When you are renovating or rehabbing a home consider reusing and recycling some of the original materials. It will many times save you money in the long run.

Some great items to save, restore, and reuse are fireplace mantels, handrails, spindles, or solid wood doors.

When the kitchen cabinets have solid wood bases or solid wood top cabinets and only the doors are in bad shape all what would need to be done is too replace the doors. Replacing an entire kitchen could be costly and new doors plus a counter top works wonders for a new look.

Older homes, built in the 1920’s or earlier, you could have a pleasant surprise hiding under the carpet. When you have original hardwood floors in a house that are not in such good shape, many times it is more reasonable to refinish and repair the original hardwood than putting in a new carpet or vinyl. It looks much better too.

When your home came with a fireplace and it has a mantel, consider refinishing the mantel. Many mantels in older homes have been painted over and over again, and the true beauty is hidden under years of paint. Paint stripper for a few bucks and a little elbow grease many times will uncover a hidden gem under years of neglect.

Here is one question I have. Why in the dickens are so many renovators throwing out a good and fully functional toilets? Uses too much water? Get a tank insert to reduce the water usage. That will be cheaper that buying a new toilets. Oh, because it is old and dingy. A great cleaner and a bit elbow grease will work wonders on a neglected potty. It leaks? A new set of gaskets can be bought at your local hardware store for less than a new toilet and when it leaks around the base you either just need to replace the wax ring or you might need to check if your floor could be the issue.

I am amazed how many things rehabbers and renovators throw into the trash just because they think it it’s the right thing to do. Not always…so think before you toss. You may be able to reuse some item’s, sell them, or donate them.