Salvaging the Good Stuff

For a developer, hiring a deconstruction crew is good business. The service defrays disposal costs, and because the salvaged materials are considered a charitable donation, the developer gets a tax write-off. Homeowners who do their own deconstruction, say for a kitchen remodel, can also qualify for the tax break if they donate their discarded materials. But perhaps the best benefit for the DIYer is being able to find just the right vintage farmhouse sink or heart pine flooring to finish off a project.

Here, crew manager Doug Kloth and Anthony Morris take the top off the wooden newel at the end of the staircase to access the internal anchoring system that secures the railing to the post.