Building Deconstruction - What Is It?
Eco Friendly Building Alternatives
Buildings have a life cycle that can last anywhere from a few years, to several decades or longer. Once a building has reached the end of its life cycle, it is taken down. Most often, demolition is done through the use of a wrecking ball, or by an implosion of the building. Deconstruction is an eco-friendly alternative to demolition. It is an eco-friendly building alternative to demolishing and creating additional waste.
What is Deconstruction?
Construction is the process in which a building is assembled, whereas deconstruction is the process in which a building is taken down, or disassembled. It is often referred to as construction in reverse. Deconstruction involves a longer process of removing the materials one by one for reuse, rather than demolishing the building and creating excess waste.
Deconstruction versus Demolition
Deconstruction is often more expensive than traditional styles of demolition. However, deconstruction is a non-explosive demolition that is environmentally friendly. By deconstructing a building, rather than demolishing it; the building components can be reused and recycled. Recycled building materials are in demand, and therefore can run slightly higher up on the price scale. However, the impact on the environment is significantly less than if new building materials were to be purchased.
Deconstructing a building also takes more time. More time often means more labor, which increases costs. Overall, deconstruction is a more controlled form of demolition that is also more beneficial to the environment.
On the other hand, demolition is an inexpensive way of removing an unwanted building. Implosion demolition and wrecking ball demolitions are often much quicker and allow for new construction to begin almost immediately. Demolished building components are not easily disposed of, and often take up a significant amount of unnecessary space. For example, stacked wooden beams take up less space than wooden beams that have been smashed and dumped into a pile.
Deconstruction and the Environment
It is estimated that construction and demolition waste, also known as C&D, accounts for more than 20% of all waste. Deconstruction of buildings creates large amounts of recycled, reusable building materials. Many of these salvaged materials include:
- Various lumber including framework, support beams and so forth.
- Masonry work, including bricks, concrete and more.
- Drywall
- Carpet
- Plastics
- Pipes
- Various metals, including steel, copper and more.
- Landscape waste, including dirt, floral and fauna from previous landscaping
- Paper
Demolition contractors can then reuse the materials themselves, donate them to not-for-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, or even sell them to companies who emphasize in green building practices such as sustainable building projects, and various other green building.
Unfortunately, many times the choice between demolition and deconstruction comes down to how much money an investor is willing to spend.
Additional Information on C&D waste: California Integrated Waste Management Board
Deconstruction of a building
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