Deconstruction
Just because a building has outlived its useful life doesn't mean that all of its components are also ready to retire. Many older buildings in urban and rural locations contain interesting and unique elements that can be reused or repurposed in new and different ways.
Through a process called "deconstruction," architectural and structural elements are carefully removed and salvaged before a building is demolished. Quality, historical items retain their useful and valuable properties, and even common materials find a second chance!
Deconstruction is time consuming, labor intensive and tedious. Elements that are too large to stay intact must be removed in pieces and reassembled later. Materials like flooring and dimension lumber are extracted, de-nailed, and cut into useful, sellable lengths. Whether they are used to save money or maintain the character of another time period, repurposed or historical elements are worthy of preserving.
The historical and practical benefits of deconstruction are matched by its positive environmental impact. Deconstruction enables thousands of tons of material to be diverted from our landfills and reintroduced to enhance spaces where we live, work and play. Deconstruction is one of the few triple-bottom-line industries: it is socially responsible, financially sustainable, and environmentally friendly...and this gives Second Chance a way to fulfill its mission! From retrieving materials, to providing jobs and reducing waste, deconstruction is at the hub of our business.
