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Reclaiming the Past
To Build Our Future

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All across Maine — and the country — good materials are going to waste.

Perfectly usable wood, doors, windows, trim, flooring, and fixtures are being torn out and tossed into landfills. In fact, construction and demolition waste makes up about half of everything we bury in Maine’s landfills, and that’s just the stuff we see. Demolition also releases carbon and methane stored in old buildings, while most new construction depends on energy-hungry materials shipped from far away. Add it all up, and the building industry is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We can build smarter — and with more care for what’s already here . . .

Second Story Builders was established to rewrite this narrative.

We prioritize deconstruction over demolition, salvaging valuable materials that would otherwise be lost to the landfill.

We also design and build with these reclaimed resources, creating beautiful, functional, low-carbon spaces and objects.

Most importantly, we do this by creating hands-on learning opportunities for local residents and youth — training the next generation of tradespeople in sustainable building practices.

By giving buildings a second life — and materials a second story — we’re helping shift the construction industry toward a more sustainable, circular future, one project at a time . . .

Bringing Our Story to Life

Six ways we're advancing circular construction in Maine

Deconstruction Services

We carefully dismantle buildings to preserve materials for reuse — offering an alternative to traditional demolition that’s climate- and community-conscious.

Reclaimed Material Sales

We sort, store, and offer high-quality salvaged materials to the public — making reuse accessible and supporting a circular local building economy.

Custom Design+Build Projects

We make value-added products with reclaimed materials and execute custom design+build projects that prioritize the use of salvage.

Education & Workforce Development

We create hands-on learning opportunities for youth and local residents, training the next generation of builders in sustainable, reuse-centered practices.

Historic Preservation

By taking buildings apart with care, we also recover our community’s history — preserving stories and materials that would otherwise be lost.

Radical Reuse Network

We collaborate with artists, makers, builders, and organizers to uplift a shared culture of creative reuse — one rooted in care, craft, and community.