Page "Deconstruction (building)" Paragraph 14

Structural deconstruction involves dismantling the structural components of a building.

Traditionally this had only been performed to reclaim expensive or rare materials such as used brick, dimension stone, and extinct wood.

In antiquity, it was common to raze stone buildings and reuse the stone ; it was also common to steal stones from a building that was not being totally demolished: this is the literal meaning of the word dilapidated.

Used brick and dimension limestone in particular have a long tradition of reuse due to their durability and color changes over time.

Recently, the rise of environmental awareness and sustainable building has made a much wider range of materials worthy of structural deconstruction.

Low-end, commonplace materials such as dimensional lumber have become part of this newly emerging market.