling where you can significantly reduce your environmental impacts.
Give Back to Your Community
You may be tired of your kitchen cabinets, light fixtures, or bathtub, but many of the materials removed for your remodel job have much more life in them, and the chances are good that somebody else could use them. Most of the items The ReStore salvages become available to the public at affordable prices at The ReStore Center. Your donation of reclaimed materials helps people of all income levels improve the livability of their homes and neighborhoods.
On any number of fronts — conserving your renovation budget, greening your project, or giving back to the community — deconstruction is a good option. Our goal is to turn what has been wasteful practice into an industry standard with benefits for both our environment and our community,