With limited land available, especially lakefront properties, many people are purchasing old camps and cottages to tear the house down and rebuild a new, energy efficient home.
Traditionally, a bulldozer or other large piece of equipment levels the house in a matter of minutes and the debris is taken to a landfill. A green alternative would be to tear the house down in stages, carefully preserving the material and selling it at a demolition auction.
What can be salvaged and reused from a tear down?
- Building components such as doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, etc.
- Glass
- Metals
- Brick
- Wood
- Asphalt
- Concrete
- Gypsum
- Plastics
- Landscaping, including trees, stumps, and rocks
On the other hand, you might want to check out a demolition auction to find recycled materials if you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home. These types of auctions are held at the house to be torn down, and bidders are allowed to tour the home prior to the auction. You can get everything from fixtures, appliances, flooring, and walls.
Tip: Be prepared to be required to remove the items yourself.
