Deconstruction can divert up to 90 percent of building materials for reuse and recycling. Deconstruction is the process of carefully dismantling building structures to salvage building materials for reuse. This approach has several environmental and social benefits compared to demolition.
Reclaimed or salvaged building materials come from development projects or buildings that have been deconstructed, demolished, or remodeled.
Salvaged or reclaimed building materials are materials that are recycled for reuse. They originate from buildings that have been deconstructed, rather than demolished. Typically, there is little left that is salvageable after a building has been demolished.
Three structural materials in particular offer excellent salvage potential: brick, steel, and wood. Brick and wood timbers are already frequently salvaged for specialty applications. Steel framing and dimension lumber are rarely salvaged. Brick is the most commonly salvaged structural material.
Using salvaged materials diverts potential waste from landfill, reduces the consumption of new materials, and often contributes to the aesthetics of the new construction.
Liverpool Salvage Corps was a service in Liverpool, England, founded and maintained by fire insurers, whose aim was to reduce the loss and damage caused by fires, to help mitigate the effects of fire and of fire-fighting and to salvage both premises and goods affected by fire.
It was founded in 1842 and operated until April 1984, when its functions were transferred to the Merseyside Fire Brigade.
Similar salvage corps also operated in London and Glasgow.
