Residential Deconstruction
What is Residential Deconstruction?
Deconstruction is an environmentally-friendly alternative to demolition. Trained deconstruction crews carefully deconstruct the building to salvage as many of the reusable materials as possible, diverting them from local landfills. Salvaged items typically include doors, windows, cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures, framing lumber, roofing materials and flooring.
Materials are shipped to TRP retail warehouses, or to the warehouses of partnering organizations, for sale and distribution to the public. Salvaged lumber is sometimes used as raw material by furniture, cabinet and flooring manufacturers.
What Are the Steps for Building Deconstruction?
1
Recieve an Appraisal Consultation
TRP will have independent, IRS qualified appraisers assist you in determining the preliminary value of your donation at no obligation to you. If you choose to move ahead with the project, the appraiser you hire will complete the full evaluation and all necessary documentation.
2
Get a Free Deconstruction Bid
A TRP-Certified Deconstruction Contractor will submit a bid to carefully deconstruct your building to TRP specifications.
3
Donate
Email or fax the Donation Letter to TRP. This letter states that you intend to make the donation and identifies your appraiser and TRP-Certified Deconstruction Contractor.
What are the benefits to the homeowner?
The value of used building material donations can often be substantial – large enough to pay for the costs of deconstruction. The following chart shows actual deconstruction jobs and the donation value received by their respective homeowners. The amounts listed are dependent upon several variables and should not be used to assess your specific situation. For additional information, see the Homeowner’s Guide to Donations.
Actual Appraised Donation Values
Below this chart is a comparison of deconstruction costs to those of traditional demolition on actual projects. To calculate the economic benefit you could receive when choosing The ReUse Solution™ click on this worksheet.
| City | Sq. Feet | Appraised Donation Value |
|---|---|---|
| California | ||
| Atherton | 5,523 | $182,346 |
| Carmel | 3,342 | $137,712 |
| Healdsburg | 2,772 | $174,315 |
| Larkspur | 2,304 | $129,425 |
| Napa (house & barn) | 2,804 | $102,025 |
| Newport Beach | 6,771 | $333,000 |
| Oakland | 1,400 | $74,144 |
| Orinda | 4,275 | $137,940 |
| Pacific Palisades | 4,500 | $162,600 |
| Palo Alto | 2,488 | $94,849 |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 4,900 | $168,465 |
| Santa Barbara | 2,100 | $57,000 |
| Santa Monica | 1,400 | $46,694 |
| Woodside | 8,600 | $326,863 |
| Colorado | ||
| Boulder | 3,300 | $114,000 |
| Boulder | 5,800 | $232,000 |
| Denver | 2,900 | $125,566 |
| Kansas | ||
| Fairway | 2,204 | $77,474 |
| Mission Hills | 2,996 | $145,297 |
| Illinois | ||
| Chicago | 2,200 | $110,096 |
| Chicago | 2,800 | $118,150 |
| Glencoe | 4,950 | $204,000 |
| Texas | ||
| Austin (house move, in-tact donation) | 2,136 | $162,000 |
| Austin | 1,272 | $88,750 |
| Austin (house move, in-tact donation) | 1,600 | $91,750 |
| Austin | 1,008 | $34,500 |
| Dallas | 3,200 | $129,000 |
| Washington | ||
| Bellevue | 3,800 | $175,600 |
| Redmond | 800 | $38,302 |
| Seattle | 1,600 | $40,000 |
| Wisconsin | ||
| Kenosha | 2,250 | $98,000 |
Difference Between Deconstruction and Demolition
This chart is a composite based on actual jobs and is used here to make an economic comparison of deconstruction and demolition. This composite is a single-story, 2200 square foot house plus garage, with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, raised foundation, composite shingles, single-paned windows, carpeting, hardwood floors, and a 12 x 40 wood deck. The costs due not include removal of concrete slabs, sidewalks, foundations, or asphalt, but do include the site being left in a rake clean condition (no debris).
In the machine demolition scenario, the owner pays $19,900, but in the TRP deconstruction scenario, the homeowner receives $32,340 in after-tax benefits reducing total deconstruction costs to $11,960 and saving $7,940.
| Deconstruction | Demolition | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical lowering of house | $37,700 | $15,700 |
| Disposal of trash & debris | 4,100 | 4,100 |
| Appraisal of salvaged materials | 2,500 | 0 |
| Total Costs | 44,300 | 19,800 |
| Donation Value* | 92,400 | 0 |
| Tax Savings** (After-tax value of donated materials) | 32,340 | 0 |
| Total Costs (from above) | 44,300 | 19,800 |
| After-tax net costs | $11,960 | $19,900 |
| Net cash savings of $7,940. (a savings of 39.6%) |
*Total materials (lumber, plywood, cabinets, plumbing and electrical fixtures, doors, windows, etc.) would generally appraise at $75,000 to $112,000 in good reusable condition.
**Assumes a federal tax bracket of 35% – this will be greater in states with income tax.
Get Started
Ready to get started with deconstruction? Contact your local TRP location for more information: