Deconstruction vs Demolition: When to Deconstruct a Building

Interior deconstruction project - Selective interior demo

Updated January 24, 2023

Each year, homeowners, business owners and property owners make the decision to demolish while often overlooking a more eco-friendly and sometimes more cost-efficient method of removal—deconstruction.

What is deconstruction?

Deconstruction is considered 'unbuilding.'

It involves taking a building apart piece by piece, essentially reversing the order of its construction.

There are two main types of deconstruction:

1. Selective Deconstruction

Also referred to as a 'soft strip," selective demolition is a method that involves going into the property before its demolition and removing any easy-to-spot, high-value materials.

This typically includes things like:

doors
lighting fixtures
appliances
hardwood flooring
cabinets
windows
countertops

2. Whole-House Deconstruction

The second method most commonly used is whole-house deconstruction.

This method is similar to soft-stripping in many ways, but it goes a step further by taking apart the entire structure for salvage purposes.

Almost 90% of the materials in most homes and buildings can be reclaimed for future use.

This includes a variety of building materials, like:

wall studs
nails
concrete
joists
piping
wiring
plumbing fixtures

These materials are saved from the landfill and salvaged.

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Why should I care?

Sure, simply demolishing an existing building or structure may seem like the quickest and easiest route to take, but the truth is that a lot of the building materials used in these demolition jobs end up in landfills, which are potentially toxic to our, and our environment's, health.

In 2003, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimated that over 164 million tons of waste generated from construction, renovation, and demolition projects ended up in landfills.

And that number isn't getting any smaller.

According to Brad Guy, President of the Building Materials Reuse Association, demolition alone accounts for almost 60 percent of the nation's total waste stream.

By choosing deconstruction over demolition, not only are you saving these materials from clogging up landfills, but you are also reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced when new materials are made.

how deconstruction helps the environment inforgraphic — *Image via Huffington Post*

Where do the reclaimed materials end up?

Any materials that are saved in the deconstruction process are donated to non-profit organizations that either resell them or use them for future projects in the community.

These are considered charitable donations and are eligible for tax deductions, claimed by either the homeowner or the contractor.

While salvaged elements may not be able to be donated for a tax write-off, they can certainly be utilized back into future projects.

What should I consider before making my decision?

While the pros of deconstruction certainly outweigh the cons, there are still some things you should consider before scheduling your job:

Time

The process of deconstruction is a much more intricate process than your standard demolition job. Therefore, it can add anywhere from several days to several weeks to your job.

Labor

Deconstruction uses more manual labor than machinery, which means that worker safety considerations and costs can be somewhat higher.

This can also have an effect on how long your job may take to complete.

Hazards

Since you are dealing with more materials by hand, hazardous material regulation and management can be more difficult for deconstruction than it is with demolition.

Proper safety gear is a necessity.