Recycling has become an environmental must, and we are encouraged to reuse as often as possible to combat against waste. Sustainability for new products and designs along with reclamation of the old are the watchwords these days. That is why architectural salvage has become more mainstream and popular.

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If you are renovating a Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian property, it can be lovely to incorporate pieces from the appropriate period when you are refurbishing. Although many people like to modernize the interiors of old buildings, there are some purists who prefer to use salvaged items that belong to the time in which the building was first developed. Architectural salvage yards are heaven for these types of foragers.

Preserving old things for modern use

It is not just chimney pots, old garden seats and sash windows that appeal, however. Interior design features from an architectural salvage site can make an impactful statement in an old or modern house. They have a sense of history and character that can be very charming. They are often very solidly made to a standard that is not so easily available today. Some of the old fireplaces and staircases are beautifully carved or cast and evoke a certain style and quality that appeals to the architectural salvager.

Where to find architectural salvage

It used to be that architectural salvage could only be found in specialised yards, but eBay now offers an online platform for the sale of old and much-loved but no longer required antique pieces. Flea markets, shop adverts, house clearances, car boot sales and local websites can also be useful sources if you are looking for something particular, and they are much easier to trawl through. In the past, you would have to drive round the various yards, which could involve driving a long way from home, on the off chance of finding something that is useful during a rummage.

Modern salvage suppliers, like Wilsons Yards, who are a good source of parquet flooring in Ireland, make use of modern technology to make their products available online, recognising that shoppers often prefer to buy from the comfort of their homes. This opens their products to a much wider prospective buying public.

For the keen amateur enthusiast, there are many books available on finding, buying and using reclaimed building materials.