Flying Bricks and Other Reuse Wizardry

In the June e-letter I announced "Better Than New," a contest involving before-and-after photographs showing remodeling projects (yours, I hope!) accomplished with used building materials. This month, I'm expanding the contest to include other interesting projects besides those that involve construction and remodeling. To learn why, read on...

It all started with a phone call from a law firm in Albany, New York. The caller wanted to place an order for 50 used bricks. I laughed and asked if she could not find 50 used bricks in all of Albany. She explained that the firm needed the bricks in the Bay Area, not Albany, and had found TRP on the Internet. The firm was representing the plaintiff in a liability suit and wanted the bricks shipped to a testing laboratory. Intrigued, I took the order.

The laboratory, near Walnut Creek, needed the delivery before 8:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. As it happened, TRP Regional Manager Ron Whittaker and I were driving to Sacramento the same Tuesday, so we decided to leave early and make the delivery ourselves.

At 7:45 we arrived at the back entrance to the laboratory and were met by one of the employees who asked us to stack the brick next to a large scissor lift, a four-wheeled apparatus with a 4x8 platform on which workers can be lifted to various working heights -- up to 40 feet in this case. Turns out the lab planned to drop the bricks from the height of a three-story (brick) building to simulate the incident that allegedly caused the plaintiff's injuries. Instead of falling on a person, the bricks would land on a very sophisticated dummy so the resulting "injuries" could be documented in detail. Wow, what a story.

Ron and I, both former engineering students, immediately thought of the annual watermelon drop at UCSD's Revelle College, which was started by a physics professor in 1965 and still marks the end of every school year. It also started me thinking about other uses for salvaged building materials. For novelty, dropping bricks on a dummy sure beats the familiar brick and board bookcase. Here are a few more creative ideas:

How about bathtub races in a lagoon, or light fixture globes as fishbowls? Recently, the girls kicked the devil out of the boys in the national soapbox derby, so maybe the guys could start a kitchen cabinet derby using unmodified kitchen cabinets lying flat on casters with the doors opening upward like tank hatches.

Toilet bowls as planters is a little old, but why not use toilets as theater, seminar or conference room seats. A person could store belongings conveniently (and safely) beneath them in the bowl. Shower heads could be used as lawn sprinklers. Picture individually designed heads sticking up about six feet to create a whimsical sculpture garden.

Using windows as picture frames is a bit blasé, but how about as an alternative to the ubiquitous security camera? Simply insert a window in the wall nearest to the retail cash register or exit door and project a hologram of a person behind it. Would-be thieves will think they are being watched. Here's another idea: a backyard greenhouse constructed entirely of sliding patio doors.

Ok, now it is up to you. Send in photos and a descriptions of your projects. And remember the bricks and the dummy. You are not restricted to "normal" reuse.

Here's a recap of the contest rules and instructions:
1. First and last name of entrant
2. Name of city
3. Up to four (4) before-and-after photos
4. Description of project, up to 250 words
5. Email entries to tedreiff@thereusepeople.org., subject line: "Better Than New"
6. Deadline: September 1, 2008

A TRP jury will select three winners. Entries will be judged on:
1. Quality of design and execution (installation)
2. Replicability of concept
3. Clarity of description
4. Quality of photographs

In addition to recognition on the TRP website, photos of winning projects will be featured in the TRP booth at West Coast Green in San Jose, September 25-27.

Prizes (redeemable at any TRP warehouse)
First: $200 gift certificate
Second: $100 gift certificate
Third: $50 gift certificate
Every valid entry: $25 gift certificate