Benefits of Building with Reclaimed Material

When it comes to property ownership, you have many things to consider, including being a good steward of the environment. You can use recycled/repurposed/reclaimed material for your residential or commercial remodeling project, making your property greener and potentially adding some authenticity or rustic charm. There are various ways in which you can incorporate recycled materials into your plans, depending upon the nature and scope of your project.

Check to see if your neighborhood has a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Builders, contractors and various others contribute unused materials from their construction or improvement projects. Though these items have not been used, or were possibly used for a minimal amount of time, they would otherwise be headed for the city dump.

You can frequently get items much less expensively this way, and you are keeping the landfills a little less full. UBuildIt is happy to work with you to incorporate any repurposed materials you like, from appliances, furniture, cabinetry, windows, and more! The proceeds support the cause, making it a winning situation for everyone involved!

If your project requires lumber, you can also consider buying reclaimed wood instead of taxing the forest with a demand for new wood. Purchase as closely to your location as possible for a lower price. You may be able to find scrap lumber on popular classified sites, or ask around if anyone you know needs help tearing down an old barn or similar structure and would be willing to give you the wood in exchange for your labor. Alternatively, you can offer them cash for the recycled materials.

Look around at estate sales and going out of business sales. You never know what gems you might find that would benefit you in your endeavor. This is an ideal way for finding recycled material for a remodel, because the sale host may have removed certain fixtures and cleared out the work garage, providing you an opportunity to pick up some of the items you need for a small fraction of what you would if you purchased them new. If you're remodeling a Victorian era home, for example, you might be able to find authentic pieces of gingerbread trim, those fancifully cut frieze boards, brackets, or arches, for much less than it would cost to get them newly cut.

From tiles to door knockers and everything else you need, you can focus your efforts on using repurposed items as much as possible. It is likely that you will save some money, and you will reduce the stress on the environment that occurs when construction projects focus on new materials instead. Not to mention that when anyone compliments your home, you'll have an interesting story to tell for those reclaimed pieces!

Talk to us about incorporated up-cycled or reclaimed materials into your home or business remodel. At UBuildIt, you're the head of the operation, and we are happy to work with you to design a custom home or remodel for less!