There is an ever growing selection of recycled materials that can be used in remodeling or building a home today. Before we look at those though, let's consider another form o recycling. I touched upon this is REUSE but if we consider recycling to be using an object or the materials from which an object is constructed to make a new object or the materials for a new object what about recycling a building for another purpose?
There are examples all across the country of churches, hospitals, barns and lighthouses that have been transformed into living spaces. Firehouses, grain silos and 1950's era bomb shelters (talk about a unique underground home) have all been candidates for transformation into housing after their original use has been discontinued. I have occasionally wondered if it is possible to convert a deserted strip mall into condos--cohousing maybe? There would be plenty of parking...... Just because a structure was originally built for a different purpose doesn't mean it can't become useful as shelter. Witness the apartment houses, lofts and condominiums that now occupy what were once warehouses, manufacturing plants or hospitals.
Here is an example of a bathroom in a converted warehouse for those of us who have always craved a large bathroom and been stuck with a 7 foot by 6 foot cubicle.
This is the outside view of a warehouse conversion in London.
This interior view could probably use some staging,but you get the idea
In terms of using recycled materials for renovation there are carpets made from recycled milk cartons and soft drink bottles and the padding to go with them. The last clients I helped with choosing carpet were amazed to find that the recycled carpet and padding was less expensive than the same grade of "regular" carpet and padding. Using lumber recovered from another building in construction or or flooring is a good form of reuse and recycling. Counter tops can be purchased that are made from recycled paper, glass, and aluminum shavings. One of my favorites, just because of the sheer outrageous nature of it is this one, made from porcelain terrazzo created by recycling tubs, toilets and sinks.
Tile from recycled glass, aluminum, ceramic, cement and reclaimed brick are all available. You can buy recycled pipe and most metal roofs contain a minimum of 25% recycled material. In addition, they can be recycled over and over again.
These are metal shingles for those who want a shingle roof!
This looks like tile, a very popular roofing choice here in the southwest, but it's made of steel coated with aluminum-zinc alloy, and surfaced with stone chips. The stone resists fading and ultraviolet light, and the roof is rated non-combustible, Photo:Decra Roofing
