Eco-friendly Shopping at Architectural Salvage Yards

When I heard about a local school being prepared for demolition, I got to thinking about all the materials in the school that would go to waste. The gym floors, the old oak doors, the brass light fixtures, even the brick. But the fact of the matter is that salvaging these materials is costly and most construction companies don’t want to be slowed down by the time it would take to reclaim the usable materials. It made me sick to my stomach to think of all the quality materials that could have been salvaged but instead would be hauled off to a landfill.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been exploring salvage yards, reused furniture stores, reclaimed lumber mills and the like trying to get a sense for the market and the wealth of materials available to us collected from the past. It is evident that the quality of materials on the market today pale in comparison to the craftsmanship of the products of the past back when quality mattered and things were built to last.

If you really want to be green, shopping salvage is one of the greenest options. Some reclaimed materials will save you money, while others will be more of an investment. But look at it this way, do you buy the $1 light bulb that will last 6 months or do you buy the $6 light bulb that will last you 6 years? I live in an old Victorian house and we still have all of the original moldings, all handcrafted by local tradesman from high quality hardwoods . The cost of those same quality moldings today would be exorbitant, so the market is flooded with cheaper materials, but less quality as well. My moldings are in great condition and they were put in in 1892, I am wondering how long the new, cheaper moldings will last. Sometimes investing in quality, long lasting materials will save you in the long run and in the meantime you can take comfort in knowing that you are living a little greener….

Some of great architectural salvage stores in the Boston area:

Restoration Resources – I visited with the manager of Restoration Resources, Walter. He jokes that he’s been in the salvage business since he was 10 – living green long before it was vogue. The store is immaculate and filled with treasures that he’s collected from demolition sites all over Boston from intricately detailed mantles, to church pews to stained glass to solid wood doors to hinges and doorknobs and all sorts of historical oddities. If you are in the middle of a historic renovation or just looking to add a taste of the past in your home. This is a great place to go. Walter has also worked with clients to rework pieces to fit their dimensions – just bring the dimensions with you and he can certainly help you out. The basement is filled with bannisters and ballisters looking for a new home that are far superior in quality to what you would find at a Home Depot. They need some TLC but definitely worth the investment.

ReStore – Habitat for Humanity’s building salvage stores are popping up all over the country. You can find everything from doors, to lumber to to appliances to light fixtures to hardware at amazing prices. This has been a life saver for all the apartment renovations we have done up in NH – so many great deals and your purchase supports a good cause – all proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.

Building Materials Resource Center – Seriously before you shell out the big bucks for a solid wood door, you have got to go here. They have gorgeous, gorgeous solid wood doors for unbelievably low prices. I found one just like my $600 door from JJAdams, for a mere $60!  If only I knew. They also sell toilets, sinks, windows, tile and always have at least 5-6 sets of kitchen cabinets, often brand new, at discounted prices. So if you are doing a kitchen remodel, this is a great place to go. Hit or miss, but definitely worth the trip.

Longleaf Lumber – I am in love with this place. They have the most gorgeous woods reclaimed from barns, bridges, rivers, absolutely gorgeous. And if you are looking for other eco-friendly flooring options, they also stock a huge collection of marmoleum, cork, bamboo and more. I definitely recommend visiting them for your next flooring project. Their flooring is pricier than what you find at say a Lumber Liquidators, but it is beautiful. I almost bought a piece of wood just because I thought it was pretty. No idea what I was going to do with it, but…  Prices range from $3.50 sq/ft for a Reclaimed Bright Spruce from salvaged mill timbers to $10 sq/ft for a Rustic Antique Heart Pine.

This is next on my list to visit: Nor’east Architectural Antiques