Five questions to ask yourself before you start a deconstruction project

Deconstruction is simply building disassembly and material salvage. It’s a way of preserving and reusing the materials of an existing building to create a new structure.

Deconstruction can significantly save on landfill space and reduce the pollution and energy consumption associated with manufacturing, production and transportation of new materials. Find out more about what's involved in deconstruction in our blog here.

Structural deconstruction involves the careful dismantling of a building to reclaim materials such as wood, brick and stone. Circular economy is driving greater resource efficiency and self-builders are finding more resourceful ways to recycle materials to reduce the carbon footprint of their build. There’s money to be made by reclaiming non-structural materials such as doors and windows, which can be sold on and re-used. Once you’ve established a viable deconstruction site, here’s a few questions to ask yourself.

1/ Do I have the right insurance and permission in place?

Deconstruction can be quite an undertaking for any self-builder or project manager. You have to consider the environmental impact of building a house – the same applies for deconstruction. Falling materials, dust and noise are part of the process and you should consider where your site is and minimise disruption to your neighbours. You must ensure that you have a safety plan and the correct building control and liabilities in place. To be on the safe side, it’s best to source an experienced contractor to take on a deconstruction project. Approach your local planning authority in advance of works to discuss the scope of the project. Find out more about health and safety when self-building here, and the insurance that you should have here.

2/ Where can I find a deconstruction specialist?

3/ What shall I do with my salvaged materials?

Decide which materials can be recycled, donated or resold. Using salvaged materials for your own self-build is top priority but why not build a list of local contacts who can re-sell materials from your dismantled structure. Timber and concrete, for example, require different recycling methods while scrap metal can be sold on to generate revenue for your project. Create an inventory and begin to consider where these will go. It could be a reclamation yard, a commercial salvage business, a dismantling contractor or a local charity. Learn about more ways to reduce waste on your self-build here.

4/ Do I have space to store my deconstructed materials?

Once you have dismantled the building components you will need a safe and dry storage unit to protect from theft and water damage.

5/ What if the building I am dismantling contains asbestos or lead paint?

If you discover asbestos or lead paint it’s very important to handle and dispose of these with care. Some materials cannot be salvaged if they contain asbestos, which is often found in older properties. When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. Asbestos became a prohibited substance in the UK in 1999, so any property that was built after 2000 will not contain asbestos. If the property was built before 2000 you will need a survey completed to check for the substance.

We know that too much lead in our bodies isn’t healthy. Over the last 30 years or so, a lot has been done to get rid of lead but you may still come across it in old paint. Up until the mid-1960s, lead was used to make some kinds of paint – for doors, windows and other woodwork as well as for some metal items, like radiators. If the building you plan to deconstruct was built before the 1960s and still has original coats of paint, there could be some lead around. Salvaged goods containing lead paint will need an extra process before being re-used so this could come at an extra cost. Find out more about asbestos here and lead here.

Have you taken on a deconstruction self-build project recently? We're looking for people to interview for our self-build case studies and blogs, if you're interested, get in touch: [email protected].