Rebuilding Together New Orleans has launched a Deconstruction and Selective Salvage program in partnership with FEMA and Mercy Corps as an environmentally sound response to home demolition. While not every building can be saved, it is possible to preserve character enhancing architectural elements in order to maintain the cultural fabric of the city.
What is deconstruction?
It is the process of dismantling a building piece by piece in order to salvage and reuse as much of the building material as possible, making it a more sustainable alternative to demolition.
What is selective salvage?
It is the process of reclaiming only the non-structural pieces of a building. If you are renovating your home, RTNO can salvage many of the reusable ornamental items in your home such as: mantels, cabinets, flooring, doors, windows, wrought iron, etc.
What are the benefits to deconstruction?
Financial Benefits: Saves you money! Depending on the building, deconstruction often costs less than demolition through tax credits and donation of the salvaged material.
Environmental Benefits: Reduces the amount of waste going to landfill. Deconstruction saves the best building material and reuses it, thus having less of an impact on the environment.
Preservation Benefits: Keeps historic architectural items in the current housing stock. Deconstruction helps preserve the cultural and architectural identity of New Orleans.
Philanthropic Benefits: Your donations go to support a good cause! RTNO uses the materials from deconstructed buildings in their home renovation program for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners and for resale in their Salvage Store (Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. You can see some of what’s for sale at the Salvage Store here.). Your donated material helps us to efficiently leverage our resources and become more sustainable.
Can the RTNO Deconstruction/Selective Salvage program help me?
If your property needs to be demolished, or you are renovating your home, you can help RTNO rebuild other houses in New Orleans and save some money at the same time!
To have RTNO deconstruct your property or selectively salvage only particular parts of your home, please contact Sean Vissar at 504.947.0038.
RTNO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible!
