pine, redwood, and fir timbers; in old barns, pine, chestnut, and oak;
and in older school bleachers and benches, quality maple and fir.
Factories, farms, and industrial buildings aren't the only sources of
such materials; high-quality wood can also be found in millions of
older houses.
In nearly every community, wood flooring, windows, doors, cabinets,
and lumber can be salvaged. If you keep your eyes open, high-quality
architectural materials, including hardware, period lighting, elaborate
bracketry, and trim are also readily available.
Not an Alternative to Preservation
We hope you consider deconstruction only when building preservation
or adaptation is not an option. Most buildings are not historically
significant; however, it's best if you determine that before
deconstruction. Historic preservation typically is invoked only to
protect a significant historic, archaeological, or cultural resource.
We suggest that when preservation of the whole structure is not
possible, unbuilding can at least serve as "preservation in pieces" to
recover significant construction materials and design features. In
