Remodeling and Redecorating with Reclaimed Materials

Here in the Pacific Northwest, recycling is a big deal.  Reducing carbon footprint, minimizing landfill waste and protecting the environment are all important issues to Northwesterners.  One of the more innovative ways to remodel or redecorate the home in the Pacific Northwest that is eco-friendly too is using reclaimed and recycled building materials and furniture.

Using reclaimed building materials is a great way to save money, as well as reduce your carbon footprint.  According to industry research, renovation and reuse building projects save approximately 50 - 75 percent the embodied carbon carbon emissions over building or remodeling new.  As well, using salvaged or reclaimed building materials can give your home a period or custom look not achievable with using new materials.

In Western Washington, companies such as Second Use Materials, Earthwise and Ballard Reuse, as well as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores, offer Northwesterners a host of reclaimed building materials and furniture for purchase.  Materials are salvaged from a variety of sources - remodeling projects, demolition for new construction, from contractors and homeowners.  You can find everything from vintage kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities to light fixtures and furniture.  Inventory is not limited just to materials salvaged from homes, as we’ve seen light fixtures from theaters, lockers from schools and more.  And inventory is always changing.

You can check out each of these organizations’ inventory online by visiting their websites.  As well, you can visit Second Use Materials stores in Seattle, Tacoma and Shoreline; Earthwise stores in Seattle, Tacoma, Aberdeen and Kenmore; Ballard ReUse in Ballard; and Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Bellevue, Southcenter, Auburn and Ellensberg.  If you want to get even more involved with reclaimed and recycled building materials, there are several associations devoted to the topic, including Build Reuse.