New Life: reusing materials

Reusing building materials saves money and can give a creative edge to projects. Many materials that might end up in the landfill can be used for purposes they were never originally designed for. Below is a short list with a few ideas for a start. Internet searches will unearth countless other uses for specific materials.
 

Remember that after exposure to the elements and over time some materials are unsuitable for reuse, no matter how good they look. If in doubt ask a professional. “Better safe than sorry”.

Carpet:

• Old carpet laid over grass or weedy areas kills unwanted plants and prepares the ground for a new garden.
• Paths can be kept weed-free by covering them with old carpet. They are then “dressed” with mulch or stone to blend them into the landscape.

Vinyl siding:

• Siding that is in good shape sometimes finds a new home if offered through online “buy and sell” resources.

Bricks:

• Beautiful garden walls and paths have been made with old bricks for centuries.
• A brick bookcase is easily made with a few bricks and planks of wood.
• Interior brick flooring is a unique design feature.
• Bricks provide excellent thermal mass when placed near a heat source.
• Quality old bricks can be used to build an outdoor fireplace.

Clean Wood:

• Longer lengths of lumber can be stored and used for other projects.
• Short pieces of lumber can be used in a woodstove.

Radiators:

• A farmer in the Annapolis Valley built a solar hot water system using recovered radiators to heat his chicken barns.
• Radiators are heavy! and have been used as boat moorings.

Stone:

• Flat stones make wonderful garden paths.
• Larger block stones can be used to build attractive stone fences or retaining walls.
• Drainage problems around a property? Rubble trenches are one answer that can help.

Windows:

• Can be used to construct cold frames or small greenhouses.
• Windows added to interior walls let light into darker indoor spaces.
• Old windows make unique picture frames or see-through cabinet doors

Ceramic Tiles

• Broken tile can be used to create unique mosaics.
• Old tile is considered aggregate and can go into rubble trenches.

Concrete

• Broken concrete, sometimes called “urbanite”, can be used in foundations or as clean fill.
• Filling metal mesh cages with broken concrete rubble makes a “gabion wall”. These are used primarily for retaining walls.

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