As the world goes green and information on the benefits of environmental conversation reducing greenhouse gas emissions is widely understood and accepted, there is one front that most people fail to acknowledge as one of the most crucial when it comes to recycling – furniture. Sustainable furniture simply means furniture made from materials that are environmental friendly and may be or may not be recycled. Continue reading
Aluminum cans, tires, warehouses, books, newspapers, houses, old cars and barns all have two things in common – they can be such an eyesore when they are discarded and they can all be recycled to make them more useful again. Continue reading
There is talk all over about the benefits of recycling and using environmental friendly architectural products in buildings, but what is the justification behind it? Looking for recyclable building materials can be tiresome and deconstruction a building to re-use the building materials can be a tasking, time consuming and sometimes even more expensive than just placing an order to have traditional building materials supplied, but there are good reasons to go for reclaimed architectural products and this is what this post covers.
First off, using reclaimed architectural products in constructing a building is the best way to be considerate of planet earth and conserve a healthier and more habitable environment – now and for the future generations. The causes of greenhouse gas emissions vary and one of them is constant raping of Mother Nature when getting building materials off it. Why not use building materials that have already been excavated and used before?
Another good reason to go for reclaimed architectural products to use in construction is to reduce the high amount of wastes we have today. From abandoned buildings, discarded furniture, unused barns and warehouses, shipping containers, old cars and boats and shipyards rusting away in shipyards, there are so many materials that can be reclaimed and used in constructing new buildings. Also, the construction industry is one of the most notorious for huge wastes today at every point of the building lifecycle, building new construction being on top of the list. You can play a role to change this, and it may be as simple as using recycled materials in your nest building project.
Reclaiming architectural products means either pulling down or deconstructing old, unused or wasteful buildings and putting up buildings that economize on space, reduce wastes to the environment or are more comfortable for habitation. Therefore, deconstructing old buildings and reclaiming the architectural products in them for use in constructing new buildings is a perfect way to reduce the adverse effects that building constructions have on the environment.
In most cases, buying reclaimed architectural products from old buildings saves you money and the hassles of acquiring new products and materials. Some of the materials that can be reclaimed include timber, doors, furniture, fixtures, cabinets, doors and trims and structural materials such as support beams. It is my opinion that every material reclaimed from a building can be re-used, even if not on a new building.
Maximizing the use of reclaimed and recycled architectural materials in construction buildings effectively cuts wastage which often ends up in landfills, thereby reducing the burden such wastes have on the environment and landfill areas. From a business perspective, there are many small companies and non-governmental organizations out there that specialize in reclaiming such architectural materials and recycle them then re-sell them to construction companies and individuals for re-use at prices lower than the costs of buying new materials. Therefore, going for such materials not only saves you money but is also a way to support small businesses and individuals put food on the table.
Examples of reclaimed architectural products common today
The list of recyclable building materials out there today is endless. Here is a list of the most common today.
a) Steel: most buildings higher than one story have steel supports. When it comes to tearing them down, the steel can be used in their form or can be melted, reshaped into desired structure then used in buildings.
b) Lumber and Plywood: as long as lumber and plywood is free of water rot and has not been infested with insects, it can be reclaimed and re-used for other purposes in construction.
c) Windows: Glass is rare, and expensive. It is one of the most difficult architectural product to re-use in construction, but it can. When a building is set to be tore down, be sure to go reclaim the glass windows.
d) Other reclaimable materials include scrap metal, paving stones, antique furniture, old plastics, windows, doors, iron sheets and tiles.
Green buildings were once nothing more than a fashion statement for most people. Many architects, clients and contractors now agree that sustainable buildings are a necessity, and for many reasons. Continue reading
