SALVAGE

Unless you are very careful, you will be unable to re-use most of the material torn from your house. Such items as shingles and drywall will be ruined by their removal, and many boards will be split or cracked. Yet the larger boards that have been separated from the old part of the house can be used again, especially old floor joists and rafter beams. I rip cut several 2X6s to make top plates on my second story addition. When I first began my project, I had hoped to elevate the old roof up to the second story piece by piece. However, this proved impracticable as the city had stiffened its standards for board thickness over certain spans.

You are likely to find that most of what remains of your demolition job is only good for making a few shelves in the garage and repairing some of the damage that your wife did with the sledge hammer.

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