At BuilderScrap, we are always keen to hear about successful reuse projects.  The following case study shows how, with proper planning and coordination, huge savings can be made on even small projects.  This project reuses many building materials to create a brand new office.

A medium sized contractor in the North West required a new, 18 m² office to be constructed on a mezzanine floor, to accommodate a growth in staff numbers.

Half glazed office partitioning was deconstructed from a client project and installed around the outer edge of the mezzanine.  This was a total of 22 sections.  3 fire doors were also installed along with 3 large radiators.

Although the ceiling tiles were purchased new to avoid a patchwork effect, the grid was reused (approximately 60m²).  Shelving, insulation and plasterboard were also reused, or surplus from previous projects.

Office furniture (3 desks and underdesk filing units) plus swivel chairs were also returned from another project and used in the furnishing of the office.

 If purchasing these materials new, they would have cost £14,010.  To have disposed of them, they would have equalled 3816 kg to landfill.  The volume of these items would have filled approximately 2 roll on roll off skips at a cost of £500 each (plus 3 men for one day at £480).  The total saving equated to £15,490

 The end result was a success, with the office now being used by several members of staff.

If you have any interesting case studies, please let us here at BuilderScrap know.