Demolition & Salvage
Deconstruction over destruction. We carefully dismantle buildings to recover lumber that conventional demolition would destroy.
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Traditional demolition uses excavators and wrecking balls to bring buildings down fast. It is efficient at creating rubble, but it destroys the very materials that have the most value. Our approach is different: we deconstruct buildings methodically, piece by piece, preserving usable lumber, beams, flooring, and hardware that would otherwise become landfill waste.
Los Angeles has an enormous stock of pre-1960 wood-frame buildings containing old-growth Douglas fir, heart pine, redwood, and oak that is simply unavailable from any commercial source. When those buildings come down, that wood either gets recovered or it gets destroyed. We have spent twenty years making the case for recovery — and the math is clear: deconstruction is almost always the better financial and environmental choice.
Our Deconstruction Process
Site Assessment & Material Inventory
Our team evaluates the structure, identifying salvageable materials, hazardous substances (asbestos, lead paint, CCA-treated wood), and the optimal deconstruction sequence. We provide a written estimate including recoverable material quantities by type, estimated market value, projected deconstruction timeline, and projected cost net of material credit.
Permitting & Notifications
We coordinate with local building departments on demolition permits, AQMD asbestos notifications, and haul-route permits. As a licensed contractor, we can pull permits directly or support your permit application. We do not begin work until all required approvals are in hand.
Hazard Abatement
If asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials are present, they are removed by licensed abatement contractors before deconstruction begins. We coordinate abatement scheduling and hold clearance documentation before our crew enters. Safety is never compromised for material recovery.
Systematic Disassembly
Working top-to-bottom in reverse construction order, our crew carefully removes roofing, siding, flooring, framing, and structural elements. Hand tools replace power tools wherever possible to prevent wood damage. Load-bearing elements are shored before removal of supporting members. Material is sorted on-site as it is removed.
On-Site Processing & Staging
Salvaged lumber is sorted by species, dimension, and condition, then de-nailed and stacked in lift-ready bundles. Reusable hardware (hinges, bolts, brackets) is collected separately. Materials are categorized and staged for efficient loading.
Transport to Processing Facility
Sorted material is loaded onto our fleet and delivered to our Commerce, CA processing facility for further de-nailing, grading, kiln drying, and milling. The building owner receives a waste-diversion manifest documenting all material removed, its weight, and its disposition.
Safety Protocols
Deconstruction of older buildings involves hazards that require specific training, equipment, and regulatory compliance. Here is how we handle the most common ones.
Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM)
Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 1529; CARB asbestos ATCM
All pre-1980 structures undergo asbestos survey by a California-certified asbestos consultant before deconstruction begins. Identified ACM is abated by a licensed Class A contractor under AHERA protocols before our crew enters. We do not proceed past abatement clearance.
Lead-Based Paint (LBP)
EPA 40 CFR Part 745; Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 1532.1
Our crew is EPA RRP Lead-Safe Certified. XRF testing identifies lead-bearing painted components. Painted lumber is handled with PPE (N100 respirators, nitrile gloves, Tyvek) and processed under HEPA-vacuum containment. Waste is disposed per California hazardous waste regulations.
Structural Instability
Cal/OSHA Title 8, Subchapter 4, Group 6 (Demolition)
A licensed engineer reviews the deconstruction sequence for any structure suspected of structural compromise. Load-bearing elements are shored before removal of supporting members. Deconstruction proceeds top-to-bottom in reverse construction order. No crew member works beneath unsupported structure.
Embedded Fasteners & Metal
Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 3383
All crew wear cut-resistant gloves and steel-toed boots. Hand tools are used to extract fasteners rather than rip boards free. Chains and pry bars sized for the fastener type prevent wood damage and reduce slip risk. Metal detectors sweep each lift of material before stacking.
Pressure-Treated Lumber (CCA/ACQ)
California Health & Safety Code Section 25249 (Prop 65); EPA wood preservative guidelines
Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated lumber is identified by its characteristic green tint and treated as hazardous waste. We do not salvage CCA lumber for reuse. ACQ and other modern preservatives are assessed individually; most are acceptable for salvage with proper handling.
Dust & Respiratory Hazards
Cal/OSHA PEL for wood dust: 5 mg/m³ (ACGIH TLV: 1 mg/m³ for hardwoods)
HEPA-filtered respirators required when cutting or grinding on reclaimed material. Site sprinklers wet-suppress dust during outdoor deconstruction. Enclosed cutting areas use local exhaust ventilation. Crew health monitoring is conducted quarterly.
Material Recovery Rates by Building Type
Recovery rates — the percentage of material by volume that is salvaged for reuse — vary significantly by building age, construction type, and maintenance history. These ranges are based on our experience across hundreds of deconstruction projects. Pre-project site assessments refine these estimates for each specific structure.
| Building Type | Structural Lumber | Flooring | Siding | Beams | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-1940 Craftsman / Bungalow (wood frame) | 60–75% | 50–70% | 40–60% | 80–90% | 65–78% |
| Mid-Century Commercial (1940–1970) | 45–65% | 40–60% | 30–50% | 70–85% | 50–65% |
| Industrial / Warehouse (pre-1960) | 55–70% | 35–55% | 25–45% | 75–90% | 55–70% |
| Agricultural / Barn (any era) | 50–70% | 20–40% | 45–65% | 70–85% | 55–68% |
| Post-1970 Residential (platform frame) | 35–55% | 30–50% | 20–40% | 50–70% | 35–52% |
Recovery rates expressed as percentage of material volume salvaged for reuse as building material. Remaining material is diverted to biomass, mulch, or metal recycling — not landfill.
Why Deconstruction?
For Building Owners
- ✓ Potential tax deductions for donated material (IRS Section 170(e))
- ✓ Reduced landfill disposal fees — typically 60–80% lower disposal costs
- ✓ Revenue from salvaged material sales credited against project cost
- ✓ LEED MR credits for waste diversion (we provide the documentation)
- ✓ CalGreen compliance documentation for California projects
- ✓ Positive community and environmental impact — publicly documentable
For the Environment
- ✓ Up to 90% waste diversion rate versus mechanical demolition
- ✓ Preserves embodied energy: a Douglas fir beam contains 500+ years of solar energy storage
- ✓ Reduces demand for new timber — every BF reclaimed is a BF not logged
- ✓ Prevents methane: wood in landfill decomposes anaerobically for decades
- ✓ Supports circular economy — same atoms, multiple product lifetimes
- ✓ Net carbon benefit: reclaimed lumber extends biogenic carbon storage
Project Case Studies
Real projects with real outcomes. These represent the range of structures we deconstruct and the value we recover.
1927 Commercial Warehouse — Vernon, CA
Owner received $42,000 in material value credit against deconstruction cost. LEED MR credit documentation issued. All old-growth fir sold to three commercial restaurant projects within 90 days.
1940s Dairy Barn — Chino, CA
Weathered siding sold at premium to interior design firm for accent wall applications. Structural fir processed into S4S framing. Owner received tax documentation for donated materials valued at $28,000.
1930s Craftsman Row — Boyle Heights, LA
Original oak flooring matched existing stock for a historic restoration project in Pasadena. Decorative millwork photographed and cataloged; historically significant pieces donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art collection. Landfill diversion: 94%.
Permitting & Regulatory Overview
Deconstruction involves multiple permits and regulatory notifications. We handle the permits we are responsible for as the licensed contractor and assist you with those that are the building owner’s responsibility.
| Permit / Requirement | Issuing Authority | Who Obtains | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition Permit | Local Building Department (City or County) | Building owner or licensed contractor | Required for any structure demolition. We assist with documentation and can pull permits as the licensed contractor on qualifying projects. |
| Asbestos Notification | South Coast AQMD (for LA-area projects) | Project owner | Required at least 10 working days before demolition or renovation that may disturb ACM. Threshold: 100 sq ft or 35 linear feet of ACM. |
| Haul Route Permit | City Department of Public Works | Hauler / contractor | Required when heavy trucks use city streets for more than 30 days. We manage haul route permitting for all our own transport operations. |
| Waste Management Plan | Local jurisdiction (varies) | Project owner or contractor | Many California jurisdictions require construction and demolition (C&D) waste management plans for projects above a threshold tonnage. Our waste-diversion documentation satisfies most plan requirements. |
| Encroachment Permit | City or Caltrans (for state highways) | Contractor | Required if dumpsters, scaffolding, or loading equipment occupy public right-of-way. We coordinate encroachment permits for all urban deconstruction projects. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you mobilize a salvage crew?
We can typically perform an assessment within 48 hours in Greater LA and mobilize a crew within a few days after approvals.
Do you handle permits for selective deconstruction?
Yes. We coordinate required permits and can supply waste diversion plans and documentation for your jurisdiction.
What structures yield the highest recovery rates?
Pre-1940 heavy timber and industrial buildings often yield 60–80% recoverable lumber, especially beams and decking.
Can you provide chain-of-custody documentation?
We track source structure, recovery date, and processing steps for customers needing provenance or LEED documentation.
Do you remove nails and metal onsite?
Initial de-nailing happens onsite for safety; full metal removal and grading occur at our Commerce facility.
Have a Building Coming Down?
We evaluate demolition-scheduled buildings throughout the West Coast. If your structure contains old-growth timber, hardwood flooring, or architectural salvage, deconstruction may save you money while doing right by the environment.
Our free site evaluation includes an estimated material inventory, projected recovery rates by material type, a preliminary cost estimate, and a timeline. There is no obligation, and the assessment is genuinely free — we only make money if we win the project.
Schedule a Free Site Evaluation →