Deconstructing Buildings for Cash

Photo: davef3138 / Flickr

Deconstruction ain't just for English majors no more.

With home sales on the downswing and recycling on the upswing, deconstructing is rapidly becoming a hot trend in the building industry. In essence, deconstruction is construction in reverse — turning lemons into lemonade. The increasingly popular process focuses on giving the materials within a building a new life, once the building as a whole can no longer continue. In addition to clearing land for new buildings, the practice also clears away energy-inefficient fabrications for greener technology.

Structural deconstruction, usually performed by professionals, involves dismantling an entire building; but small-time deconstructionists may find it easier to attempt soft-stripping, or reclaiming such non-structural components as appliances, doors, carpet, doors, kitchen cabinets and wood trim.

Before you begin tearing things apart, set aside a secure, dry location to store dismantled building components. Here are some basic tips to help get you started on the road to deconstructing your home or starting your own small business:

1. Identify Marketable Components

Before you begin the dismantling process, you need to ascertain which portions of a building you can sell and which you can donate for a tax write-off. Don't forget to build an inventory list of the materials at hand to determine where each item will be sent.

Here's a detailed list of building materials you should be able to sell. Keep in mind that not all are easy to remove, and some may require professional assistance.

• Windows
• Doors (interior and exterior)
• Lighting
• Columns
• Mantles
• Hardware
• Garden items
• Bathroom fixtures
• Antique plumbing
• Boilers
• Cabinets
• Closet organizers
• Collectibles
• Flooring
• French doors
• Garage doors
• Lighting 
• Lumber
• Mantels
• Rock and marble
• Toilets
• Wainscoting
• Wrought iron

2. Locate Buyers

Before you begin tearing the place apart, you'll want to make sure you have buyers for each item. These might include commercial architectural salvage businesses, reclamation yards, not-for-profit and social-enterprise salvage warehouses, and dismantling contractors. Online classifieds can help you sell the smaller items. Resources include:

Habitat ReStore Network — National director of Habitat for Humanity resale stores. (The largest such network.)

Construction Materials Recycling Association — National directory of recycle vendors, buyers, consultants, government agencies, deconstruction resources and more.

The Deconstruction Institute — Directory of reuse stores, salvage stores, safety resources, associations, etc.

Earth911.com — Directory of local reuse and recycling options.

ReDo Loading Dock — National directory of resale stores, organizations, etc.

Freecycle.org — Free, online classified ads to exchange, give away or request all types of products and services, including building materials.

Builder2Builder — Free, online classified ads for used building materials.

WasteExchange.org — Free, online classified ads to sell used building materials.

Craigslist.com — Free, online classified ads to sell nearly anything.

HomeResource.org — Non-profit resale store in Missoula, Montana.

RestoreOnline.org — Non-profit resale store in Springfield, Massachusetts.

RebuildingCenter.org  — Non-profit resale store in Portland, Oregon.

EPA.gov — EPA deconstruction case studies and links.

2. Identify Hazardous Materials

Lead paint and asbestos are two hazardous materials you may run into that require cautious handling and disposal. Make sure you know what you face before you begin, and read the EPA guidelines before attempting removal.

3. Tools

Unlike professional deconstructionists, the tools you'll need are readily available:

• Hammers
• Needle-nose pliers and standard pliers
• Slotted and Phillips screwdrivers
• Various size crowbars and pry bars
• Cutter blade
• Goggles
• Saw
• Respirator
• Hard hat
• Roll of heavy plastic
• Paint scraper
• Putty knife
• Duct tape
• Stepladder with big feet and tray
• Two or more cheap folding workbenches
• Work gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Bucket

4. Removing Wood Trim (Sample Project #1)

Wood trim is one of one of the easier to-it-yourself items to salvage. It just takes patience and a few simple tools.

1. Begin by cutting away any caulking with a cutter blade held nearly parallel with the wall.
2. Repeat on the trim side.
3. Insert a rigid tool between the trim and the wall and lift gently. (Gently being your guide word throughout.)
4. Start at one end, moving by inches down the wall.
5. Do not attempt to remove the trim from the wall at this point.
6. Return to the starting point and repeat until you can gently remove the entire section from the wall.
7. Pile all the molding on a portable work bench and gently remove the nails. 
8. To avoid scratching the woodwork, it's best to periodically remove the nails before adding to the pile.
9. Make sure you toss all the spent nails into a trash container as you go so they don't end up underfoot.

5. Removing Lumber (Sample Project #2)

If you're knocking a home down to the bare bones, you'll find an abundance of good lumber under the drywall. If the house is old, the framework lumber will be of better quality than wood used in modern construction.

The best way to begin is by ascertaining how the parts were assembled and reverse the process. Once you've removed all the nails, set aside for resale only those pieces that are four feet or longer. Shorter pieces are only suitable as firewood.

6. Uninstalling Base Kitchen Cabinets (Sample Project #3)

Don't attempt this project alone. Kitchen cabinets are heavy and clumsy to maneuver.

1. Assemble a hammer, pry-bar, putty knife, screwdriver, crowbar, ladder and saw.
2. Begin by removing the sink and its fittings.
3. If the counter top is laminated, it's likely just screwed to the cabinets. Locate the screws underneath and remove the top.
4. If the counter top is composed of tiles or stone, pry it off with your putty knife, crow bar or whatever else will do the job, depending on whether you plan on salvaging this material or not.
5. Remove the drawers and doors to lighten the load.
6. Look inside to see how the frame is attached to the wall.
7. Detach and remove the frame.

Removing top cabinets is complex and should not be attempted alone. See this eHow page for detailed instructions.

7. Prepare Components for Sale

Once separated from the structure, clean and refinish wood, brass or other quality items to increase their resale value.