Deconstruction Services

What is "Deconstruction"?

Deconstruction is the selective and careful dismantling of buildings to maximize re-use and recycling rates. Build It Green!NYC's Deconstruction Team can professionally dismantle anything from a kitchen to a whole house, uninstalling the items carefully and removing the items as a tax deductible donation.  Decon is also your best environmental, and often financial, alternative to the landfill!

Which materials are candidates for Deconstruction?

Build it Green!NYC's Deconstruction Team will expertly disassemble and take away your donated:

Architectural Details:

• Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets • Doors • Windows • Counter Tops • Bookcases • Moulding • Mantels • Flooring

Lighting & Fixtures:

• Light Fixtures • Chandeliers • Sconces • Table/Floor Lamps

Plumbing Fixtures:

• Sinks • Bathroom Counters & Vanities • Faucets • Toilets • Bidets • Wetbars

Working Appliances:

• Refrigerators • Freezers • Ovens • Stovetops • Washers & Dryers • Microwaves • Air Conditioners

What are the financial benefits to Deconstruction?

Items donated to Build It Green!NYC through our deconstruction service, are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the IRS. In addition to the tax benefit, you will be reducing your landfill or dump fees during the demo process.

Build It Green!NYC will provide you a letter itemizing the materials that you donated through the deconstruction. If you would like to claim a deduction for donating materials equaling $250 you must have a receipt listing the donated items.  For total yearly deductions over $500, you must complete IRS Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions to your tax return. To deduct a charitable contribution over $5,000 you must have a qualified appraisal that itemizes and values the donated property. A qualified appraisal is a document that is written by a certified appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers, Appraisers Association of America or the International Society of Appraisers.

By donating the materials to BIG!NYC, you are allowing the items a chance at a second life. Plus, you will save money and help the environment!

Will Deconstruction cost me anything?

We do not charge for the vast majority of our projects which tend to be kitchen and bathroom renovations. On larger projects where Build It Green! NYC is acting in a capacity similar to a demo contractor we must charge in order to cover our costs. Taking things apart carefully for reuse is often time consuming and sometimes costly. Most people, however, experience net cost savings when compared to normal demolition, on account of the tax deduction.

How does it work?

We offer a variety of deconstruction services. All of which are performed by our fully insured Deconstruction Team.

KITCHEN DECONSTRUCTION - Remodeling your kitchen? BIG!NYC’s decon team will remove your old kitchen and pave the way for a new set. This service is provided for free or at low-cost, depending on the value of the cabinets. Click on Project: Kitchen Decon to view a kitchen deconstruction project from a NYC apartment, or click here to view deconstructed items from a townhouse in Gramercy.

TOTAL BUILDING DECONSTRUCTION - BIG!NYC will take apart and salvage your entire building. The maximum amount of material is saved and the maximum tax deduction value is received. Sometimes close to 90% of a home can be re-used! Check out our Tom's River deconstruction on our Project: Full House Decon page.

SELECTIVE DECONSTRUCTION - If you are planning a partial or gut renovation, BIG!NYC’s decon team can save the old materials that don’t fit into the new plan—doors, toilets, wood flooring and windows are just a few examples of the fabulous stuff that we “harvest” every day.

Why is re-use important?

Reuse isn’t just the right thing to do: it’s the smart thing to do. Each day NYC's Construction and Demolition (C&D) industry throws away over 19,000 tons of building materials. These materials are clogging our landfills, releasing carbon into the atmosphere, and creating a need for more materials to be manufactured. Donating your architectural building materials and household appliances and fixtures creates the opportunity for reuse. With re-use you: • Keep materials out of landfills • Keep materials local • Cut waste export cost of your community • Provide low cost materials to people in need • Reduce landfill emitted gases that cause climate change

WHY DECONSTRUCT? TREAT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT -  Our landfills are overburdened. Throwing away reusable material is needless waste. Be part of the culture change that says “NO!” to “out of sight out of mind.” Deconstruction is local and sustainable. Our projects, our customers, and our products are Tri-State area all the way. This tight loop means less oil consumption and fewer trees get cut down.

COST EFFECTIVE The tax deduction is the main ingredient that makes deconstruction cost effective. Combined with reduced hauling and disposal costs it’s downright competitive with demolition.

EMPLOY DON'T DESTROY Deconstruction requires more labor than conventional demolition. That means more jobs, green jobs, jobs with a future.

Any questions? Want to send photos for us to review? Please contact: Max Rubinstein, Deconstruction Manager (718) 777-0132 ex. 26 max@bignyc.org