What is building deconstruction anyway?

Manual Building Deconstruction is the systematic disassembly of a structure to maximize reuse and recycling.

Hybrid Deconstruction is a term we came up with to describe the use of people and machines to efficiently deconstruct buildings, with the goal of maximizing reuse and recycling.  It refers to the hybrid of demolition and manual deconstruction.

Harvesting is our term for the fastest way to remove a building while still trying to divert materials from the landfill, especially focusing on reusable materials.

Partial deconstruction is the removal of part of a structure without harming the remaining section(s) while still focusing on maximizing reuse and recycling.

Building kits are collections of materials that have been labeled, diagrammed, and then carefully disassembled in order to be reassembled at another job site.

RE-USE and Deconstruction:
We have been salvaging and deconstructing buildings for the last 15 years.  To date, we have physically helped deconstruct over 450 structures.  Yes, when we started it did take 3 weeks to take down a 2000 sq ft home, but now it may only take 3 days!  To us, every building is like a 'deconstruction lab' where we can experiment and discovery new techniques.  This has put us on the cutting edge of the industry and increased our speed.  We hope for a minimum of 70% landfill diversion for each project.  RE-USE Consulting offers you multiple options and combines them to maximize diversion while minimizing cost.  We say that any project that isn't a potential case-study after completion is a disappointment (meaning it cannot be used to promote the building deconstruction industry), and yet we take on all types of buildings.   So contact us if you have a building to take down or you want to learn how to take them down yourself.

Innovation/Resources:
Kickin' Nails  Find out which one of our clients came up with a tool that actually shoots nails out of boards instead of shooting them into boards.  Its called the Nailkicker and please contact us to find out more.

Watch out for your feet!  We won't walk over a bed of hot coals, but we will stomp on nailed lumber all day (don't try this at home) with our stainless steel shoes inserts.  They have protected us for the last 10 years.  Contact us to find out more.


RE-USE Consulting is a member of the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA), a non-profit organization educating the public on the value of reusing building materials from existing structures and it is the Country's leading authority on building deconstruction.  The BMRA holds a national conference and is involved with many other green building events around the Country.  (check them out at www.buildingreuse.org ) 



Check out some of our residential client's sites at:

Top 5 steps to deconstruction:

1. Site visit
2. Assessment
3. Set up sales
4. Deconstruct
5. Site clean up, paperwork, metrics