Mass timber is a natural choice for building recycling through deconstruction

Mass timber is an ideal material for structures designed for deconstruction and offers continued carbon storage after the expiration of the building’s lifespan, as well as removing material from the waste stream.

Advocates for this strategy point out that the wood not only sequesters carbon while the building is in use, but also continues to do so after it is disassembled and the wood is reused. A broader concept, Design for Disassembly and Adaptability, aims to extend the life cycle of buildings and their components, allowing the building to be updated, maintained, and modified more easily. And at the end of its useful life, disassembly allows for more efficient collection and reuse of materials and components.

Designing for disassembly requires professionals to rethink the way buildings are put together so that the materials can be disassembled and reused. This can be a complex undertaking that bucks existing common practices.

Demolitions are usually carried out quickly, making it difficult to reuse a large part of the materials. To counteract that impulse, the project should seek methods, solutions, and products that lend themselves to easier disassembly. In addition, specifying good quality materials that do not contain harmful and polluting chemicals make the parts more attractive for reuse.