How to Go Shopping for Architectural Debris
When it comes to home design and decor, everything old remains new. From patterns and colors to furniture and home layouts, a lot of current trends aren’t relevant at all. And while it’s easy to find a new Art Deco lamp or mid-century Art Nouveau sofa at Target, there are some parts of older homes that are simply not being built anymore – for example, certain types of lighting fixtures, windows, robes, etc. details.
Fortunately, they weren’t necessarily extinct, thanks to the architectural workshops. If you’ve never visited one before – or aren’t quite sure what it is – here’s a quick guide on how to shop at one of them.
What are architectural scrap stores?
Architectural workshops sell used items and parts of residential and commercial buildings that were removed either before demolition or before renovation. For many people – be they architects, professional designers or homeowners – the main attraction is the ability to find historical treasures that are no longer in production and / or would be prohibitively expensive to reproduce today.
There is a wide range of architectural stores, from those that are high-end and sell carefully selected items (with appropriate prices) to those that look more like an indoor flea market or dump (which is much more sensible).
Sometimes architectural repair shops are affiliated with non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity ReStores (they also sell furniture, appliances and building materials) or Building Value in Cincinnati (run by Easterseals ), and tend to have lower prices. end of the spectrum.
How to shop at architectural workshops
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re new to architectural workshops:
Act with realistic expectations (and an open mind)
If this is your first time shopping for architectural remains, this will help you figure out what to expect. First, the inventory in these stores is constantly changing, so just because you once saw a 1950s refrigerator does not mean that they are always in stock.
And while some architectural stores do sell furniture and appliances, the focus is on details and fixtures from the home or building – for example, capes, cabinet fittings, doors, entire windows and / or frames, sinks and other bathroom fixtures, handrails, hanging lights, etc.
If you go looking for a particular item, it is quite possible that they will not have it in stock. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck at all. Take a look around and keep an open mind: you never know what you might find in your home that you never thought about before.
Pay attention to the condition of the item
While most of the items sold in architecture workshops are already in use (some new items may appear, such as leftover building materials), you still want to make sure they work; or, if they need a job, you can do it yourself (or are willing to pay someone else to do it).
In an interview with the Old House Journal, Bob Falk, co-author of Demolition: Saving Architectural Treasures of Unwanted Homes , shared several strategies for assessing the condition of an item:
- For wood products : are the species, patina and finishes right for your home? How much is the item weathered and are all parts easy to move?
- For painted wood : use caution – chances are good that it contains at least some lead-based paint that is hazardous to health .
- For doors and floors : How many nail holes have been hammered into wood over the years?
- For wood floors : Was the floorboards re-sanded, and if so, how many times? Are there cracks, cracks or other signs of wood decay? Is the thickness of the old floorboards suitable for your space?
- For everything : check for missing parts. According to Falk, “You can always find details for the interior work of an antique lamp, but the details of the ornament are difficult to match.”
If you do not know what it is and how to use it, ask an employee
For the most part, the people who work in the recycling workshops are very passionate about their work and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, including “what is this?” Better yet, besides telling you about the item’s original purpose, they’ll also likely be able to suggest unconventional ways to use it in your home (especially in DIY projects).
See if negotiations are underway
Some architectural workshops are ready to negotiate prices with you; others do not. This is important information you need to know before heading to the checkout.
How do I know if a place is open for trade? In some cases, stores will post this information on their websites. If not, check Yelp or other reviews to see if people have left comments on whether a particular store is willing to negotiate pricing with buyers.
If all else fails, ask someone who works there, say something like “Is there room to wiggle at these prices” or “Are these prices sustainable?” The answer may be no, but at least you know.
Follow some shops on Instagram
Whether you are a newcomer to architectural recycling or a longtime fan and shopper, it can be helpful (and interesting) to see what types of merchandise are in stock at different stores across the country. This is in part because their inventory tends to reflect local history, including the city’s heyday, its major industries, and the types of building materials that were most widely available in the area.
Even if you don’t live in the area and / or can buy that particular item, it will at least be on your radar. In addition, you will get ideas on how to use similar items that are available to you locally (or just find out what they are).
A few Instagram accounts you might want to follow: Rebuilders Xchange (Cleveland), Olde Good Things (locations in New York, Los Angeles and Scranton, PA), ReHouse (Rochester), Architectural Salvage of San Diego , Hudson Valley. Pieces of Homes (Newburgh, NY), Portland Architectural Ruins (Maine) and Nor East Architectural Antiques (located on the Massachusetts / New York border).