We are developing a manual ‘Design for Deconstruction for Light Wood Frame’. Follow our progress here:
In Vancouver alone, the construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) sector produces about 1.7 million tonnes of waste per year.[1] Of this, an estimated 30-60% is wood waste which is largely discarded in landfills. What little wood that is recycled is generally incinerated for waste-to-energy or shredded for biomass. Upcycling waste wood into new construction products presents an opportunity to cycle wood back into the built environment which would extend the lifespan of the wood, add value and longevity to a valuable material, reduce GHG emissions and reduce the new resources required for new construction projects.
Despite the benefit of re-using wood, there are three main difficulties when it comes to deconstructing typical light-wood frame buildings, particularly those built after 1950: The use of irreversible fasteners particularly with nail guns, the presence of adhesive or paint-on materials such as adhesive building wraps, spray foam, and liquid applied sealants, and the presence of toxic materials such as asbestos and lead. While use of toxic materials is now prohibited in new constructions the use of nail guns and adhesives makes deconstruction very difficult if not impossible in some cases.[2]
This guidebook proposes a design-for-deconstruction system that addresses these remaining issues with simple modifications of typical light-wood frame construction practices, allowing for both simple construction, solid performance, and easy deconstruction.