A survey of the UK reclamation and salvage trade

Transcription

1 2007 BigREc Survey A survey of the UK reclamation and salvage trade

2 BigREc Introduction The trade in antique and reclaimed materials, of which evidence exists in Britain from Roman times onwards, almost ceased after the publication of the 1948 Parker Morris report 1. This report resulted in wholesale demolitions of large parts of towns and rural buildings and their replacement by modern buildings made from new materials such as concrete and steel. Throughout this period, metals in particular continued to be recycled by demolition contractors, as did, for instance, railway sleepers and large amounts of timber for low grade reuse, such as temporary works in civil engineering and by specific users like farmers. an identical survey of the trade carried out in 1998, also by Salvo. The survey looked at reclaimed building materials from the very old antique and expensive, to the broad range of stock found in a typical UK salvage yard, through to the more modern and practically free salvage. In the 1970s, a small number of pioneering reclamation businesses were established to rescue and sell reusable materials from demolition sites. Gradually a market was established in elements of demolished buildings, which resulted in more businesses being established and more materials being saved for reuse. The BigREc survey was commissioned as part of the Construction Resources and Waste Platform (CRWP) work programme for 2006/07 2. CRWP is funded by Defra (until April 2008 this was through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme). The survey was undertaken by Salvo Llp from October 2006 to January 2007, with the final report being finished in November The objectives of the BigREc survey were as follows: > To provide data on the amount and type of building materials being reclaimed > To provide a comparison in terms of overall levels of reclamation in 2006, compared to the previous survey of 1998 > To draw conclusions as to the current status of the industry and to identify possible interventions that might increase the levels of reclamation in the UK. BigREc aimed to present a snapshot of the UK architectural salvage trade and followed the format of 1 - The Parker Morris report was a White Paper produced in 1948 on the condition of housing in Britain. It recommended minimum standards in housing, which resulted in the demolition or slum clearance of Victorian and earlier housing during the 1950s and 1960s. 2 - Further information can be found at

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4 BigREc Page 02 Methodology used Definitions BigREc2 in 2006 followed an identical format to BigREc1 in This approach was adopted in order to maintain consistency, and allow comparison between 1998 and The survey was carried out in two parts: 1. A yellow postcard asking three simple questions In October 2006, 2043 yellow postcards were sent by post to UK salvage businesses on the Salvo database, of which 1916 had valid addresses and 181 were completed and returned. This compares to 1998 when 1,200 yellow postcards were sent out and 288 were completed, which represents a drop in respondents from 1 in 4 in 1998, to 1 in 10 in Each respondent was asked to confirm their business activity and their turnover within a band. Each respondent was also asked if they would be prepared to complete the main BigREc survey questionnaire. 2. The main survey which was a 28 page A4 booklet covering 19 categories. Between November 2006 and January 2007, detailed BigREc Questionnaires were sent to 323 salvage businesses, of which 36 were completed. This compares to 88 respondents in Each respondent was asked 235 questions on 19 stock categories, from salvaged iron and steel to ornamental terracotta. Each category contained questions about types, quantities and values of stock, suppliers and distances of suppliers, sales, buyer types and distances that goods travelled, processing, jobs and scrap disposal. There were also some general questions about business confidence, outlook, methods of communication and types of stock held. Architectural antiques bulky/bigger items, possibly structural use, older than 50 years. Building trade builder or landscaper, includes small and large contractors, shopfitters, and restorers. Dealers recognised reclaimed trade stockists or others whose main occupation is resale to the trade. Developers mainly those who design and build, but includes architects, interior designers, landscape designers and other professional specifiers. Employment full and part time employees, sub-contract labour, inhouse restorers, outworking restorers. Import coming from outside the UK. Local 10 miles or less. Private mainly those self-managing projects and DIY-ers. National from within the UK. Ornamental architectural or garden antiques fine antiques, fixtures and fittings, normally small or elaborate, older than 50 years. Reclaimed material as opposed to items or features, usually older than 50 years although not always, e.g. reclaimed floorboards. Regional between 10 miles and 100 miles. Salvaged low value-to-mass material that is modern, cheap, scrap or damaged.

5 Page 03 Results Breakdown of reclaimed materials group 3,000 Overview Table 1 provides an overview of the survey results, comparing results from the 2007 survey with those of The figures from the detailed questionnaire were extrapolated by using information on numbers of businesses indicated by the yellow postcard survey. Figures also represent the UK, unless otherwise specified. It should be recognised that both datasets have been extrapolated from survey results, of which the 2007 survey had a lower return rate. This means that the level of representation for the various sectors is likely to be different for the two surveys. Kilometers 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Mixed material group Stone Ceramic (inc. bricks) Iron and steel Timber Fig 1 - Breakdown by main material group Sector tonnes 1998 tonnes 2007 employment 1998 employment 2007 SALVAGED IRON AND STEEL 13,512 2,026 76,000 22,000 2, SALVAGED WOOD 44,217 4, ,000 49,000 7,789 7,126 RECLAIMED BEAMS 51,082 10, , ,000 3,640 5,310 RECLAIMED BRICKS 37, , , ,800 4,010 1,810 RECLAIMED ROOFING 76,824 9, , ,670 3, RECLAIMED STONE 35,221 21,625 1,100, ,700 2,450 1,201 RECLAIMED FLOORING 35,194 7, ,700 19,900 2,950 1,620 RECLAIMED PAVING 22,634 12, , ,650 1,340 1,043 ARCHITECTURAL STONE 20,978 21,595 43,000 13,000 2, ARCHITECTURAL WOOD 5,428 26,126 7,000 26,150 1,102 2,212 ARCHITECTURAL IRON 5,508 15,497 4,700 17, ARCHITECTURAL TERRACOTTA 1, , ORNAMENTAL STONE 19,588 42,954 11,000 38,400 1, ORNAMENTAL WOOD 43,675 19,348 20,000 32,400 1, ORNAMENTAL IRON 11,125 18,909 10,000 14, ORNAMENTAL TERRACOTTA 1,008 16,714 1,000 6, OLD BATHROOMS 49,236 15,401 12,000 6,500 1, Total 473, ,342 2,967,100 2,233,090 39,168 25,820 Table 1 - Illustrates the change in the amount and type of material being reclaimed between the two surveys. This indicates a downward trend in reclamation for most of the key material groups, with the exception of ceramics (mainly bricks).

6 BigREc Page 04 Sector findings Salvaged iron and steel Products include rolled steel joint (RSJ), structural steel, water tanks, steel buildings, stainless steel sinks and kitchens, modern pressed steel baths, fire escapes Table 2 - Combined results relating to salvaged iron and steel Stock type% Distance travelled Where bought %roof %local %private %complete buildings 6 0 %regional %builders %RSJ %national 8 0 %own demo %stairs %imports 1 0 %demo Customers Goods travel Processing %private %local %as found %builders - - %regional %cleaned %developers 9 27 %national 4 2 %trimmed 12 6 %trade %exports 4 0 Sales to stock ratio 6 3 Sales per tonne Note: Distance travelled relates to source of material to stock. Goods travel relates to transport from stock to user. There has been a general drop in sales and activity in this sector compared to The use of secondhand steelwork may be considered too risky, and the availability of salvaged iron and steel in cities is decreasing due to city salvage yards closing. The increase in scrap prices may have also resulted in a diversion from reusable to scrap, though this is not borne out by the stock situation, where stock levels seem to have increased, presumably as a result of the drop in sales.

7 Page 05 Salvaged timber Products include softwood studding, modern staircases, modern mouldings, thinnings, scrap timber, cheap wood and panel furniture Table 3 - Combined results relating to salvaged timber Stock type% Distance travelled Where bought %pine %local %private %temperate %regional %builders %tropical 4 6 %national 9 1 %own demo %imports %demo Customers Goods travel Processing %private %local %as found %builders %regional %cleaned %developers %national 8 10 %trimmed 11 5 %trade %exports Sales to stock ratio Sales per tonne According to the results of the survey, far less salvaged timber is now stocked. The total stocked has dropped from 377,000 tonnes per year in 1998 to 24,700 tonnes per year in There has also been a shift away from commercial enterprise towards social enterprise. had a lower value than the older reclaimed wood. This appears to no longer be the case, suggesting that future surveys should combine salvaged wood with reclaimed beams and reclaimed flooring, particularly in terms of employment. In 1998 every business dealing in salvaged wood was commercial. In 2006 new recycled wood projects had been set up with grants as not-forprofit social enterprises, which could point to the future of the salvaged wood sector as a permanently subsidised activity. The market for salvaged wood is thought to have been impacted by MDF manufacture using recycled wood. The market in salvaged wood is now confused. There used to be a clear demarcation between salvaged timber and reclaimed timber (see later section), which meant that newer salvaged wood

8 BigREc Page 06 Reclaimed beams Products include beams, joists, trusses, rough sawn planks, railway sleepers, baulks, good pine or oak ceiling joists. Table 4 - Combined results relating to reclaimed beams Stock type% Distance travelled Where bought %pine %local %private %temperate %regional %builders 7 15 %tropical 11 6 %national %own demo %imports 10 2 %demo Customers Goods travel Processing %private %local %as found %builders %regional %cleaned %developers 9 10 %national %trimmed %trade 5 17 %exports 0 1 %stress graded 0 5 Sales to stock ratio Sales per tonne The salvaging and sale for reuse of 286,000 tonnes of reclaimed beams is significant. However, it is proving increasingly difficult to demarcate the timber related reclamation market, as indicated in the salvaged timber section. This has been further confused by the newly emerging not-for-profit social enterprise wood recycler which receives grant aid. Increasing the capacity for reclamation is always welcome, though it should always be through diverting materials from recycling, recovery or landfill sites, rather than from commercial reclamation sites.

9 Page 07 Reclaimed bricks Products include handmade bricks, wire cut bricks, machine made bricks, pressed bricks and Flettons. Table 5 - Combined results relating to reclaimed bricks Stock type% Distance travelled Where bought %roof %local %private %complete buildings 6 0 %regional %builders %RSJ %national 8 0 %own demo %stairs %imports 1 0 %demo Customers Goods travel Processing %private %local %as found %builders - - %regional %cleaned %developers 9 27 %national 4 2 %trimmed 12 6 %trade %exports 4 0 Sales to stock ratio 6 3 Sales per tonne The salvaging and sale for reuse of 286,000 tonnes of reclaimed beams is significant. However, it is proving increasingly difficult to demarcate the timber related reclamation market, as indicated in the salvaged timber section. This has been further confused by the newly emerging not-for-profit social enterprise wood recycler which receives grant aid. Increasing the capacity for reclamation is always welcome, though it should always be through diverting materials from recycling, recovery or landfill sites, rather than from commercial reclamation sites.

10 BigREc Page 08 Reclaimed roofing Products include reclaimed clay plain tiles, clay pantiles, clay interlockers, Bridgwater double triple and single romans and others, concrete tiles, stone tiles and slates, reclaimed natural roof slates, ridge and hips. Table 6 - Combined results relating to reclaimed roofing Stock Distance travelled Where bought millions %local %private %regional %builders %national 10 2 %own demo %imports 0 0 %demo Customers Goods travel Standards %private %local % none %builders %regional % frost resistant %developers 8 10 %national 15 5 %trade 4 8 %exports 0 17 Sales to stock ratio Sales per thousand The average sale of 4,475 tiles or slates would cover a roof of average tiles or slates of 220m2 in area. This is a relatively large area and would explain why most tiles were sold to the building trade.

11 Page 09 Reclaimed stone Products include walling stone, random, pitch-faced, dressed, ashlar, copings, dressings, cills, lintels and quoins. Table 7 - Combined results relating to reclaimed stone Stock type tonnes Distance travelled Where bought random %local %private coursed %regional %builders ashlar %national 13 3 %own demo lintel cills %imports 6 1 %demo 18 3 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers %national 4 6 %trade 5 5 %exports 3 1 Sales to stock ratio Sales per tonne

12 BigREc Page 10 Reclaimed wood flooring Products include wood floorboards, roof boards, wood strip, woodblock, parquet, re-sawn beams. Stock Distance travelled Where bought m sq. %local %private %regional %builders 30 9 %national %own demo %imports 6 8 %demo 3 19 Customers Goods travel Standards %private %local %air dried 70 %builders %regional %kiln dry 30 %developers 6 8 %national % guaranteed moisture content %trade 7 7 %exports 2 3 %treated 25 Sales to stock ratio Table 8 - Combined results relating to reclaimed wood flooring 20 The 8% of reclaimed wood flooring imported (mostly from France) is mainly oak floorboards and accounts for a third of the reclaimed oak flooring sold in the UK. The use of the word parquet in the BigREc survey is for French parquetry floors made of panels of geometrically cut and jointed pieces of flooring, but some respondents may use this word interchangeably with woodblock, so the parquet and temperate hardwood woodblock figures may be affected accordingly. The lack of stocks of tropical hardwood woodstrip in the survey sample is a reflection of its general unavailability as a reclaimed product due to high demand in the past few years.

13 Page 11 Reclaimed paving, setts, flagstones and floor tiles Products include salvaged concrete slabs or flagstones, reclaimed stone flagstones and setts and kerb, reclaimed clay floor tiles and clay brick pavers. Table 9 - Combined results relating to reclaimed paving Stock m sq Distance travelled Where bought flagstones %local %private setts %regional %builders tiles %national %own demo pavers %imports 18 1 %demo 34 9 Customers Goods travel Standards %private %local %yes %builders %regional %no %developers 11 8 %national 7 14 %trade 5 7 %exports 3 1 employment Sales to stock ratio 2 4

14 BigREc Page 12 Architectural stone Products include door surrounds, window surrounds, steps and stairs, facades, stone features, cornice, mouldings, string course, portico, porches and cladding in natural stone, composition stone and concrete. Table 10 Combined results relating to architectural stone Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive %regional %builders %national %own demo %imports 2 5 %demo 8 13 Customers Goods travel Standards %private %local %yes %builders %regional %no %developers 7 8 %national %trade %exports 3 12 Sales to stock ratio employment 729 The biggest sale polled in the BigREc Survey was for 10,000 and was by no means the biggest recorded in The Baltic Exchange, damaged by an IRA bomb in 1992, and rescued at the behest of English Heritage was sold to Talinn in Estonia in 2006 by a UK architectural salvage business. It was sold for 800,000 and the stonework weighed around 1,000 tonnes. This transaction was not typical and was probably second only to the world record sale of reclaimed architectural stone - that of the old Hay Tor granite London Bridge by the City of London for $2.5m in 1968, which was used to clad a new concrete frame over Lake Havesu in Arizona, USA.

15 Page 13 Architectural woodwork Products include doors, door surrounds, window frames, window surrounds, shutters, staircases, facades, features, mouldings, skirting, dado, cornice, porches and cladding. Table 11 Combined results relating to architectural woodwork Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 13 2 %regional %builders %national 9 27 %own demo %imports 2 7 %demo 5 19 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 7 8 %national %trade 2 20 %exports 3 8 Sales to stock ratio employment 2212 In 2005 a mini-survey by Salvo of the trade in reclaimed doors showed that around 2,000,000 doors are removed in demolition and refurbishment each year. Of these, 1.9 million are destroyed and 100,000 are salvaged. Around the same time, the Market Transformation Programme estimated the number of windows replaced each year to be around six million 3, of which Salvo estimate around two thirds have wooden frames. 3 - BNWS01 Domestic Window Systems industry, product & market overview

16 BigREc Page 14 Architectural ironwork Products include wrought iron, cast iron and early steel columns, conservatories, windows, doors trusses, frames, features and staircases. Table 12 Combined results relating to architectural ironwork Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 10 3 %regional %builders %national 9 23 %own demo %imports 2 15 %demo Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 7 7 %national %trade %exports 4 10 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was a nineteenth century bandstand from Ascot race course which sold for 100,000 in south west England, and the least expensive was a casement window for 2.50 in eastern England.

17 Page 15 Architectural terracotta Products include heavily moulded or bas-relief bricks, columns, cladding and balustrade. Table 13- Combined results relating to architectural terracotta Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 7 5 %regional %builders %national 3 21 %own demo %imports 0 1 %demo 5 27 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 8 7 %national 6 15 %trade 7 6 %exports 2 6 Sales to stock ratio employment

18 BigREc Page 16 Ornamental antique stonework Products include carved stonework, statues, urns, troughs, pillars, cider presses, cider mills, fire surrounds and capitals. Table 14 - Combined results relating to ornamental antique stonework Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 10 5 %regional %builders %national 3 21 %own demo %imports 0 1 %demo 5 27 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 8 7 %national 15 6 %trade 7 6 %exports 6 2 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was an antique marble statue which sold for 75,000 in south west England, and the least expensive was a marble corbel for 5 in eastern England.

19 Page 17 Ornamental antique woodwork Products include carved work, fire surrounds, church interiors, pub interiors, shop fittings, institutional woodwork, carved relief panels, statues, bygones, carved ships figureheads, fire surrounds, paneling and paneled rooms. Table 15 - Combined results relating to ornamental antique woodwork Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 1 3 %regional %builders %national %own demo %imports 1 13 %demo Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 8 12 %national %trade %exports 3 8 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was an eighteenth century paneled room which sold for 60,000 in south west England, and the least expensive was a wood corbel for 2.50 in eastern England.

20 BigREc Page 18 Ornamental antique ironwork and brassware Products include cast iron radiators, fire surrounds, kitchenware, door fittings, window fittings, church fittings, statues, urns, stoves, fire grates, grilles, gates, railings, cast and wrought iron furniture, fountains, made from wrought and cast iron, lead, brass, bronze, copper, spelter and aluminium. Table 16 - Combined results relating to ornamental metalwork Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 1 1 %regional %builders %national %own demo %imports 3 0 %demo 14 7 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders %regional %developers 5 13 %national %trade %exports 2 14 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was a lead statue of Mercury which sold for 7,500 in south west England, and the least expensive was a hook for 1 in eastern England.

21 Page 19 Ornamental antique terracotta and compo Products include statues, vases, reliefs, moulded detail, fireplaces, garden ware, garden edging, flowerpots and forcers in fired clay, earthenware, stoneware, Coade stone, faience, composition stone and concrete. Table 17 - Combined results relating to ornamental terracotta and compo Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 1 1 %regional %builders %national %own demo 1 13 %imports 0 2 %demo Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders 0 4 %regional %developers 0 10 %national %trade 2 13 %exports 0 5 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was a pair of Coade statues which sold for 70,000 in south west England, and the least expensive was a flower pot for 1.

22 BigREc Page 20 Antique and retro bathroom sanitaryware Products include baths, basins, toilets, cisterns, towel rails, bathroom cabinets, brass taps, shower heads, flush pipe, stoneware, earthenware, porcelain, vitrolite, brass, lead and copper bathroom fittings. Table 18 - Combined results relating to antique bathroom and sanitaryware Stock Distance travelled Where bought Most expensive %local %private Least expensive 2 1 %regional %builders %national %own demo 11 5 %imports 3 1 %demo 18 9 Customers Goods travel %private %local %builders 4 11 %regional %developers 4 17 %national %trade 19 0 %exports 2 0 Sales to stock ratio employment The most expensive item sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was an antique shower bath which sold for 10,000 in southern England, and the least expensive was a brass plug for 1 in eastern England. All respondents had standards of supply giving a level of guarantee for resurfaced baths and refurbished taps.

23 Page 21 Other items Products include stained glass, leaded glass, tables, chairs, lighting, gym equipment, books, catering equipment, office furniture and chandeliers. In the other items category the most expensive sold in 2006 and reported in the BigREc survey was a stained glass window which sold for 40,000 in south west England, and the least expensive was a pub mirror for 5 in northern England. Possible markets for concrete cladding panels include: exposed aggregate cladding panels could be used as paving re-use of lateral and vertical beams of reinforced concrete frame structures in foundations. This category was included in the 1998 BigREc survey and used by respondents to place items for which there was no category listed elsewhere. The category was also used to place items which should have been placed elsewhere, and was also used for some reproduction items. This section has a relatively low overall significance aside from the fact that it highlights the possible need for lighting, glass and bygones, books, pictures, furniture and fixtures categories in future surveys, and it also provides useful employment data which completes the employment statistics for the whole survey. The category was included in BigREc 2007 to keep the comparative analysis with the previous survey consistent. Salvaged concrete This category was included in both surveys. Products include corrugated asbestos cement sheet and concrete cladding panels. It previously included recycled concrete, though this data is better sourced from the CLG 2007 survey 4. No respondents reported activity in this sector, therefore there is no additional information to report. Asbestos cement sheeting was banned for resale by the UK government which has effectively stopped this area of reclamation. Any remaining stock will be a financial liability, requiring disposal to landfill sites able to accept asbestos waste. 4 - CDEW Survey of Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England 2005 (CLG 2007)

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26 BigREc Page 24 Conclusions In the salvaged sector, there appears to be more activity than predicted, with sales identified by the postcard survey showing a 400% increase. The most likely explanation for this is that BigREc respondents have dropped out of scrap leaving the field to new small one-man businesses selling scrap UPVC windows, scrap plasterboard, secondhand but reusable modern plumbing and electrical fittings etc. The supply of these materials is split between private disposals and direct from demolition. The survey shows an increase in customers who are developers, which could possibly be a result of buyto-lets mopping up cheaper secondhand materials for refurbishment. There is now stronger demand for reusable steels but the supply does not appear to be feeding through into salvaged stocks from demolition. The supply of modern timber and timber fittings from demolition has all but stopped. Although no wood is burned either on demolition sites or by demolition contractors off site, the amount of reclaimable salvage wood, as opposed to scrap unusable wood, has dropped. Most of this wood appears to be chipped for compost or turned into MDF panel board. In the reclaimed sector, anecdotal evidence from salvage dealers indicates that old but reclaimable timber beams are being chipped for MDF or compost and reclaimable secondhand bricks are being crushed by demolition contractors under time pressure. The picture emerging from the BigREc survey seems to reinforce the trade s views about bricks but undermines their views on reclaimed beams. Reclaimed brick stocks are down from 37 million to 33 million and the amount supplied from demolition sites has dropped. There were more customers for reclaimed bricks from the private sector in 2007 compared to 1997, despite an increase in standards of supply which should, in theory, have attracted more mainstream construction customers. Reclaimed roofing stocks have dropped by two-thirds, probably as a result of difficulties in getting access to sites to remove tiles and slates ahead of demolition. Sales have also dropped by two thirds, although the percentage sold to mainstream construction has risen from 8% to 18%. Standards of supply were higher in reclaimed roofing than other sectors in 1997, and have remained so. Reclaimed stone stocks are down by a half although the amount paid per tonne has risen from 35 in 1997 to 150 in Most now comes from private sources. Demolition supplied eight times more stone in 1997 than in 2007 despite the quadrupling in prices paid. Reclaimed flooring stocks are down and fewer dealers are trading in flooring, possibly a result of cheaper competition from the new laminate wood-flooring sector. Customers are down and sales have dropped from 29m to 12m. In order to try to compete with new kiln-dried wood, the number of dealers able to supply kiln-dried reclaimed flooring has risen from 25% to 80%. The real or perceived additional labour costs of fitting reclaimed wood flooring and the fact that many people cannot see the difference in quality between antiqued new wood and original reclaimed may be to blame. Reclaimed paving stocks are down from 573,000 m2 to 141,000 m2, although prices paid for reclaimed flooring stocks have risen from an average of 16 in 1997 to 48 per square metre in The architectural sector saw an increase in sales from 26m to 43m. There seems to have been a shift in appreciation of antique worked stone and wood from earlier times, with more people wanting to fit details back into period property and new properties. The fact that considerably less stocks are carried now than ten years ago means that customers are prepared to act faster when the right item comes up. This can assist in a more rapid demolition-toend-user transaction. More people are using antique ornamental stone and terracotta, often in gardens or landscape settings,

27 Page 25 and such material has been getting scarcer and more expensive for years. The salvage trade is unlike others in that old stocks in all sectors of the conventional economy depreciate and must be sold on cheaply to make way for new models. The opposite tends to be true in salvage where stocks appreciate the longer they remain unsold. A southwest business that was trading primarily in ornamental stone for thirty years has seen the value of its old unrestored stock increase by a factor of ten in the past ten years. This material cannot be replaced at the cheaper prices at which it was originally bought so the business is in no hurry to sell and can hold out for high prices for finished pieces. In 1997, most salvage operators were local resources, taking in local materials and reselling them locally. Now they operate regionally, and supplement their reclaimed stocks with 50% new materials. At the same time, far fewer materials are coming to the trade from demolition waste streams than ten years ago. The overall amount saved for reuse by the architectural salvage sector has dropped from 3.3 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes in the past ten years. Consequently, the amount of embodied energy being avoided has reduced significantly. The overall impact is further compounded when the supply of materials dries up, since the trade suppliers move over to new and reproduction materials, often sourced from far-away countries. The shift towards reproduction items suggests one or more of the following: Supply of genuine items is lower than demand; either because they are not entering the marketplace (i.e. being recycled or landfilled) or because demolition of appropriate buildings is taking place at a lower rate Genuine reclaimed products and materials are more expensive than their reproduction equivalent Customers have concerns over the provenance or fitness for purpose of genuine reclaimed products and materials The trend is very concerning as the positive environmental effect of reclaiming building materials cannot be attributed to reproduction items, whilst customers may be under the false impression that they are reusing materials and products. Hopefully, the requirement to have documentation relating to the source of reused materials in the Code for Sustainable Homes will help to raise awareness of genuine reclamation versus reproduction. Of the underlying reasons listed above, the CRWP will be concentrating on the third aspect in the next stage of work; i.e. improving information relating to the use, performance and embodied energy of key reclaimed products and materials. Overall, the trade in 2007 shows a large increase in value of sales but a general decrease in the volumes of materials salvaged. There appears to have been a shift in the trade since 1997 from selling entirely reclaimed building materials and architectural salvage to 2007 where sales also include a significant proportion of new and reproduction alternatives to salvaged materials, perhaps as high as 50% of sales. This means that the demand for reclaimed, or reclaimed effect, products has increased over the past ten years.

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