Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural Treasures of Unwanted

by Bob Falk and Brad Guy

Book Overview

The country's two leading expert advocates for salvaging parts of unwanted houses rather than demolishing them explain the "green" art of unbuilding (or deconstruction) and take the reader on a fascinating tour of the process. This is the first and only book that addresses this growing trend.Contains fascinating details on construction techniques for houses both ancient and of more contemporary vintage and methods used to determine their value or...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561588253
• ISBN13: 9781561588251
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Taunton Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

It's not only environmentally sound, but economically profitable.

We live in an age of recycling. It's not only environmentally sound, but economically profitable. This applies just as much to reusable and salvageable building materials from structures scheduled for demolishing, as it does to ordinary newspapers and soda cans. Now U.S. Forest Products Laboratory research engineer Bob Falk has teamed up with Brad Guy (Director of Operations at The Hammer Center at the Penn State School of Architecture) to publish "Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural Treasures Of Unwanted Houses" an instruction guide to salvaging materials that can be reused and recycled from homes and other buildings by literally and carefully dismantling the original structures piece by piece. These materials can include ornate hardware, period lighting fixtures, windows, doors, mantels, hardwood flooring, and anything else that continues to have esthetic and commercial value. Often these are 'yesteryear' items that cannot be matched by anything available to day and have great financial worth in and of themselves. The authors draw upon their many years of expertise and experience in advising about new tools, deconstruction processes, and alternatives to conventional demolition tactics. "Unbuilding" is strongly recommended to the considered attention of building contractors, demolition experts, and environmentally conscious salvagers, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in recycling building materials for their value, utility and esthetics.

Deconstructing a Building

I've always liked the idea of salvaging architectural details from building being torn down. Now here's a book that goes way beyond merely saving a fireplace mantel or some columns. Here's what it covers: Chapter 1 Unbuilding Opportunities Redevelopment Rural Property Military Bases Urban Renewal Remodeling and Renovation Building Auctions Habitat for Humanity ReStores What to Unbuild Chapter 2 Deciding on Unbuilding and Salvage Your Level of Involvement Making Sure the Building Is Sound Permits and Code Requirements Making a Visual Survey Case Study: Survey of a Deconstruction Candidate Chapter 3 The Materials You Find Develop a Plan for the Material You Remove Assessing What's Reusable Selling Your Stuff Chapter 4 Getting Started Organizing the Site Tools for Unbuilding Chapter 5 Safety and Environmental Health Make Safety a Priority Safety Equipment: The Last Line of Defense Working at Height First Aid and Medical Services Fire Prevention and Protection Lead-Based Paint Hazards Asbestos Hazards Chapter 6 Site Preparation and Soft-Stripping House and Site Characteristics Preparing the Site Soft-Stripping Loading Items from Soft-Stripping Cleaning Up Chapter 7 Whole-House Deconstruction Maintaining the Building's Integrity Roof Tearoff Removing Interior Wall Finishes Removing Electrical, Plumbing, and Ductwork Removing Roof Sheathing Removing Rafters Getting the Material to the Ground Taking down Trusses Removing a Dormer Removing Ceiling Joists Removing Siding Removing Walls Removing Subfloors Denailing Stacking and Loading Project Closeout

A First!

The Taunton Press with their great sense of style and photography combined with knowledgeable authors, who have taken the time to document the deconstruction and salvage process, make this book a must in the bookcases of contractors, architects, designers and any building owner considering salvaging or using salvaged building materials.