FAQs

Deconstruction is the process of dismantling (rather than demolishing) a structure with the specific goal of maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials, minimizing waste sent to landfills, and reducing environmental impact.

Deconstruction reduces waste and often results in tax deductible donations for homeowners. For Portland homeowners,  your project may be subject to the City of Portland’s deconstruction ordinance. 

Asbestos testing is an essential element of worker and site protection. Lovett tests for asbestos because we are committed to our family of employees and clients and want to protect their health and well being first and foremost. In addition, there are city, state and federal regulations in place that require possible asbestos-containing materials to be tested before they can be handled and disposed of. Lovett goes the extra mile and also tests all painted surfaces for lead paint and treats those accordingly to city, state and federal regulations as well. 

No.

Yes, materials that are removed from your home (including appliances, cabinets, tile, flooring, windows, and lumber) can be donated. Our donation partner is Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Lovett Deconstruction is proud to partner with the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region ReStores to donate salvaged materials from deconstruction projects to the Habitat ReStores and keep usable items out of our local landfills.

The ReStores are home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and more at discounted prices. Every purchase at a ReStore helps fund local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding and home repair programs. Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is the largest developer of affordable homes for sale in the Portland region, working with our community to build and repair more than 100 homes each year, from Gresham to Hillsboro. Additionally, the ReStores serve more than 44,000 customers and divert over 8,000 tons of reusable materials from our local landfills each year. 

Through this partnership, quality materials carefully removed from Lovett's deconstruction jobs—including cabinetry, windows, doors, hardware, sinks and vanities, lighting, appliances, and select lumber—are donated to the ReStore, where they are resold to the public at discounted prices to be used in future projects. Lovett salvages up to 80% of a home's materials overall through deconstruction and recycling, and the donations are tax deductible for the homeowner. Every donation to the ReStore supports Habitat for Humanity’s mission, provides our community with access to quality materials, and diverts reusable materials from the landfill.

It's what the circular economy looks like in practice: materials from one home getting a second life in another, with less waste and more community benefit along the way.

We are not a demolition company. We recycle or salvage up to 80% of a home’s materials through our meticulous deconstruction process. Our teams are specifically trained to care for your space and to treat it with the utmost care. With surgical deconstruction as our specialty, homeowners can often continue living in their home (away from dust and debris, thanks to our detailed protection process), throughout the project.

Additionally, we pay a living wage and offer a benefits package that’s life-sustaining and honors the work our people do. We invest in professional development, create opportunities for growth, and want to see people succeed. We are committed to amazing service and understand that, without a passionate and engaged team, amazing service just isn’t possible.

Deconstruction costs vary and depend upon project specifics. In terms of value: Deconstruction is the careful dismantling of homes and other structures. This means we do not bring in heavy machinery to crunch spaces into dust. Our people dismantle spaces using their hands and simple hand tools. It’s the most careful way to care for your home, even when it’s being remodeled.

Demolition and deconstruction are not the same thing. If you hire a demolition contractor, it’s likely they will not be capable of handling the materials they remove from your home. In these cases we know that materials end up in the landfill. Additionally, demolition teams are trained differently than deconstruction teams, especially Lovett Deconstruction teams. Lovett is professional from start to finish. Our specialty includes installation of dust, floor and ground protection as well as finishing touches like denailing all necessary surfaces and a vacuum clean finish. This approach often allows homeowners the comfort of staying in their house during their remodeling project and leaves our general contractor clients with an exceptionally clean slate to start their work, setting a professional tone for the duration of their project.

Deconstruction keeps materials out of the landfill. It keeps construction materials in the built environment. Donated materials (via our partner Habitat for Humanity) help fund local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding and home repair programs.

With over 20 years of experience, we've built our reputation on precision and care. We specialize in both full structure deconstruction and surgical deconstruction—carefully dismantling kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces while homeowners continue living their daily lives with minimal disruption.