Friday, August 21, 2015

Reclaimed Wood Constructions For Our Buildings Today

By Nancy Gardner


The growing concern for the environment has led to many changes in certain industries. Pollution and waste are being lessened. Generally people would like to be as ecofriendly as they can. So by recycling and reusing materials this is done.

For years now we have heard recycle reuse reduce. Those are echoed many times over in public awareness campaigns about caring for the environment. The home industry does its part by using reclaimed wood constructions in their projects. They take the old lumber and use it as part of a new building.

To reuse something does not make it lesser quality. It is a way to have less waste. By using something you are extending its life. Less trees will be milled if we can use older lumber.

Older structures are torn down to make way for something modern. While designs may have changed, there is still the fact that older buildings had some very good quality materials. The kind of lumber found before is rare now. Its this sought after quality that make recycling to appealing. If it can pass the safety standards like not having lead and being structurally sound, there is absolutely a lot you can do even with fifty year old lumber planks. There is a long processing that takes place. Any metal and nails have to be removed. These older pieces can also be used for decorations if a vintage aesthetic is wanted.

There is a limit on what you can salvage. Older electrical material and gadgets would be outdated. Maybe they wont be as effective or useful in the modern setting. Unless it is for decoration, these are better left in the dumpster.

A reason for the growing fad of reusing old construction supplies is that many think it will cost less. They do not factor in the labor for deconstruction. It also takes time for prepping and restoring for the salvaged items to become reusable.

Another thing is you might think you are saving the environment by repurposing used items but you have to think about the labor costs and where it is from. If you are flying in items from across the world, that is not as economic as buying new material locally. Choose from nearby places when you want to search things you can use. Also you must take note that it isnt easy to locate usable lumber. It might be hard to find several pieces that are the same so patience is needed.

Do the right planning. Make sure you are following the codes and standards of your city. Get the best quality and do not compromise safety. It will require patience to source the pieces. Once you have the pieces you need to get it processed to be usable.

It is important to be conscious of the impact we have on the world. Recycling and reusing will cause less pollution. That is something the whole world should strive for because the last thing we need is to add to the already full landfills.




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