Source: Ben Blossom / Bureau De Change ArtitectsSustainable Construction: Using Reclaimed Materials
Sustainable construction is a challenge that all UK contractors and architects are facing in 2025. How can we reduce the environmental impact of new buildings with ever-shrinking budgets? How can we meet housing demand responsibly, when material prices are rising? Reclaimed materials are a big first step in answering these questions. While it may involve more planning and preparation up front, construction companies can reduce costs and carbon emissions by reusing materials from demolished structures.
Environmental Benefits of Reclamation in Construction
The UK Construction sector emits 25% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions each year, and contributes 4.4 million tonnes to landfill waste.
Most of the CO2 emitted in construction is from the manufacture of concrete, cement and steel.
Change is in the right direction, but with a drastic need for house-building it is important for architects and contractors alike to consider maximising their use of reclaimed materials.
Using reclaimed materials has many environmental benefits, helping the UK reach Net 0% targets:
● Reduces industry landfill use by reusing existing products to the full extent of their life cycle.
● Lowers carbon emissions in manufacturing new materials by lowering demand
● Conserves natural resources such as clay, limestone, etc. thereby lowering emissions from quarrying
● Shrinks the embodied carbon of your buildings, as the materials had been manufactured and used already.
Eco-Friendly = Economical Material Choices
In most cases, reclaimed materials are more affordable than those bought new. Our research into our prices and those of similar builders merchants shows that for standard building materials, reclaimed are cheaper than new materials.
Price comparison: Reclaimed vs New
Compare the cost of new and reclaimed building materials with this handy table, and decide whether reusing construction materials could save you money.
- Material Type
- Bricks
- handmade
- facing
- Bullnose
- Corbel
- Coping Stones
- Roof Tiles
- Ridge
- Floor Tiles
- Style
- Cant
- handmade
- facing
- Bullnose
- Corbel
- Coping Stones
- Roof Tiles
- Ridge
- Quarry
- New
- £11.20
- £1.55
- £2.11
- £12.29
- £14.40
- £17.00
- £2.28
- £11.82
- £4.45
- Reclaimed
- £3.40
- £1.70
- £1.40
- £4.80
- £5.80
- £16.00
- £0.84
- £11.45
- £1.50
(NB. Prices given are averages, per unit, including VAT)
As the table shows, new materials are often more than twice the cost of similar reclaimed materials. Exceptions to this rule are where the reclaimed item is of particular historical value, such as Victorian ridge tiles. Originals are less available than reproduction products, and much more valuable.
Durability and Proven Quality
During reclamation, bricks are separated and stacked on pallets to be resold. Only those that survive this process make it into reclaim stock; they are stress tested. These materials have also usually been in situ for decades without cracking or crumbling.
Reclaimed materials are also popular for restoration work or when building in a conservation area. You can often find historical details that are more durable than mass-produced reproductions, such as ridge tiles, weathered stone pillar caps and vintage chimney pots.
Reclaims are invaluable when adding buildings or extensions in historic areas as they help the new structure blend into its surroundings.
An Opportunity for Creativity
Construction materials are standardised for easy sale, whether they’re new or reclaimed. However, when reusing materials is planned early on, they present an opportunity to add character and unique style to the building.
Architects working on sustainable building practices regularly consider reclaimed brick, timber, glass and tile to create features such as brickwork patterns, feature windows and exposed beams.
Reclamation Case Studies
We’ve compiled some inspiration for using reclaimed materials in construction below. There are plenty of examples of sustainable building in architectural journals and online. While a green roof and recycled steel might be fashionable, reclamations is a realistic starting point that fits even the most conventional building design.
This Copenhagen housing project used reclaimed sections of brick walls as cladding panels, rather than reusing individual bricks to create an interesting pattern on the exterior.
This London house extension uses bricks reclaimed from the original house, creating staggered brickwork to offer a unique effect in natural light.
This Barn Conversion used 10-12mm Welsh slate roof tiles reclaimed from an old church.
Start Reusing Construction Materials
Propose using recycled or reclaimed construction materials during the design stage of a project or when planning with contractors.
1. Consider what percentage of your materials should be reclaimed or recycled: even 25% has a big impact on reducing the embodied carbon of your building.
2. Look into government funding for reducing waste in construction. You may need to keep accurate records to claim tax relief or grants.
3. Be flexible: reclaimers may not have exactly what you imagined, in colour or shape, but finding a way to incorporate what is available is preferable to ordering custom materials. It’s cheaper too.
To begin reducing the environmental impact of your construction and gain valuable green credentials, see what we have in stock. Gardiners Reclaims is based in Staffordshire, offering HIAB delivery of all materials nationwide.
