Salvaged and recycled materials can add a unique flavor to your home.
Salvaged materials from old houses are becoming a hot commodity, as people make "greener" choices for building or decorating their own home. Additionally, vintage materials -- such as old ceiling tile -- can give a newer home a unique look. Some people prefer to use the materials in new ways, such as for home and garden decor or crafts. The benefit to the renewed interest in pieces from old homes is that they continue to become easier to find.
Instructions
1. Scour vintage and antique decorating shops for old ceiling tile; these are often used as decorative panels to be hung or placed on display. Shop owners often purchase these at auctions or estate sales and place them out for resale. If there are only a few out but your project requires more, inquire of the owner to see if additional tiles are being stored. The entire stock may not be placed out for purchase due to space limitations.
2. Read the local newspaper for articles on old houses that are being torn down or renovated. Contact the owners to see if you can salvage old ceiling tiles from the property. This can be a benefit to the owner or contractor, who can save labor or costs in carting off the old . If the owner does not wish to give them away, you may be able to purchase them for less than from a resale facility.
3. Seek out warehouses and salvage yards that specialize in recycled and salvaged architectural materials as part of the "going green" effort. Locally, there may be a Habitat for Humanity warehouse that offers such materials. Another warehouse, "Second Chance" in Baltimore, also provides job-training, giving individuals a career option as the organization dismantles houses for free, recycles and provides salvaged materials to interested buyers.
4. Search online, both locally and countrywide, to find sellers of old ceiling tile. Websites such as Craigslist.com and Ebay.com are obvious choices to research; however, numerous online stores offer vintage and antique ceiling tile for purchase. A few examples are OhmegaSalvage.com, GreenEcoServices.com, Re-Store.org and ShaverBrothers.com.
5. Attend auctions and estate sales to look for old ceiling tile. These types of sales are often advertised online or in local newspapers. While the house may be auctioned off separately, savvy auctioneers and those knowledgeable about antiques may persuade owners to sell pieces of a vintage house for a larger profit.
Tags: ceiling tile, auctions estate, auctions estate sales, ceiling tile, ceiling tiles, estate sales