A major house renovation is not just an expensive project. Often, it also creates a lot of waste.
Discarding old and unwanted construction materials is inevitable when you are redoing a room or your entire property. After all, you are replacing parts that are either broken, damaged, or out of date.
Unfortunately, almost all the things that you toss ends up in a landfill where it will never rot or degrade. Your trash will exist for a really long time.
You can control where construction waste goes. You can prevent them from being thrown into a landfill by coming up with ways to upcycle and reuse them.
Here are a few for inspiration.
From Roof to Ground
Your roof is not meant to last forever. Even the most durable roofing material eventually degrades.
Although the average lifespan of clay or cement roof tiles, for example, is over 100 years, if you recently moved to an old house, chances are you will have to do roof repair or replacement at some point. The task is neither easy nor expensive. Moreover, what can you do with your old roof?
All roofing materials are very versatile. They can be transformed into something that can be used in your garden.
You can repurpose asphalt or clay roof tiles into walkways. Just lay them on the ground face-down, just like you would if you are using it on top of your house. Line them up tightly and shore the surrounding soil to prevent the tiles from moving.
You can also use tiles vertically as a border to a raised flower bed. It would not be there solely for aesthetic reasons, too. The tiles would allow easy water drainage, especially when it is raining.
The gutters can be used in your vertical garden. They can be attached to a blank wall and be an additional space for any kind of plant to grow.
Bathroom/Kitchen Tiles Reimagined
Old tiles can be reused, too. There are plenty of fun ways to repurpose the old tiles that may have been sitting in your kitchen or bathroom. Give it a little scrub to remove any remaining grime.
If it does not have a design already, paint it! Any oil-based paint sticks to ceramic tiles. You may have to do multiple coats but you do not have to apply some sort of sealer to keep the color in place. Even if it gets wet, the paint will stay put since it would naturally repel water.
Another option is latex paint. It is not as durable as oil-based paints, but it dries down quickly. If you are in a hurry, this is the better option.
Once painted, you can use the tiles as your own ceramic coaster or shatter them to turn them into a mosaic art piece.
Giving Old Windows and Doors a Modern Makeover
Wooden windows and doors are two of the most common features of the house that get replaced during a renovation. Switching up the windows and doors is an easy but effective way to freshen up the look of a house.
But, you do not have to toss them away. There are a lot of DIY projects that can use a door or window frame, especially now that cottage and farmhouse designs are popular.
With a saw, you can cut a windowpane into your desired shape and then insert a panel of glass to create an antique-looking picture frame. You can also turn your old windows into a headboard by hanging it securely on the wall above your head.
Your old wooden doors, on the other hand, can be reused as a floor-length mirror. You are only going to need wood glue for this but you have to make sure that there is space inside the door that can fit a mirror.
Recycling Construction Waste Properly
Not everything can be upcycled and repurposed by homeowners. However, many building materials, including concrete and metals, can be recycled. There are some non-profit organizations that accept used construction materials that are still in good condition. You should also look into your local recycling center to see where you can dump waste that is no longer in a condition that can be reused.
Remember to keep different materials separate. If not, the materials may not become fit for recycling and instead be thrown out to a landfill.
Renovations create waste, but that does not mean you do not make upgrades in your home. If it will make you happy, then you should move forward with the project. However, you should reduce the trash generated from it to prevent unwanted construction materials from further harming the planet.
