Reclamation yards are fantastic places to find interesting and inspirational items for your home, your garden, or even your place of work but they can be intimidating to some people. There is so much material, which means it can be tricky to know exactly what you’re getting yourself in for.

Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited is one of the largest reclamation yards in the UK, so we’ve used our experience to tell you some of the things you might find in our latest blog post below.

Wood

an image of a reclaimed wooden door

Wooden items are very common at reclamation yards. You should look out for more unusual items like period window shutters, but you will also definitely find doors and flooring - reclaimed and new.

Doors

Doors are very common at reclamation yards and there is usually something for everyone.  So whether you’re looking for period doors, something unique, or even a bespoke door made on-site, you should be covered.

Flooring

Many reclamation yards will stock a wide range of flooring, helping customers create the look they are after, whatever that might be. You could be looking for original parquet wood flooring or modern, engineered wood, or even waiting for inspiration to strike: regardless, a reclamation yard is the place to look.

Miscellaneous

Alongside this, there will be many different miscellaneous wooden items for you to add to your home. You might be able to find an original wooden beam for your fireplace or some stylish window shutters, or something different completely.

Building Materialsan image of reclaimed bricks being used for an exposed brick wall

A lot of architects and interior designers look to reclamation yards for building materials, whether for reference or for when they are designing a rustic-style property. They are so popular with industry professionals because there is such a wide range of interesting and palatable items on view.

Bricks

One of the most commonly sought after items, bricks are a big selling point for reclamation yards - especially in more recent times when exposed brick has become a staple in stylish homes. Whether you’re looking to create the real deal with original bricks, or just create the look with brick slips, reclamation yards are the place to go for this style.

Tiles and Paving

For your roof, for your floor, and for your back garden, reclamation yards are a great place to find interesting and unique tiles for all of the different areas of your home. You’ll be able to use a reclamation yard to find reused tiles that are much less commonly found in the modern market, whether that is interesting patterns for ridge tiles, printed kitchen tiles, or something else unique.

Furniture

an image of a well-kept, reclaimed Chesterfield sofa

Unique, recycled, original and period furniture are all staples of reclamation yards. These are the things a lot of people flock to reclamation yards for - something one-off that nobody else will have in their home or property.

Seating

Living room furniture is always great from reclamation yards because it has an earned patina that shows it has been lived in, but also often makes it more comfortable than the new version - much like a pair of leather shoes that haven't been broken in yet. The perfect example of this would be a vintage Chesterfield sofa - most people want the lived-in look but the effort this takes is much less when it’s reclaimed and already lived a life before you owned it.

Dining

Family meals and dinner parties can be made wholly more enjoyable with reclaimed dining furniture. You can bring out something interesting, original, with a pleasing patina and feel safe in the knowledge you’re not sitting at the same dining furniture as anyone on your street.

Accessoriesan image of a reclaimed cast iron radiator

Finally, you can definitely find ‘the icing on the cake’ for your space at a reclamation yard. When you’re looking for something special to tie everything together, you’ll be able to find original fireplaces, iron radiators, or even the little details like door furniture and fittings.

Fireplaces and Log Burners

Original fireplaces and log burners are very popular at reclamation yards because they are something that simply cannot be recreated. You should look forward to seeing a wide range of period pieces from different eras, all in fantastic, restored condition.

Radiators

As is true with fireplaces and log burners, traditional and original cast iron radiators are not easy to replicate in the right way. There is so much character in the radiators that you might find at a reclamation yard, which makes it the only place to look if that’s what you’re after.

Decor

As well as more functional items, there is plenty of choice for decorations that are almost purely aesthetic. Charming accessories and knick-knacks, as well as clocks, mirrors, and ornaments, are all commonplace and looking to be found.

What Can You do With Reclaimed Building Materials?

As you can see, there are so many different products to make the most of reclamation yards for - whether your project is a new build, a renovation, or even a small DIY projects. You can also find something to fit into your home or property regardless of your taste in design because the collection is so eclectic.

Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited

If you’re in the market for interesting reclaimed items for your project, browse our website or contact us today by calling 01889 574 066 or filling out our simple contact form.