The Value of Architectural Salvage

When you restore an old house, you're often left with piles of old, unwanted things. From brass doorknobs to heart pine flooring, it's all architectural salvage. Often, the only option may seem to landfill or give it away. But if you want to sell it to an architectural salvage company, you should educate yourself on what's valuable and what's not--before you haul that cast-iron clawfoot tub across town.

The value of architectural salvage can be found where geography and historical periods intersect. Googie-style architectural implements (1950s-1960s) may be less valuable in Los Angeles than in other areas, because this style was so popular there. But just try finding a good door from early 20th century in L.A.

The following list gives the relative value of architectural salvage for the pre-1940s period.

High Value Architectural Salvage

• Stained glass in moderate or good shape
• Wood mullions in good shape
• Cast iron tubs in almost any shape. (Buy 60" vintage-style new cast-iron tub direct from supplier)
• Front doors
• Wrought-iron fencing (mainly in the Pacific Northwest. Lower value on East Coast)
• Oak or fir wood flooring (mainly in Pacific Northwest)
• Pine flooring (mainly in South or East Coast)
• Light fixtures

Medium Value Architectural Salvage

• Wood mullions in moderate shape
• Leaded glass windows, complete sets
• Door knobs, locksets, and other fixtures in good shape
• Baseboards, crown molding, etc. in good shape.

Low Value Architectural Salvage

• Linoleum (from "old stock"--that is, previously unused)
• 2-, 3-, and 5-panel interior doors in good shape
• Wrought iron fencing (in East Coast or other places where this is common).
• Door knobs and other fixtures in poor shape

"We're Not Interested" Architectural Salvage

• Sliding doors
• Hollow core doors
• Furniture
• Siding
• Carpet
• Large beams or anything that might be constituted purely as lumber

As the saying goes, one man's ceiling is another man's floor. An architectural salvage company that may not be interested in large beams may be happy to refer you to a specialized company that places a high value on this.

Many thanks to Victoria of Seattle Building Salvage for her time and for information provided.