Thursday, 20 August 2015

The Growing Popularity Of Reclaimed Wood Constructions

By Nancy Gardner


Becoming ecofriendly extends to all aspects of our lives. From what we eat to how we live and where we live, there is something we can change to make it better for our world. Saving the earth is done little by little with each change.

Recycling is not a new thing. It has been promoted for years. In the housing industry, using reclaimed wood constructions is a way of reusing old material. Old lumber and steel from buildings that have closed down and have been demolished can be saved and given a new use.

More and more people are more conscious of their own impact on their community and the world as a whole. There is more interest in renewable sources. No one wants to add to the growing pile of trash in the worlds landfills. This branch of the building industry is gaining popularity not just for those interested in antiques and restoration.

Old planks of lumber can be reused successfully. The main reason for this is that the material used in older buildings is better quality than the lumber that exists today. Before using anything for structural purposes it must pass an engineering check. All metal parts must be removed. It needs should be checked for presence of lead that can be toxic. If it will be used for decorative purposes, it does not need to be tested.

Lighting fixtures can be given a rewire and modern upgrade. For electric devices and other appliances, it would probably be better to stick with the modern conveniences. Older machines usually dont work as well nor are they fully compatible to modern times. When it comes to technology, it is smarter to stick with something new.

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.

While it would be amazing to be able to have a whole place made from reused items, that might not be possible. You could end up spending a lot. Being eco conscious means you should buy locally whenever possible. The cost of shipping huge pieces would be quite high. So as much as possible source the old items from your city. When you go into a junk yard you might not be able to find any material. A lot of patience and time will be needed to get good things you can actually use.

If you are planning to embark on a project like this, weigh the pros and cons. Is it really saving you money. Is it the look you want and is the quality still good. Safety standards must always be followed. Be sure that it holds to todays structural standards and guidelines.

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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