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Some building materials salvaged from other old buildings are cleaned up for sale — check that they are fit for your purposes:
Steel
Ask a structural engineer for advice if you use old steel beams and columns that will hold up part of your house.
Timber
Timber should be dry and free of twists. Check salvaged timber for rot and woodworm — reject wood that’s soft or speckled with tiny holes.
Bricks
Use recycled bricks for interior features — check that they’re whole, all the same size, and clear of cement mortar. It’s more difficult to buy recycled bricks to use in external walls – you would need to be sure that they were originally used externally and weather resistant.
Roof slates and tiles
Check for size, thickness — whether you’re having your roof covering patched or replaced, make sure your roofer gets a match for the size and thickness of slates or tiles — a change in weight could damage the supporting structure.
Basins, baths
Ceramics should be free of cracks, metals free of rust.
Ironmongery
Hinges, latches, locks, stays should move freely.
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