When working on home construction, demolition, and renovation, you end up with a lot of waste. It can be frustrating throwing away money. So, what else can you do with the scrap metal around the house?
Well, we’ve got the answer. Recycle your scrap metal for cold, hard cash!
In this article, we will discuss what you can do with your scrap metal around the house once you’re done with demolition and the best things to scrap for money.
Let’s dive in!
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
If you work in construction, demolition, or renovation, you deal with a lot of scrap material. While it is easy to get a dumpster and throw everything away, we recommend saving your scrap metal.
Now you may be asking yourself, “Why should I spend extra time on sorting out all of my metal scraps?”
Well, to be frank, it can actually save you a ton of money in the long run. By separating and trading in your metals, you can actually recycle them for cash.
So, what are the best things to scrap for money? Keep reading to see the different scrap metals you can find in your home and how much each is worth.
First, let’s start with the highest value metal you can find in your home.
Scrap Copper
Scrap copper will give you the highest price compared to other metals. The first place you can look for copper is in your kitchen and bathroom.
For instance, you will likely find copper in your water pipes. These are located both in your home and outside underground. You can use a hacksaw to cut away the copper piping.
Another place you can find copper is in your wiring. This may seem obvious but in order to get the copper wiring, the first thing you need to do is make sure the electricity is off. You can then either rip it through the walls or cut it up into pieces.
Pro-tip: The price of your copper will be based on its purity and the market. Most copper you find is contaminated with other metals, decreasing its value. But, in general, copper can often be sold for between $1-4 per pound.
The price of your copper scrap will vary depending on the type of copper. Let’s take a look at the different grades of copper.
Copper #1
Copper #1 is a very shiny and clean copper and is worth the most. It is often found in the form of copper wiring and tubing. If it had any plastics or other materials attached to it at one point, it has since been removed.
Additionally, copper #1 has no oxidization or oils and is not mixed with any other metals.
Copper #2
Copper #2 on the other hand can be oxidized, have paint, or be soldered to other metals. This type of copper has a lower value than #1 because the processing takes longer.
Copper #3
Finally, copper #3 is often found in roofing. It is the lowest of values because it has a lot of tar or paints on it, which makes the process take a lot longer than the first two. This is because the process involves further processing to clean the materials off the metal.
Scrap Brass
The next metal with a high value is brass. This is because this metal can be hard to find and, therefore, the demand is greater than the supply. One of the main ways you can find brass is by scrapping doorknobs.
Another place you can find brass is your kitchen and bathroom pipes. If your piping isn’t copper, then it is likely brass. The way you can tell the difference is copper is a reddish-brown color while brass is a muted yellow. Additionally, copper materials will have a ‘C’ engraved on them.
Additionally, if you have any fixtures or left behind furniture, you might be able to find some brass there as well. Just keep in mind that any alloys, such as iron and brass mixtures, will have a lower value.
Next, let’s go into metals that have a lower value.
Scrap Aluminum
Aluminum scrap metal might give you a lower return than copper and brass, but it is a lot easier to find. You can find aluminum in window frames, sidings, doors, gutters, and lightning rods.
Additionally, a lot of household items, especially in your kitchen, are made out of aluminum. This includes pots, pans, and cans, although cans are often lower in value. Many of your home’s electronics are also made of aluminum, although we recommend recycling these specific items with a trusted electronic waste recycling facility.
Scrap Steel
One of the cheapest metals used in home construction is steel.
Usually, any scrap metal around the house that isn’t the ones listed above will most likely be steel. Unlike those other metals, steel is magnetic. So, if you can’t figure out which one it is, you can run a magnet over it to find out.
Some places you can find steel are shelves, heaters, metal chairs, and lamps. Steel is also often used in kitchen appliances so make sure to remove any left behind refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, and so on before demolition.
Pro tip: Separate your steel from your stainless steel to get the best value possible because stainless steel is worth more.
What to Do With Your Scrap Metal Around the House
When you work in construction or demolition, you probably end up with a lot of scrap metal. Instead of trashing your scraps, which can be detrimental to the environment, there are more cost-effective and beneficial options, such as selling or recycling it.
But, before we can get into more details about that, we first need to discuss how you should prepare your old scrap metal.
Prepare Your Scraps
Before selling and recycling your metals, you will want to prepare them in order to get the most value out of them.
First, you will want to separate your scraps based on the type of metal into different bins. Then, separate them even more based on the purity of the metals. For example, put any alloy metals on their own.
Do not worry about stripping your wires. It can be very time-consuming and a high-quality recycling facility will do that for you.
Keep in mind that most places will pay for the least valuable metal if you just have them all in one bin.
How to Recycle Your Scrap Metal
The best option for disposing of your scrap metals after home remodels is to trade them in with a recycling facility. This can benefit both your business and the environment.
In fact, recycling your construction and demolition (C&D) scrap metal and debris can help to generate a new revenue stream and save on costs for your construction, demolition, or renovation company that you may have been previously missing out on.
In addition to increasing revenues, your business can help the environment by lessening the number of new materials that need to be mined and shipped.
Recycle Your Home Remodel Scraps With GLE Scrap
Here at GLE Scrap, we’re not just scrap metal buyers. We help your business with the logistics of the operation as well. We are happy to arrange your business’s scrap metal pick up.
Our mission is to make recycling as easy and carefree as possible for your business. Not only do we operate our own fleet of trucks, but we also build established relationships with independent carriers to ensure that you receive the most cost-effective recycling solution for your business.
Request a FREE quote or call 855-SCRAP-88 to see how you can make the most out of your scrap metal around the house after demolition.
