Reclaimed materials are building and decorative materials salvaged from existing structures so that they can be reused rather than discarded. They include bricks, roof tiles, slates, flagstones, timber beams and floorboards, doors, fireplaces, panelling, ironwork, sanitaryware, radiators and architectural ornaments.
The reuse of building materials is as old as building itself, but the modern architectural salvage trade developed in Britain from the later twentieth century, as conservation awareness grew and demand rose for authentic materials to repair period buildings. Reclaimed materials are valued for their age, weathered surfaces and colour, which new materials cannot easily match, and they are essential for sympathetic repairs to listed buildings and conservation areas. They also appeal on environmental grounds, reducing waste and the energy used in new production. When buying, it is important to check quantities, sizes and condition, look for frost damage in bricks and stone, test timber for rot and worm, and confirm that items have been legitimately removed rather than stripped from protected buildings. Reputable dealers keep records of origin. Reclaimed materials are widely used in new builds, extensions and gardens to give an established character from the outset.
