Pitched Roofs: Reuse of Materials
Published on 3 May 2022
Publication
Last year, we were once again able to observe that our material stocks were not unlimited. Many contractors faced unprecedented price increases, long delivery times, or material shortages. Adopting a more circular economy, based on reusing used materials, can help overcome these challenges, as well as manage waste production and reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector.
Circular construction is based on three principles:
The reuse and recycling of materials recovered during demolition and renovation works.
Designing buildings to be easily adaptable and using construction methods that facilitate deconstruction.
Adapting economic, technological, and legal practices to enable circularity, including business plans and material passports.
In roof renovation, materials like tiles and wood can be easily recovered and recycled, while others like under-roofs or insulation are often difficult to recycle. To encourage circularity, it is important to select recyclable and easily dismountable materials and use fixing techniques that facilitate deconstruction. Composite materials and spray insulation, which complicate reuse, should be avoided. Using material passports could also help facilitate the reuse of construction materials throughout their lifecycle.