Dear All,
2nd hand materials/recycled materials are very popular here in Australia. We have a category called owner builder. If you are an owner-builder, it means you are not a licenced builder, but done a course & registered with the local council to supervise your own building. Owner builders also can do most of the building but must comply with current Australian building regulations eg: only a licenced electrician can do electrical work; plumber, plumbing & gas work etc, for both safety reasons & passing building inspection. Your bricklaying if you do it yourself, must also pass inspection.
However, 2nd hand materials are very popular amongst owner builders. I know a couple of other owner builders & we have the view that people who buy a design from a building company & get that company to build it from the ground up, so to speak, tend not to use 2nd had materials.
I think owner builders tend to have more eclectic tastes, & anyway, there's something wonderful in pre-loved wood or stone. I'm currently trying to source french bi-fold doors. 2nd hand. I can strip the timber myself and resurface it. I like natural wood finishes.
Are 2nd hand building materials popular in the USA? There's a big market in 2nd hand bricks here, too.
Just my thoughts.
Loz,
Melbourne Australia