7 Reasons Why Recycled Building Materials are Better than New

Salvaged or recycled building materials are those construction materials that formed part of a structure in the past. Whether it is bricks that have been salvaged from a commissioned property that had been cleaned and reused or recycled windows, you find that there are wide-ranging benefits for using the recycled build materials in future remodelling or new build projects. 

Here are seven of the advantages of using the recycled building materials:

Environmental impact

One of the significant reasons is likely to relate to the environmental impact such as those relating to landfills. Each year up to 30% of the solid waste dumped in the rubbish tips comes from the construction industry, therefore if you are able to recycle build materials where possible, this will greatly reduce the demand on landfills.

Cost of recycled materials

You will likely find that it is possible to source recycled materials for a fraction of the cost of new construction materials. A responsible recycle centre is likely to supply recycled building materials that are up to 25% less than that of the equivalent new material.

Characteristics

Whether it is a recycled fireplace, floorboards, beams, or bricks, they are able to offer a higher level of warmth, personality, and depth to a room mostly due to the characteristics that develop with time.

Carbon footprint

By sourcing the right complement of salvaged materials this will go a long way to limiting your carbon footprint throughout the process of remodelling or constructing a new build. Just by attempting to source the build materials from the local area, this can go a significant way to limiting a building's carbon footprint.

Strength of material

It is often found that the long-term durability and quality of some of the salvaged timber for a construction project used is of a superior standard to some of the woods that you might purchase freshly cut at building centre.

Creates jobs

The desirability of the salvaged and recycled building materials is creating a whole new industry which is creating a significant number of jobs in relation to the major building centres that trade in this type of merchandise and the contractors that are employed to carefully deconstruct properties in order to source the basic materials.

Increased market value

If the right energy efficiency practices have been put in place throughout the construction progress then this is likely to mean that a property has a higher market value due to the cost efficient measures used.