Salvaging Houses & Buildings For Valuable Stuff

Here is my updated guide on scrapping houses for wood and other valuable items. I made a post like this a long time ago, but it seems to have gone missing.



There is a lot of valuable wood and other goodies that folks just leave in old buildings that are going to be torn down. In my own experience, there can be a lot of money if you are willing to do the work.
Real wood is one of the most over-looked things in old buildings that can be worth anywhere from $0.05 to $4.50+ per linear foot ( depending on species ).
Next time you see an old house or building that is about to be torn down, here are a few things to look for that are worth some $

Wooden siding ( hardwoods )
Wooden vertical walls in good condition ( found in old 'box houses' )
Real hardwood floors
Real wood trim work/chair rail/baseboard/frames/e.t.c.
Wooden banisters
Wooden railing
Wooden pillars/ends
Wooden windows in-frame ( with window weights and pulleys )
Decorative vents / cast-iron vents ( not as scrap )
Cast-iron radiators that are decorative ( not as scrap )
Free-standing cast-iron tubs in good condition ( not as scrap )
Stainless steel sinks ( not as scrap )
Slop sinks
Real wood cabinets with doors
Real wood furniture ( depending on species and age of wood used )
Old style wood/coal burners ( not as scrap )
Vintage outlet & switch covers ( especially 2-holed switch plates and 2-button switches !!! )
Old door knobs and leaver-locks ( classic key holes )
Glass/porcelain/lead-crystal/brass door knobs with mechanisms ( not as scrap )
Vintage light fixtures ( not as scrap )
Vintage hinges with original screws - also door pivots ( not as scrap )
Solid wood doors
Heavy metal/wood institutional doors in good condition - frames are a bonus
Bedroom doors & closet doors
Storm doors in good condition ( not as scrap )
Decorative shower doors with runners & tracks ( not as scrap )
Mirrors
Certain types of ceramic/stone tiles
Stone counter tops ( not worth a lot, but still worth a few $ )
Marble/stone thresholds & window sills ( not worth a lot, but still worth a few $ )
Glass bricks without mortar in good condition
Old rough-cut beams & lumber ( folks love 'barn wood' )
Large 'cut stone' foundation stones ( 5+ ton rectangle blocks )
Good condition bricks/cinder blocks that are mortar-free ( Warning: lot of work ! )
Corrugated glass
Metal catwalk/grating in good condition ( industrial grade - not as scrap )
Corrugated sheet metal in very good condition ( not as scrap )
Long sections of I-beams/channel iron/angle iron/square stock/round stock/flat iron/u-channel/uni-strut in good condition ( not as scrap )

Mmmmmmmm.....lead!