Waste Not - Salvaging timber for a sustainable new build
June 2025
This article originally appeared in Sanctuary magazine, issue 71, sanctuary.renew.org.au.
Doing a knockdown-rebuild? Save all that beautiful timber: there’s a lot you can do with it in your new home. Thor Diesendorf explains why and how.
Retaining and upgrading an existing house is often the most sustainable option – it saves all that embodied energy in the materials, and the quality of older buildings is often much higher than is being built today. However, sometimes there are good reasons to knock down and rebuild. There might be structural issues, or an energy-inefficient design that’s too difficult or costly to fix. There are also old houses that were badly designed and cheaply built in the first place, not worth the design gymnastics of extending and renovating. In these cases, starting again with a knockdown-rebuild project can allow you to stay in the location you love while building a new, well-designed, energy-efficient home.
Still, not everything has to go. There’s value hidden in the structure of the building – particularly in the timber. Salvaging timber and repurposing it in your new build has both practical and sentimental benefits. Not only does it reduce your home’s environmental impact, but it also adds history and character – something new materials rarely provide. More people are embracing this approach to building sustainably, and it’s easier than you might think.
WHY SHOULD YOU SALVAGE TIMBER FROM YOUR DEMOLITION?
There are plenty of good reasons to think about salvaging and reusing timber when bringing down an old building to make way for a new home.
1. Reduce your environmental impact
Reusing timber keeps it out of landfill, keeping its stored carbon locked up and preventing emissions (for every tonne of dry wood produced, about 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere). It also reduces the need for new timber, which is resource-intensive and can drive deforestation. Even sustainably managed forests generate significant emissions through harvesting and transport.
Choosing reclaimed timber keeps valuable materials in circulation and lowers your home’s environmental footprint.
2. Use hardwoods that are durable, beautiful and get better with age
Older Australian homes were often built with beautiful hardwood species like ash, blackbutt, spotted gum and ironbark – timbers that are tough to find today, especially at the quality that was available back then. These structural timbers are often still in great condition, well-seasoned and less likely to shrink and move than new timbers. The patina that comes with age adds even more charm: the older the timber, the more beautiful it becomes. Reclaimed hardwood species are often incredibly durable, ensuring your new home will be built to last.
3. Bring history and meaning into your new build
Each beam, floorboard and joist has its own story. With their unique marks and weathered patina, salvaging and reusing these materials preserves a tangible link to the past, adding character and continuity to your new home. Whether it’s a beam from your family’s old living room or well-worn floorboards from a familiar hallway, reusing this timber brings a sense of history into your space. Your home won’t just look different: it’ll feel richer, with depth and meaning that new materials just can’t match.
4. Increase the value and appeal of your house
Reclaimed timber can give your home a unique edge in the market. Its history and character will make your property stand out, especially to buyers who value sustainability and craftsmanship. Eco-conscious buyers will appreciate the reduced environmental impact, while others will be drawn to the timber’s durability and low-maintenance qualities and its advantages over harder-to-repair materials like stone. Beyond these practical benefits, using reclaimed timber adds a unique, meaningful layer to your home that can attract buyers looking for something special.
WAYS TO USE SALVAGED TIMBER IN YOUR REBUILD
There are plenty of ways to use reclaimed timber in your new space, for example as structural supports, architectural features, built-in joinery and fitouts, or furniture pieces. While not all timber will be salvageable, creative design and problem solving can unlock many opportunities to repurpose it.
Architectural and building timbers
Timbers salvaged from the roof structure of an old house are ideal for remilling into flooring, cladding, lining boards and decking. For anything outside, you’ll want durable species like ironbark, blackbutt, tallowwood, or turpentine (all Class 1 for durability). Pulling up and relaying the original floorboards is also an option, but it takes someone who knows what they’re doing to avoid damaging the tongue-and-groove joints. Not all flooring can be saved, though. Sometimes there isn’t enough depth left above the groove, and if boards have been finished with solvent based polyurethane (commonly used in the 80’s & 90’s), they can be very difficult to separate and clean.
Feature posts and beams
Large salvaged structural timbers make striking feature posts or rustic exposed ceiling beams. You might not find these big timbers in your house demolition, as they tend to come from old industrial buildings and structures like bridges and jetties, but they’re worth keeping in mind and you may want to source some from elsewhere.
Furniture and joinery
Adding timber joinery to your new build brings character and charm: think benchtops, built-in cabinetry, doors, stair treads and window sills. You can also use the timber for furniture pieces like dining tables, beds and shelving. Once de-nailed and run past a metal detector, your salvaged timber is perfect for these projects – just make sure to find a furniture maker who knows their way around old timbers.
GETTING YOUR KNOCKDOWN-REBUILD TEAM TOGETHER
Assembling the right team for your knockdown-rebuild is crucial when you’re planning to salvage and repurpose materials. From builders to timber mill operators, each expert plays a role in ensuring your project is sustainable and that your salvaged materials are put to good use.
Builders and demolition companies
When choosing both a demolition company and a builder, look for experience in working with reclaimed materials. Make sure they prioritise waste minimisation and sustainable practices – not every team is up for the extra work salvaging requires, so confirm early on that they’re on board. Builders can spot reusable materials and check that your salvaged timbers meet structural standards. Even if it doesn’t, you’ll still likely be able to repurpose it into beautiful architectural or decorative features.
Timber recyclers and mills
Once you’ve saved the timber from the deconstruction, the next step is getting it to a timber recycler. They’ll clean it up, remove nails, dock any broken sections, and sort it into species. Some recyclers can also remill it for you, or recommend a timber mill for the job. To maximise the carbon benefits of your timber salvaging, it’s best to work with local recyclers and mills if possible. Not all operators can remill salvaged timber, so check with them first. Those specialising in reclaimed timber can help assess its quality and figure out how it can best be repurposed. Don’t forget about storage – ideally your timber needs to stay dry between demolition and rebuilding. If suitable onsite storage isn’t an option, ask whether your local recycler or mill offers storage services.
Architects and landscape designers
Make sure to let your architect and landscape designer know early on that you plan to use your carefully salvaged timber in your build. Working with reclaimed timber can affect everything from big structural choices to the smaller design details. By keeping your designers in the loop, they can work the materials into the plan and make sure everything comes together smoothly.
Furniture and joinery makers
Look for a furniture and joinery studio that specialises in or is open to working with reclaimed materials. Smaller furniture makers skilled in solid timber are often eager to take on such projects and usually produce excellent work. If you’re lucky enough to have a local timber recycler who also makes furniture, like Timber Revival in Melbourne or us at Thor’s Hammer in Canberra, they’ll be able to handle it all for you.
IN SUMMARY
Reusing the timber from your old house goes beyond sustainability. Those worn beams and floorboards carry the history of your home, and by giving them a new life, that story continues, adding character and a sense of continuity to your brand new build.
What other materials are worth saving?
Reclaimed bricks are a top contender. They hold significant embodied energy from the firing process, and older ones often have a great patina. Before salvaging, check the mortar – lime mortar from pre-war houses comes off easily, but newer cement mortar is often too hard to remove without breaking the bricks.
Other materials worth saving may include pavers, terracotta roof tiles, any good quality light fittings, sinks and basins, and windows. Though old windows are often single-glazed and not ideal for new homes, they can be used for other purposes like greenhouses.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thor Diesendorf is the founder of Thor’s Hammer, a Canberra-based business that’s been recycling Australian hardwoods for over 30 years, supplying builders and architects with high-quality timber and making bespoke furniture and joinery. With a background in site salvage and furniture making, Thor knows how to get the most out of old timbers.