Ross, CA: Deconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN) recently assisted local homeowners with the deconstruction of their 100+ year-old home in the City of Ross (Marin County, CA) and all salvageable materials were donated for reuse. DRN is an environmental and humanitarian non-profit that helps Californians with deconstruction and reuse solutions. The 15,000 square foot home was originally built in 1906 and is currently being remodeled. The entire interior of the home was carefully deconstructed to salvage as much of the existing interior as possible for reuse through DRN rather than being demolished down to the studs.
“It’s important to avoid sending construction waste to local landfills which are inundated each day with materials that could easily be reused as-is or recycled,” says Lorenz Schilling, founder/president DRN. “Our organization helps property owners embarking on a remodel or tear down to reuse and recycle as much as 75% of their structure, and assists them in donating those materials to other non-profits that help families in need.”
DRN begins the process by identifying and inventorying all reusable (and donation worthy) items 
throughout the home. Next, the deconstruction contractor for DRN’s Deconstruction Solution Program carefully dismantles the interior of the home and organizes all salvageable materials under DRN’s direction. Some of the materials included in this owner’s donation were from 1906 and have historical value, as well as a great deal of life still left in them. The home featured period light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, crown molding and accents, in addition to old Douglas fir _ inch flooring, T&G redwood wainscoting, lighting, tubs and appliances. All salvaged materials were gifted for charitable reuse to the Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County ReStore located in Santa Rosa and The Away Station in Marin. From start to finish, the total time for deconstruction and removal of materials for this property was 14 days.
Many of the home’s materials were gifted to The Away Station, a local non-profit that creates a useful flow for local resources. According to founder Carrie Bachelder, the best resources in Marin are in its high-end homes. “These are materials that we cannot get again,” adds Bachelder. “Redwood is the highest grade wood and the most sought-after, even beat up redwood is being used to build chicken coups, raised bed frames and fences. This was an exciting project and a great demonstration of Marin doing the right thing.”
Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County helps DRN to achieve its mission by using some of the donated materials in local construction and selling reusable materials to the public through its ReStore. To view photos from this and other projects, please visit the DRN Photo Gallery. DRN’s expert staffers in the Bay Area include Gerald Long, Leslie Roth, Lorenz Schilling, Nicole Tai and T.R. Vierra.
About Deconstruction & ReUse Network:
Deconstruction & ReUse Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complimentary operations and organizations. Deconstruction & ReUse Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. www.Decon-Network.org Blog: http://recycleyourhouse.blogspot.com
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Media Contacts:
Lorenz Schilling
DRN Founder/President
T: 562-307-6065
Lorenz@reusenetwork.org
Angela Moore
Starfish P.R.
T: 310-429-8868
angela@starfish-pr.com