The ReUse People - JULY 2004 NEWSLETTER

Pushing the Reuse Envelope

Do you know a successful demolition contractor who would like to benefit financially from participating in the growing field of deconstruction? If so, TRP has a program that might be of interest to them.

TRP's "new model" as we fondly refer to it, enables demolition contractors to use their existing marketing capabilities, equipment and labor to deconstruct homes while their homeowner-clients take advantage of TRP's building materials donation program. Contractors who take the deconstruction route save additional resources by helping cities and counties extend the life of landfills. If this sounds to you like a win-win-win situation, keep reading.

Local demolition contractors benefit from the Reuse SolutionTM by being able to offer their clients an environmentally sound and economically beneficial alternative to traditional slash-and-burn demolition. Homeowners benefit because the materials salvaged from their deconstruction projects represent tax-deductible donations. In addition, they get to select the deconstruction (demolition) contractor with whom they wish to work and don't have to wait for a opening in TRP's busy deconstruction schedule. Down the road the entire region benefits, since materials that are reused (someone, somewhere, wants them) mean that additional tax dollars are not spent opening new landfills. Finally, TRP benefits by being freed up to do what it does best—move greater quantities of used building materials into existing and new markets.

We began working with a select group of demolition contractors in the Los Angeles area last year and, more recently, in the Bay Area. To date, these TRP-certified contractors have deconstructed over ten homes, saving dozens of truckloads of reusable materials that have been distributed by TRP from Mexico to Ketchum, Idaho. Further, TRP has given the homeowner-donors over one-million dollars in deductible donations.

Using the knowledge base and experience developed by TRP and participating Los Angeles and Orange County contractors, TRP is in the process of completing a strategic plan that calls for expansion throughout the southwestern United States in five years, nationally in ten and internationally in twelve.

We encourage all successful, traditional demolition contractors to call TRP to get the full story on building a profitable deconstruction business

Special of the Month

This month we are featuring our large selection of windows. We have hundreds to choose from, including semi-new vinyl and aluminum dual-pane windows, older wood and metal windows, and some leaded glass windows. Throughout the month of July, bring a copy of this e-letter and receive 10% off on your choice of windows from the ReUse Bazaar warehouse.

New Inventory

Our ReUse Bazaar warehouse is jammed to the rafters with lumber and other materials from recent jobs (see "Deconstruction Update," below). It's a challenge sometimes to locate Brandy and the rest of the warehouse crew amid the towering aisles (which they somehow manage to keep well organized despite the volume). So when you stop by, don't hesitate to shout for assistance.

Friends of TRP

Our first drawing for a $100 gift certificate from the ReUse Bazaar was held on Thursday, July 1. Friends of TRP member Adam Hatch, of Oakland, was the winner. The next quarterly drawing will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2004. All TRP members who have joined by September 30, 2004, will be eligible for another $100 gift certificate in that drawing.

Join Friends of TRP at either the Oak ($25 annually) or the Mahogany ($100 annually) level. In addition to helping TRP achieve its mission, you'll receive discounts on used building materials and other benefits (like the drawings). Click here to access the TRP membership form. Print the form and mail it to TRP with your donation. Thank you!

Deconstruction Update

Bay Area
We will hold a job-site sale on July 10-11 at the converted barn-to-house project in Larkspur. The 19th century barn was converted to a house in the early part of 20th century, and will yield lots of old doors, windows and hand-hewn beams.

On July 1, we began work on a 2800 sq. ft. ranch house in Healdsburg. All materials will be brought to the warehouse in Alameda.

All doors, dual-pane windows, cabinets and vanities from an 8500 sq. ft. custom home in Alamo will be in the warehouse during the week of July 12.

We have begun the complete deconstruction of a 2100 sq. ft. Berkeley home built in the 1930s. All materials will be in the warehouse by July 25.

All materials from a 6000 sq. ft. Atherton home will be brought to the warehouse in late July and early August.

Mammoth
All materials from the Village Market and the Ski Surgeon will be in our warehouse by mid-July. This includes many old-growth timbers.

Los Angeles/Orange
We are on the verge of finalizing an agreement with the South Bay/Long Beach affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, framing a trial relationship between our organizations and providing a Los Angeles venue for material sales and distribution from recent and future reuse efforts in the L.A. region.

On 7/1, CleanCo Construction Services (a ReUse Solution™ contractor) finished work on a 1400 sq. ft. ranch house in Newport Beach. The materials, including several double hung windows, have been temporarily placed in storage and will either make their way to TRP's Alameda warehouse, or Habitat’s South Bay Home Improvement Store.

On July 2-3, TRP held a job-site sale and began salvaging a 1200 sq.ft. house (wood siding inside and out) in Santa Monica. Deconstruction will be completed by Scully Engineering Contractors, a new and enthusiastic ReUse Solution™ provider.

On July 6, Scully Engineering will begin deconstructing a 4400 sq. ft. colonial in Pacific Palisades (circa 1937). We hope Habitat will be able to accommodate many of the great vintage materials from this one, as well as the old growth, rough-sawn timber.

CleanCo is expected to begin its next assignment on July 12, with a 4000 sq. ft. beach home built in the 1980s directly on the Manhattan Beach boardwalk. We think an episode or two of "Miami Vice" may have been filmed in this one.

San Diego
The owners of the 19,000 sq. ft. estate home in La Jolla have decided not to build a new home, so the old one will not be deconstructed. The good news is, it won't be demolished either. Apologies to those of you who have been waiting on this one.

Note: You can learn more about these projects and view photos at our web site by clicking here:
http://thereusepeople.org/inside.cfm?p=JobSiteSales.