RECLAIMING WOOD
IF YOU CAN PIN IT, WE CAN BUILD IT!
Send us your Pins! There are so many great, creative ideas out there. Find what you love and email us a picture. We would love to quote it for you.
Send Us Your IdeasDeconstruction Services
From taking apart condemned structures to preparing spaces for new construction, our team is skilled in the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for reclamation and thus supports our reclamation and wood furniture programs. Our deconstruction program provides a sincere opportunity for individuals to learn and apply new skills, earn money, improve their long-term job prospects, and make a real difference in the community.
Demolition takes a few days while deconstruction takes a few weeks. Deconstruction can cost the same as or much less than demolition when all economical factors are considered, such as tax write-off value for salvaged material, fewer transport and disposal costs, and the postitive impact on landfill sites.
Points to Consider:
- Time vs. Employment: Deconstruction takes longer because it is a labor intensive process, but it creates more job opportunities than demolition. If a mandatory waiting period exists between granting demolition permits and beginning new construction, demolition would lose this advantage.
- Labor vs. Salvage: Labor is the main cost of deconstruction and may be offset by the tax write-off for salvaged material donated to Soteria At Work. The value of salvaged material varies per job and will be estimated before contracts are signed.
- Disposal vs. Diversion: The environmental benefits of diverting waste from landfill sites are important and should be included in building assessments.
- Avoided costs vs. Incurred costs: Deconstruction eliminates a percentage of waste transport and disposal costs as well as virgin material procurement costs, not to mention the delayed capital costs of landfill closure and new landfill development.
- Plan:
Many structures use a combination of deconstruction and demolition. On average, Deconstruction takes a few weeks and should take place before any demolition crews arrive. With appropriate planning, we will have plenty of time to deconstruct before demolition begins, and our work will reduce demo costs by leaving less square footage for demo crews to remove. Call us for a site assessment as a first step in your building removal plans. - Site Assessment:
Make an appointment with Soteria for a building assessment to determine what material may be salvaged, to identify any hazardous materials, and to estimate the equipment and labor needed to deconstruct. - Receive a Deconstruction Bid:
Soteria at Work will submit a bid to deconstruct your building. - Receive a third-party appraisal:
Feel free to hire your own Deconstruction Appraiser, or we can recommend one. The appraiser will either make a site visit or look at photos of the property to determine an initial valuation for a tax-deductable donation of salvaged material to Soteria. After the job is complete, the appraiser will finalize the amount based on a review of salvaged material. - Get Started:
Once you accept our bid, Soteria will work with your schedule to deconstruct your building.
- Reduce overall costs of building removals
- Provide lower cost building materials to the community
- Extend the life of landfills
- Protect the natural environment by reducing the need for the extraction of new resources
- Job creation and economic development
Reclamation Services
Our reclamation program repurposes materials salvaged from our deconstruction program. We believe that good resides within everyone and everything, no matter their history. The materials we collect are restored to new life and purpose. Examples of our handmade furniture made from salvaged lumber and reclaimed wood can be found in our Pinterest Portfolio. We work with both businesses and individual consumers to build farm tables, planters, desks, and artful objects either in large quantities or individually.
Send Us Your Project RequestsArchitectural Salvage
Among the materials we collect during deconstruction are architectural elements in very little need of restoration. Stop by our warehouse anytime to look through the doors, mantles, light fixtures, and hand-hewn beams we salvage.
Let us know what you're looking for!Since the Soteria's deconstruction program began in March of 2014, we have salvaged:
Pounds of Copper
Pounds of Aluminum
Pounds of Steel
Bricks
Hand-hewn Beams
JERRY BLASSINGAME
Grants and the funding streams are drying up, so in order for non-profits to sustain themselves, they have got to become more entrepreneurial.
