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In my travels, I often come across items cast to the curb by homeowners doing their own renovations. I'm a preservationist, but respect the fact that people enjoy updating the interiors of their older homes.
BUT: It would be wise if they would learn what they have before tossing things in the trash.
Today I found raised panel doors in remarkable condition. They had been stripped of their hardware, and weren't the correct doors for the house they had been removed from. What the tosser might not have realized is that these same doors would cost upwards of $300 each to replicate for a homeowner who needs the same doors for his/her restoration.
It might be asking a lot of time pressed people to stop and learn, but in the end, it benefits everyone and is the ultimate recycling when these items are saved and passed on to another individual to use in their project.
Last edited by OhBeeHave; 09-01-2010 at 11:58 AM..
Reason: I left out a vital word
Don't know if there are similar places further east, but there is a non-profit architectural salvage place in Astoria, Build it Green NYC, to which you can donate (or, on the flip side, purchase relatively inexpensively), good quality, reusable architectural/renovation items.
Freecycle.org was started just for this purpose to recycle still usable items (to keep them out of the landfill) and offering them for free, generally as p/u only. There are "chapters" all over the country; on Long Island we have Nassau County and Eastern and Western Suffolk.
I've posted items there as "offers" - especially when I help homeowners declutter or during a move - and as someone who found things I wanted or needed from others who were looking for takers.
Don't know if there are similar places further east, but there is a non-profit architectural salvage place in Astoria, Build it Green NYC, to which you can donate (or, on the flip side, purchase relatively inexpensively), good quality, reusable architectural/renovation items.
OMG! Thank you!
We're planning a reconstruction to turn our 1940's ranch into a neo-Queen Ann and we have been looking for restore/reuse materials (Habitat for Humanity will be offered right of first refusal for our existing materials).
Edit:
Middle Island - Suffolk Restore, HFH of
643 Middle Country Rd, Middle Island, NY 11953
631-924-4966, Ext. 111
Last edited by James1202; 09-02-2010 at 06:23 AM..
Reason: add Suffolk Restore addy
Thank you everyone for your suggestions; however the items I refer to are things for architectural salvage. Our clients with antique homes (over 100 years old) tend to try to keep within the period of their homes which means one of two things -- expensive fabrication or locating period pieces. I travel to VT, NH & MA several times a year tracking down period mantles, doors, hardware, corner cabinets, sinks, tubs -- the list goes on and on -- for such clients. It's time consuming but a lot of fun. These are the type of items I was referring to and I apologize for not being clear.
Elke's Freecycle suggestion is one I have used many times for the newer items which are still usable but perhaps out of style, in need of refinishing, etc. We recently cleared a relative's house of many items that way.
We have had a number of clients (who own 1940's era or newer) send their no longer needed cabinetry, interior doors etc, to Habitat ReStore, and as a plus, they are able to receive a receipt for tax purposes.
rh1 -- no offense taken. I know it sounds strange that I plucked doors from the curb, but somewhere down the line I will have saved a client some serious money (either fabricating or my expenses hunting them in New England.) My work shop looks like a mini architectural salvage store; fortunately it is in an industrial park.
During my last whirlwind trip up north, one vendor I use had some 70 odd feet of heavily ornate Victorian interior trim in assorted lengths recently salvaged from a reno. The shortest length was 6' the longest 12'. It was solid, needed old paint stripped from it, but should clean up like new. He's asking, and chances are will get, over $500 for it. This is the sort of stuff people rip out and toss -- unaware of it's value.
LIGuy1202 -- good luck with your project
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