Hit the road for architectural salvage
Call it the Fixer Upper effect.
Thanks to popular home renovation shows and the desire to recycle all things old, the demand for architectural salvage has never been hotter. Stylish farmhouse and industrial looks are also adding fuel to the fire.
And speaking of hot, summer scrounging is the best time to leisurely enjoy the hunt.
For added fun, enlist a compatible companion who also thinks past the dumpster. Then, commandeer the largest vehicle possible to haul your loot.
In Wisconsin and neighboring states, there are plenty of treasurefilled places solely devoted to hitting the salvage motherlode. So, buckle up and get ready to roll.
For Wisconsin architectural goodies, try Deconstruction Inc. in Madison.
“Most of our items are sourced and sold locally,” said owner Mark Raszewski.
Raszewski, a former insurance salesman who followed his passion into architectural salvage in 2014, said demand has been propelled by the desire to reuse things, the search for sustainable goods, and the quest for better-quality materials with character. Television shows haven’t hurt, either.
Deconstruction specializes in locally sourced, pre-1940 architectural salvage, reclaimed lumber and vintage décor for any size project. It opened its warehouse to the public in 2015.
Raszewski describes it as welcoming, clean, organized and helpful.
“The joy comes from helping our customers,” he said.
“It’s like going back in time. It reminds me of my grandparents’ farm in North Dakota,” said Brandon Broe, a salvage enthusiast from Oregon. “It took me until my mid 30s till I started to like antiques; it amped up with the passing of my grandparents. Saving some antiques from the family farm helps keep the memories alive.”
Not surprisingly, Broe, a lead audio-visual technician by trade, is drawn to old farm materials. “I’m always looking for barn beams for mantels, barn boards for various projects, and always looking for pulleys,” he said.
Broe’s favorite TV show? Salvage Dawgs on the DIY network. His pet project so far is a set of sliding barn doors he installed in his kitchen.
Historically, demand for architectural salvage has been strong in southern states and California. Now, it’s caught on in the Midwest, according to Dawn Backes, co-owner of Northeast Iowa Architectural Salvage & Skräp Work in Ridgeway, Iowa.
“We sell a large supply of our goods to out-ofstate clients from Texas, California and neighboring states like Wisconsin and Minnesota,” she said. “You can get just a few things you need for your project or a trailer load.”
Dawn and her father, Dan Klimesh, run the business. Klimesh retired from carpentry to devote his time to tearing down old structures board by board.
His aim is to salvage historic craftsmanship and lumber, and to save things just too good to waste. Over the years, he’s acquired quite the inventory, including pine flooring, barn wood, galvanized tin and shiplap.
Dawn advises shoppers to appreciate the flaws that come with architectural salvage, “. . . what makes these pieces so wonderful is the imperfections – we like to call it ‘imperfectly perfect!’ ”
To help plan your outing, here’s a list of retail architectural salvage shops within a moderate drive from southeastern Wisconsin. It is highly advisable to call first. Some are open only on select days or by appointment. Also keep in mind, these are small businesses with hours that can quickly stray from website postings if owners need to dash out to salvage items. Check their websites, social media, or Etsy/Ebay stores to reconnoiter the goods.
WISCONSIN
Deconstruction Inc., Madison
Old House Salvage Company, Wausau
Rice’s Antiques and Architectural Salvage, Wausau
Dell’s Architectural Antiques, Eau Claire
Crescent Moon Antiques & Salvage, Oshkosh
I.M. Salvage, Milwaukee
WasteCap’s Architectural Salvage & Reuse Warehouse, Milwaukee
Antiques & Salvage, Cuba City
Urban Evolutions, Appleton
ILLINOIS
Preservation & Conservation Association Architectural Salvage Warehouse, Champaign
Urban Remains, Chicago Salvage One, Chicago Architectural Artifacts, Chicago
Rebuilding Exchange, Chicago
Architectural Anarchy, Chicago
Vintage Brick Salvage, Rockford
Peoria Architectural Salvage, Peoria
Whiskey City Architectural Salvage, Peoria
ReUse Depot, Maywood
Speiss Antique Building Materials, Joliet
Old House Society, Bloomington
INDIANA
Madison Street Salvage, Franklin
American Salvage & Deconstruction of Indiana, Hammond
Society of Salvage, Indianapolis
Another Fine Mess, Indianapolis
Architectural Antiques of Indianapolis, Indianapolis
Reclaimed Vintage Industrial, Indianapolis
IOWA
Salvage Barn, Iowa City
Northeast Iowa Architectural Salvage & Skräp Work, Ridgeway
MINNESOTA
Architectural Antiques, Minneapolis
Guilded Salvage Antiques, Minneapolis
City Salvage, Minneapolis
Bauer Brothers Salvage, Minneapolis
Northwest Architectural Salvage, St. Paul
Jennifer Rude Klett is a Wisconsin freelance writer of history, food, and Midwestern life. Contact her at jrudeklett.com.