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

Building Green...
Does any one knows of places that sell 2nd hand construction materials in Houston, Texas, other than the Habitat for Humanities store? I will be remodeling soon and would like to see the options. Thank you. Betty

Second hand or salvaged materials are more popular in the US with people restoring older homes, There is quite a market for older millwork, and like in OZ old brick sells here for a premium . The frequent problem using older materials in new structures here is with building codes, especially doors and windows which don't meet minimum energy performance or don't meet safety standards ( ie; tempered glass required over 3 sq ft). Here is one of my favorite places for architectural salvage
Olde Good Things

As for Betty's question, Craigslist is a very good source for salvaged materials. Ebay is another (see my post "going NSB in NY") I frequently check the local yards for mis-ordered and damaged materials. You had a hurricane down your way that is still being cleaned up. Might be some dumpster diving opportunities there.