That's really cool it goes right back into drywall! The concrete thing isn't surprising either. I assume all the copper wiring, plumbing, etc. would go to a scrap metal place as well as anything else like ductwork?
A house I used to live in has since been demolished too. In that case, I know for a fact the metal roofing, aluminum siding, etc. was removed and presumably sold for scrap, the drywall was gutted out of the house (And either recycled or taken to the dump) and the rest got bulldozed (Well, excavator'ed I guess LOL) and they hauled it off somewhere else and burned it since all that was really left was 2X4s and plywood although I'm sure some tarpaper, carpet, linouleum, etc. also got mixed in.
I wonder if the shredded wood could be turned into particleboard or OSB?
The shop we built had rebar in the foundation walls and metal grid in the concrete floor as the newer building codes required it,the house didn't have any rebar reinforcing. Apparently the concrete with rebar etc in it had to go to a separate place to be processed. The ductwork was separated, but metal thieves got word of a demolition and took out every piece of copper pipe and cut all the wiring out in a night,just the electrical boxes were left lol. They shred most of the demolition wood around here,not sure if they recycle it into OSB,I guess they could if they remove lots of the contaminants like metal and nails. I forgot to mention before that I did salvage some other items like 5 other 8ft two lamp fluoros from the shop,doors and roll-up garage doors, even the gas furnace lol.
That's so cool you saved so much! Did any of the fixtures come with lamps? (That you put in?)
Another time a house a friend lived in was being torn down (By hand, too!). From that place I saved: A 1970s Sears 2XF40 shoplight with a GE Bonusline full power ballast, though it has a tar leak but works fine. (And was my first fixture aside from a couple cheap shoplights I'd found, a bunch of 12vDC stuff (house was off-grid), three windows with the wood frame and "wavy" glass, a bunch of Romex wire, and tons of 2X4s and tongue-and-groove paneling. Another junk collector/scrapper friend who lives in the same area got a bunch of lumber too. After the house was gone there was a nice pile of Romex, plumbing fixtures, etc.
What year was that house built? Did you watch the actual demolition by any chance?
Yes I saved most of the lamps, a few got smashed when they ripped down the four lampers. No unfortunately I didn't get to watch the whole demolition as the excavator guy started first thing in the morning,I would have liked to take a video of it,still kinda sad after all the years of work into the place over the years and it's gone in a day. The house was built in 1976/77 and the shop in 1998.
Thanks xmaslightguy! @ Andy: Yes they came with lamps,that was a long time ago lol, I think I was 15 ish lol. If I can remember that far back that there was some used Westinghouse and GEs,I also got a new case of Philips black enders too,unfortunately the first little while the bad ballasts ate several of the lamps until I installed new ones.
Yeah that's a shame. So cool you got these lights back...in a way they were just destined to be yours I guess. I bet you thought you'd never see them again LOL.
Maybe somehow I'll have a similar experience with the 1988 Philips F40CWs at the house I grew up in...
Yeah I didn't think I would never see them again, glad to have them back. It's been a year and a half since the demolition and the start of the development,there is now a 80ft wide X 500ft long X 30ft deep excavation for the foundation and underground parking for the new condo.
Oh wow! In my case there's a 2-story monster there...and guess what? I worked with someone this summer who helped build the new house on that lot!
BTW how long between selling the house and getting these back when it was torn down?
Sounds like we have a lot of things in common!
This thing might be 4 stories plus the underground parking. Oh wow small world eh? It took 6 years to get them back,the house was a rented out during that time. The property owner on the one side is still holding out,the developer was trying to buy their property too but they're not budging yet. Yeah we have quite a bit in common.
Oh wow! I would sure hold out too, although the effect of something like that next door to me would be horrible!
I hope the city doesn't eminent-domain them eventually...that can be so misused and you're never fairly compensated it seems! Plus money never replaces memories!
The property owner next door doesn't even live there,it was bought as an investment property 12 years ago and rented out,unfortunately the renters don't care about the place and it's gone downhill ever since,one time some renters tried to start a grow-op inside and almost burned it down lol,the renters get to enjoy the noise and the vibrations of the excavator,the large 30 ft deep excavation 60ft from the house lol,
A house I used to live in has since been demolished too. In that case, I know for a fact the metal roofing, aluminum siding, etc. was removed and presumably sold for scrap, the drywall was gutted out of the house (And either recycled or taken to the dump) and the rest got bulldozed (Well, excavator'ed I guess LOL) and they hauled it off somewhere else and burned it since all that was really left was 2X4s and plywood although I'm sure some tarpaper, carpet, linouleum, etc. also got mixed in.
I wonder if the shredded wood could be turned into particleboard or OSB?
Another time a house a friend lived in was being torn down (By hand, too!). From that place I saved: A 1970s Sears 2XF40 shoplight with a GE Bonusline full power ballast, though it has a tar leak but works fine. (And was my first fixture aside from a couple cheap shoplights I'd found, a bunch of 12vDC stuff (house was off-grid), three windows with the wood frame and "wavy" glass, a bunch of Romex wire, and tons of 2X4s and tongue-and-groove paneling. Another junk collector/scrapper friend who lives in the same area got a bunch of lumber too. After the house was gone there was a nice pile of Romex, plumbing fixtures, etc.
What year was that house built? Did you watch the actual demolition by any chance?
Maybe somehow I'll have a similar experience with the 1988 Philips F40CWs at the house I grew up in...
BTW how long between selling the house and getting these back when it was torn down?
Sounds like we have a lot of things in common!
I hope the city doesn't eminent-domain them eventually...that can be so misused and you're never fairly compensated it seems! Plus money never replaces memories!