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Frugal Recycling Reduces Construction Costs

Recycling building materials is a great opportunity to be frugal, and even down right "cheap". Not only are savings from material costs possible, recycling may also reduce garbage hauling expenses. Donating materials can even reduce your taxes. From a sustainable perspective, avoiding the land fill is always a good idea. Recycling can truly be a "win-win" strategy.

Frugal Recycling Opportunities

Save and Reuse: The downright cheapest and easiest way to recycle is by doing it yourself. During demolition, consider reusing plumbing and electrical fixtures in a new location. Also consider saving items like wood studs and other structural members. They may not be the right size for new spans or wall heights. But most framing members can be reused for blocking or infill. Batt insulation can be reused (please use caution with fiberglass insulation). Windows and doors are also likely candidates. Salvaged wood flooring and other finishes can sometimes be saved. Brick, stone and other masonry materials can usually be removed without damage, cleaned and reused for patching or new work.

Donate: Why not give it away instead of sending it to the landfill. If the item still has a useful life somebody may want it. Go ahead, take the tax deduction. Many non-profits like Habitat for Humanity are eager for donated building materials. Some even have volunteer crews ready for demolition. Keep in mind, some organizations can be picky about what they take.

Salvage for Sale: Have you read about the entrepreneurs making millions on ebay. Maybe this is your big chance. If the item has aesthetic value or is relatively new, you may make money on it. Consider ornamental items and high end fixtures as your best bet. Newer windows and doors have a chance. Some building materials are even worth money. Used bricks and roofing tiles can be sold. Sometimes the purchaser will remove these items as part of the deal. You may be able to sell your blown insulation to a contractor or atleast have it removed for free. Large solid timbers are actually worth big bucks.

Money for Scrap: By scrap I mean anything that can be reprocessed into a new building product. Metals top the list. Aluminum, copper, and other metals are surprisingly valuable. Old pipes, wiring and other infrastructure is often made of copper. Some older windows, appliances and wiring are made of aluminum. Steel is also a common building material. Even lead can be found as flashing and plumbing connections (please use caution handling lead). Glass can be scraped, but may not have cash value. Concrete and asphalt can also be scraped, but don't expect anyone to pay for it or haul it away for free.

Purchase Something Cool: Why not add charm to your remodel or new home by installing an antique carved mantle, old world cabinets or other significant focal point? Cool old doors make a great architectural statement. Get creative, imagine using materials in alternate ways. Transform old tiles into new mosaics. Wood trim can become a piece of furniture or mantle. The possibilities are endless. Check your local yellow pages for architectural salvage yards specializing in antique building products. Newspaper classifieds and, of course, ebay are also likely locations for the big find.

New Products: Many new products are now available with recycled content scraped by others. Plastic wood, like Trex decking, is one good example. Recycled content aggregate is now being added to concrete. Carpet can be found with recycled wool content. More products are being introduced daily.

The Frugal Visionary

During construction consider planning for future deconstruction and recycling. Choose materials and installations easy to remove, recycle or scrap. Minimize painted surfaces, reduce plastics and rubber. Simply building efficiently can reduce garbage and the need for recycling. During design, consider a flexible building design allowing for easy alteration.

A Word of Caution

Yes, you can be "too cheap" when recycling. Many items can become obsolete because of energy efficiency or changing codes. Single pane windows for example should probably not be reused in a new highly insulated home. These windows may be great for a garage, summer cabin, or when matching other windows in a remodel.

Some building materials should not be reused at all. Anything unsafe or unhealthy should not be considered. Avoid old materials with peeling lead paint or other toxic substances. And be suspicious of less durable or damaged materials. But don't let these worries stop you from saving real money by building wisely with appropriate recycled materials.

Please recycle this article. Give it to a friend.

Buildwise.org additional reading
Feasibility of Deconstruction
Flexible Floor Plans
Recycled Content Building Materials: Their Uses and Applications
Using Wood Efficiently