We’ve talked about using recycling materials in your renovations before, but you are probably wondering if there is an easy way to go about doing this. After all, you don’t necessarily have time to go trawling around your local area, looking for renovations. Fortunately there is an easy option available – and it’s run by a non-profit.
Image: Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore outlets sell materials from residential and commercial retrofit operations, as well as waste materials from retailers like Home Depot. Property owners invite Habitat for Humanity into their buildings – before recyclers and demolition experts – to remove anything that can be sold to the general public such as fixtures, carpeting, toilets, marble slabs and hinges.
The benefits for Habitat for Humanity are big. With the revenues from the ReStore, Habitat for Humanity can cover all of the charity’s administration costs. This means that when you donate to Habitat for Humanity, all of your cash donation goes to actually building homes for families.
And business for the ReStores is booming – almost too much. They have recently benefited from the growing use of LEED certification. LEED certification requires that the developers divert a certain percentage of their materials away from landfill and into the hands of recyclers like ReStore. As well, there is an increasing number of municipal laws across the country demanding that renovators divert waste materials away from landfill.
As a result, supply is almost outpacing demand. The ReStore outlet in Vancouver has to figure out where to put all the materials from temporary structures at the Vancouver Olympic Games. The director of ReStore Operations in Greater Vancouver, Tom Reissner says, “I don’t think we will be able to take it all because we don’t have the resources to store it. We will take what we can and cram it into the stores.”
So, a canny renovator would be wise to check out your local outfit. And don’t worry: it isn’t all industrial carpet tiles and leftover office fluorescent bulbs. Several of the people who work for ReStore say that they can be great places to find vintage steals. For instance, when 222 Jarvis Street in Toronto was retrofitted, tons of marble slabs were snapped up by local buyers. ReStores have also sold church pews and stain glass windows.
If you are looking for a ReStore in your local area, go here to see a listing of what’s available.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
Renaldo Schuller
It is always nice to stumble on a bit of additional information when renovating and designing (or planning too). If you want a few professional tips, I would also check Masterrenovator.com, he has great tips for things you don’t usually think about.