Deconstruction vs. Demolition: 4 Primary Benefits
By Chuck Warshaver | Stardust
When a business and/or homeowner decides to rebuild or remodel an existing structure, they want to finish the project as soon as possible and at the lowest cost. At first glance, it seems easier and quicker to demolish the building. After all, demolition is the most common method employed today to clear a piece of land, leaving a clean, buildable lot.
However, there is a better, more cost-effective alternative. This alternative is called deconstruction. Deconstruction is a process of carefully disassembling a structure so that the material used during the initial construction can be repurposed and given a second life. Benefits to the community and the owner of the deconstructed building are realized when the salvaged materials are donated to a non-profit organization.
Here are some benefits to mention:
1. Giving salvaged building materials a second life.
75-90% of the materials in a home can be reused, repurposed, or recycled. In other words, property owners can save most items within a residential home or a commercial building. Here is a partial list of some of the items that can be carefully removed and given a second life, below:
Windows
Copper wiring
Kitchen cabinets
Appliance packages
Lumber
Bathtubs and sinks
Roof rafters
Bricks
Floor joists
Plywood
Flooring (hardwood, tile, marble, etc.)
Plumbing fixtures
Bathroom vanities
Molding
Heating and air conditioning systems
Exterior and interior doors
Fireplace mantles
Other architecturally significant details
Demolition may appear at first to have a small-time advantage. However, the time variance can be reduced to almost nil by starting to deconstruct the interior while waiting on permits. Plus, with demolition, many salvageable furnishings are lost forever and buried somewhere in a landfill instead.
2. Deconstruction makes us better stewards of the natural resources of our planet.
Every time a demolition company razes a structure; it sends all the building material and debris to a landfill. According to the EPA, 524 million tons of construction and demolition materials are sent to landfills each year.
By utilizing the process of deconstruction in lieu of demolition, 75 to 90% of the used building materials are diverted from our landfills. By diverting some of the waste going to our landfills, in addition to giving that material a second life, we are also extending the life of our landfills and creating jobs.
How are the salvaged materials from a deconstructed property reused? The answer to that question lies in the next section.
3. Donating salvaged building materials provides financial support to a non-profit organization.
Many people are curious and have asked us who will use their donated deconstructed materials and how. This financial support for organizations that help the less fortunate in our communities is crucial to their long-term success. Non-profit organizations decide whether to resell the donated items or use them for a community project.
Stardust Nonprofit Building Supplies is one such non-profit organization that takes advantage of donated deconstructed building materials. When Stardust deconstructs a property, it removes most used building materials and other goods at a nominal charge to the owner, making the donation. Stardust sells these items. The people who buy the items save considerable amounts of money. Instead of paying full retail price for new items, Stardust sells its donated items at a fraction of the retail price.
4. Deconstruction has significant tax benefits for the donor, whereas demolition does not and is a dead expense.
There are additional requirements, but typically the donor is able to reduce his/her taxable income by the full fair market value, thereby reducing his/her tax liability. If the donor is unable to use the full deduction in one calendar year, the IRS does allow the donor to carry the deduction forward for a period not to exceed five years.