Frequently Asked Questions About Deconstruction services
What is DeConstruction Services?
DeConstruction Services, a service of The ReBuilding Center, is a practical and sustainable solution for demolition. Our deconstruction crews work for homeowners, contractors, local governments, and other property owners to provide environmentally friendly, cost-effective removal of building components and complete structures, both residential and commercial. By hand-dismantling structures, DeConstruction can divert for reuse up to 85 percent of a building’s major components—framing lumber, doors, windows, cabinets, flooring, trim, hardware and more—that otherwise would be destined for landfills. We provide our clients with a tax-deductible receipt and detailed inventory of materials reclaimed from their project for tax purposes. Founded in 1999, DeConstruction Services is the oldest year-round deconstruction program in the United States and has completed more than 1000 projects in the last 10 years. DeConstruction Services is licensed, bonded and insured (OR CCB# 145799, WA OURUNV*973B7) and is the recipient of the City of Portland’s BEST Business Award and the Oregon Ethics in Business Award.
What is The ReBuilding Center?
With its recent expansion, The ReBuilding Center is now the largest non-profit re-use center for building materials in North America. In its eight-year history, The ReBuilding Center has become a recognized leader in Oregon and the world in diverting construction and demolition waste for reuse and recycling. Operating like a thrift store, everyone can donate and purchase affordable material for construction, building repair, and home remodeling. Each year, The ReBuilding Center and Deconstruction Services keep 5 million pounds of reusable material from the landfill, host 90,000 visitors and hundreds of volunteers, create dozens of livable-wage jobs, and provide $50,000 in donations of free reclaimed building materials to local organizations.
Why Should I Use DeConstruction Services?
Deconstruction Services offers a win-win situation for construction-generated waste. The overall cost of deconstruction is often comparable to, if not lower than, standard demolition after any tax-benefits are factored in. Our hand-disassembly methods are less intrusive, more customizable for your project, and often preferred for their sensitivity by neighbors. In our local region, construction and demolition waste accounts for more than a quarter of waste stream volume. With deconstruction, the vast majority of a building’s components can be saved for re-use rather than crunched up and sent to landfills. In addition, your patronage of DeConstruction Services supports the local economy by providing three to six living-wage jobs for every one from standard demolition, with nearly 100 percent of the revenue re-invested in the local community.
What difference does deconstruction make to the environment & community?
By choosing deconstruction instead of mechanized demolition, our neighbors in the greater Portland region have helped DeConstruction Services and The ReBuilding Center divert 71,910 square feet, or 4,260,300 pounds, of re-usable building materials from the landfill in a year’s time. This salvaged material is enough to conserve 1,186 mature trees (or plant 360 acres of pine seedlings) and provide an additional 1359 days of labor paid at a living wage. By deconstructing just one 2000 square foot house instead of demolishing it, it helps reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to removing three cars from the road for an entire year.
What can be deconstructed?
DeConstruction Services contracts for both large and small demolition projects. DeConstruction crews remove building materials from kitchens and bathrooms for smaller remodeling projects. We also deconstruct garages, sheds, porches, decks, complete houses, barns, and commercial buildings.
Is it safe to live in my home during deconstruction?
Safety for our clients, neighbors, and our employees is our top priority. Specifics of jobsite safety depend upon the scope of your project. For safety reasons, it is best in most cases for you to be away from the project site during deconstruction. Construction sites can be dangerous, particularly for children and pregnant women.
Is DeConstruction affordable?
DeConstruction is competitive with mechanized demolition, particularly when the benefits of deconstruction are considered. The ReBuilding Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering the potential for substantial tax deductions for donated building materials, which can significantly offset costs of deconstruction. Deconstruction also generates less waste than mechanical demolition, reducing trash disposal fees, and lessens the need to create new building materials.
How does the tax deduction benefit work?
The reusable building materials removed from your project belong to you after our deconstruction activities. You are welcome to donate reusable building materials to The ReBuilding Center, which we will coordinate and pick up at no additional charge. Your donations to The ReBuilding Center are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Who determines the value of my donation?
DeConstruction Services will provide an itemized inventory and digital photographs of materials that you donate to the ReBuilding Center. The inventory lists and photographs are sent to our clients on a quarterly basis.
You are responsible for determining the value of your donated materials. IRS regulations prohibit charitable organizations from establishing or affirming the value of contributions. If the value of your donation is five thousand dollars or more, you will be responsible for hiring a third party appraiser whose signature will be required on the IRS Form 8283. We maintain a list of recommended appraisers who can assist you in appraising your donations.
Why does DeConstruction Services charge when I’m donating materials?
DeConstruction Services is a licensed and bonded demolition contractor. We charge for labor, materials, and other job costs associated with our work, as is typical in the construction contracting industry. Internal Revenue Service law prohibits us from deconstructing a project for free in trade for building materials.
How do I Find Out More Information?
We would be happy to give you a free estimate and to discuss all your removal options with you. Please fill out our Job Information Sheet and someone will be in touch with you shortly. You may also contact one of our Program Managers at (503)331-9875 or email us for more information.
