Yes, a demolition contractor can salvage and sell materials from your property — but only if you explicitly agree to this arrangement in your contract. The materials on your property belong to you until you sign them away, so understanding how salvage rights work before any work begins is essential.
Who Owns the Materials?
Under New Zealand property law, everything on your land — including the building being demolished — is yours. Timber framing, roofing iron, bricks, native timber flooring, kauri weatherboards, copper pipes, steel beams, and even old fixtures all have potential resale value. A demolition contractor has no automatic right to keep or sell any of it without your permission.
This is why the salvage clause in your demolition contract matters so much. Always read it carefully before signing.
How Salvage Arrangements Typically Work
There are a few common ways salvage is handled in NZ demolition projects:
1. Contractor Keeps Salvage in Exchange for a Lower Price
This is the most common arrangement. The contractor agrees to a reduced demolition fee (or sometimes no fee at all) in exchange for the right to keep and sell any recoverable materials. This can work well for both parties — you save on demolition costs, and the contractor profits from resale.
2. You Retain Ownership of Salvage
You keep all materials and either sell them yourself or arrange for a salvage company to remove them before demolition begins. The contractor then charges their full rate for the remaining work.
3. Shared Salvage Revenue
Some contractors will sell salvaged materials and split the proceeds with you. This is less common but worth negotiating if you believe the materials have significant value.
4. Selective Pre-Salvage
You identify specific items — a rimu staircase, a cast-iron bath, a vintage light fitting — that you want removed and kept before the contractor starts. These are listed in the contract as excluded from the contractor's salvage rights.
What Materials Are Worth Salvaging?
Some materials are particularly sought after in the NZ secondhand building market:
| Material | Potential Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Native timber (rimu, kauri, matai) | High | Flooring, framing, panelling |
| Corrugated iron roofing | Moderate | Especially older profiles |
| Bricks | Moderate | Hand-made or clay bricks |
| Copper pipe and wiring | Moderate | Scrap metal value |
| Steel beams/columns | Moderate | Scrap or reuse |
| Timber joinery (doors, windows) | Variable | Condition-dependent |
| Cast iron baths, radiators | Variable | Decorative or scrap |
| Concrete and aggregate | Low–Moderate | Crushing and recycling |
If your home was built before the 1970s, it may contain native timbers that are genuinely valuable. Get an independent assessment if you're unsure.
What to Include in Your Contract
Before any demolition begins, make sure your written contract clearly states:
- Who owns the salvaged materials — you, the contractor, or shared
- Which specific items are excluded from the contractor's salvage rights
- How the salvage value affects the quoted price — is it a credit, a deduction, or a separate arrangement?
- What happens to materials that can't be salvaged — disposal method and who pays
- Hazardous material handling — asbestos, lead paint, and other substances must be dealt with by licensed specialists regardless of salvage arrangements
Never rely on a verbal agreement. Get everything in writing.
Asbestos and Hazardous Materials
Before any salvage or demolition work starts on a building constructed before the mid-1980s, an asbestos survey is legally required under WorkSafe NZ regulations. Asbestos-containing materials cannot be salvaged for reuse — they must be removed and disposed of by a licensed asbestos removalist. This is non-negotiable and applies regardless of what your salvage agreement says.
Lead paint, treated timber (particularly older CCA-treated wood), and other hazardous materials also have specific disposal requirements. Your contractor should be across these obligations.
Building Consents and Demolition
Depending on the size and nature of the structure, a building consent may be required before demolition begins. Some minor demolition work falls under Schedule 1 exemptions, but you should always confirm with your local council before proceeding. MBIE Building Performance has useful guidance on when consents are required.
Salvage activities don't change your consent obligations — the consent (if required) covers the demolition work itself.
Negotiating a Fair Deal
If a contractor is offering a very low price or even a "free demolition" in exchange for salvage rights, it's worth doing some homework first:
- Get at least two or three quotes from different contractors
- Ask each contractor to itemise what they consider salvageable and its estimated value
- Consider contacting a salvage or architectural reclaim company directly to get an independent view of what your materials might fetch
- Check that the contractor is reputable and experienced — you can find qualified local demolition contractors on tradedirectory.co.nz
When to Call a Professional
Always use a qualified demolition contractor for any significant structure. Demolition involves serious health and safety risks — structural collapse, asbestos exposure, and utility hazards among them. WorkSafe NZ sets out clear duties for demolition work, and reputable contractors will have the appropriate training, insurance, and equipment.
For electrical disconnection before demolition, this is restricted electrical work that must be carried out by a registered electrician — see the Electrical Workers Registration Board. Similarly, gas disconnection must be done by a licensed gasfitter registered with the Plumbers Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board. Never attempt to disconnect these services yourself.
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