Reclaimed building materials are materials that are used again after demolition or alteration, instead of being thrown away. They come from demolition projects, from careful strip-out (soft strip) works, from materials exchanges and from reclamation yards.
Note the distinction from recycling: in recycling the material is crushed or melted down into a raw material (crushed aggregate, scrap steel). In reuse the product keeps its shape and function — a roof tile stays a roof tile.
What suits reuse well
- Bricks and roof tiles — the classics. Old bricks laid in soft lime mortar clean up well; bricks in hard cement mortar usually do not.
- Structural timber — beams, trusses, floorboards. Old, thoroughly seasoned timber is often of better quality than what you can buy now.
- Stone, tiles, thresholds and steps — almost always worth saving.
- Doors, frames, ironmongery, radiators, sanitaryware — especially when renovating in a period style.
- Steel beams and sections — widely reused in practice.
Less suitable: insulation that has seen moisture, sealants and adhesives, plasterboard, and anything at the end of its technical life.
What to check
- Provenance and structural value. For a load-bearing element the quality has to be demonstrable. For reused structural timber or steel that means having it graded and inspected for defects. Without that evidence, it cannot be counted on structurally.
- Hazardous substances. Material from older buildings can contain asbestos, old paint can contain lead, and old timber may have been treated with preservatives. Sanding, sawing and grinding are the moments of risk.
- Sizes. Old bricks and tiles are not the same sizes as the modern range. Always measure, and allow a generous surplus: buying more later is often impossible.
- Quantity and distribution. Differences in colour and size show. Mix batches rather than working area by area from one pallet.
- Cost. The material is often cheaper; the labour to clean, sort and adapt it is not. Allow a realistic amount of extra labour.
Related terms
- Circular construction
- Demolition
- Crushed aggregate
- Brick
- Structural timber
- Asbestos
Want to know more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.