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Fall Seeding For Oh-So-Lovely Lawns All Year Long!
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The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed by President Bush on July 30, 2008. Although the primary basis of the Act is to improve confidence and stability in markets by providing mortgage relief (by keeping American families in their homes), other areas of the Act include many positive aspects for first-time homebuyers.

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Old Home Finds New Home


By Jane Shealy

And while the new home’s design was very much in keeping with the neighborhood’s 1920s bungalow style, critics decried the loss of original construction materials and architectural details as the 80-year-old home was razed.

 

What they didn’t know was this.

 

The Poplar Street home was not particularly historic and is located in an area between Mordecai’s older homes and brand new homes, recently constructed along a major thoroughfare. It had undergone many renovations in its lifetime, leaving behind layers of wood veneer paneling, flimsy make-do fixtures and a patchwork of mismatched windows and doors. Still, Joel Lubell, deconstruction manager for Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, approached ABC producers and asked to remove building materials from the Riggins’ home the day before demolition – and filming – began. They agreed.

 

Extreme Makeover: Home EditionThe Habitat “Deconstruction” crew salvaged cabinetry, solid wood paneled doors, transom windows and trimwork from the home, Lubell said. The materials became inventory in Habitat Wake’s ReUse Center. The center sells new and used building materials to the public at discounted prices and funds construction of new Habitat homes.

 

“We were delighted to utilize our demolition and salvaging skills on this project and appreciate the opportunity to extend the life of vintage materials for re-use in other homes,” said Woody Yates, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County.

 

While many of the materials sold at the center come directly from developers, others are gleaned from homes facing demolition such as the Poplar Street home and have the added benefit of not overtaxing local landfills. Last year, the ReUse Center saved more than 2,000 tons of building materials that would have gone directly into the waste stream. The Deconstruction team strip rooms, such as kitchens, for free, and they do total deconstruction and clean-up for competitive fees.

 

To learn more about Habitat Wake’s Deconstruction program visit www.habitatwake.org/decon  or call Joel Lubell at 919-833-1999, extension 231.

 

Jane shealy is a Freelance Writer