Recycled Home Building Products

• Old wood and other products can be recycled for home building.barn two image by Rick Sargeant from Fotolia.com
  
  Recycled home building products help prevent deforestation and the needless filling of landfills. The cost of recycling does not necessarily make recycled building products inexpensive. Products made with recycled materials, however, can rival new products for attractiveness and be highly durable as well as earth friendly. Their costs, when amortized over the expected lifetime of the product, can be competitive with new products that use, rather than re-use, resources.
  
  

Roof Shingles

• Roof shingles made from recycled materials are available from home improvement centers and roofing supply companies. These products are engineered out of used rubber and steel belted tires, plastic bags and other recycled items that are heated together and pressure molded. The strength of the components such as steel belts is preserved in the final product. The advantage of these recycled shingles over traditional asphalt shingles or wooden shakes is that many are made to comply with contemporary fire codes to be highly fire resistant and they are also wind resistant. Many are crafted to resemble shakes or roof slates. They are generally expensive, increasing roof materials cost over traditional shingles by 400 percent. They are often warrantied for up to 50 years.
  
  

Reclaimed Wood

• In many instances, wood can be recycled, reclaimed and re-purposed for use in home building. Reclaimed timbers can be used for decorative and support purposes. Wood can be turned into flooring, wall paneling and siding. Old doors can become designer touches in new construction. To create a rustic look in new construction, weathered barn wood and old boat lumber can be used.
  
  

Aggregates

• Aggregates are used to build asphalt driveways and roads, as a component in concrete and to make rip-rap that contains and redirects water flow. Aggregates give bulk and long lasting wear to the surfaces where they are used. Natural aggregates are made up of rock, sand and gravel fragments. Recycled aggregates are made up of asphalt and concrete that have been crushed, sized and washed.
  
  

Assorted Salvage

• In many communities, construction-oriented salvagers operate facilities that accept and then sell salvaged building materials of all kinds. Many localities have places that collect and resell recycled building materials. Windows and window frames, duct work, electrical supplies, door and cabinet hardware, flooring, plumbing fixtures and supplies, fencing and gates, insulation, cabinetry and household appliances are some of the items recycled by building supply salvagers.