Success Stories
Show off your remodeling efforts utilizing Murco materials!
As you Architectural Archeology veterans know, every purchase, disassembly and reinstallation from Murco comes with a story. Over and above the obvious financial benefit, I know from my own experience, the tremendous pride that comes from a finished project that incorporated salvaged materials.
We are looking for you to submit your story and supporting pictures. Your success story will serve to inspire kindred rehabbers into taking the plunge into the land of Demolition Auctions
If you’d like to contribute, email us at success@murco.net with the following information
Before & after pictures (.jpeg format, please) of your project. If we still have the pictures of your items as they were originally installed, we will post them as well.
Text accompanying each picture. What it is (brand name, age, etc.) what you paid for it, and any stories pertaining to its' negotiation, extraction, transportation and the like.
General summary of your rehabbing project. Include as much or as little detail as you care to share; this is your forum. Give us your experience including how much money you saved by going Murco, pitfalls you didn't anticipate but ultimately overcame, how you feel with your finished effort, blah, blah, yap, yap.
EVERY PURCHASE COMES WITH A STORY AND WE WANT YOURS!
All submissions will be approved by Murco prior to publishing. We reserve the right to refuse, edit or paraphrase your submissions.
Murco Recycling Enterprises, Inc., your leaders in Architectural Archeology!
New Life for Old Doors!
See how one innovative Murco customer incorporated used materials into his home!
"As a custom home builder, I usually do not get the luxury of incorporating salvaged materials in my homes. Clients don’t always have the vision necessary to see something for what it can be and would rather go with tried and true known products.
With a slowing economy, and nothing else on the books, my wife and I decided it was time to build our dream home. After 24 years living in a home that we “bought for the property”, it was time to turn our dreams into reality.
We both love auctions, garage and rummage sales, and Craigslist. Always on the lookout for a bargain, I turned to Murco and Habitat for Hamanity’s ReStore to see what we could find. Many years earlier we stumbled upon a Murco auction, so I looked Jodi up on the internet and watched for the right auction. That opportunity was January 2009 at Salvage One. Even though we were 3 months from breaking ground, with plans, scale and tape measure in hand; we drove to Chicago in the hunt for treasures.
This auction was particularly well suited as all items were already removed and ready to go. Quickly we spied some beautiful Mahogany, or Cherry, doors with seeded leaded glass. While not a perfect fit for the architectural plan, these were worth making adjustments for. It was a quiet crowd as Jodi started the auction. I tried to get her to start with the doors, but she was not to be persuaded. I did get her to start with an alabaster hanging light which we bought for $300. At least we thought we bought it. Jodi informed us it was in the auction by mistake and she had to check with the seller. Everything turned out fine and it now proudly hangs in our dining room.
Getting back to the doors, I finally got Jodi to head that way an hour or so later. I was interested in all she had, except one GIANT pair and a pair of very odd sized bi fold doors (dwarfs). Another bidder wanted one of the smaller bi folds, so we started with those. I prevailed and I was on the move. I told Jodi what I was interested in and she packaged what I wanted along with the dwarf doors. I made an offer, but without the dwarf doors. We finally agreed on a price, but the dwarfs had to go with the Snow White doors too.Hauling our treasures home, I realized the Drwaf doors were perfect for the pass through windows from our Kitchen seating to the Screened in Porch.
As we had been collecting materials for the house for a few months, my storage garage was getting quite full. We unloaded the doors, and proceeded to move them around several times over the next 6 months. I still can’t believe none of the glass ever was broken.
Construction started in April 2009. Several months later when I was ready for my trim carpenters, I showed them the doors. They had never seen anything like them. The 2 partners actually fought over who got to install them. Since it was new construction I was able to frame the rough openings exactly as needed, and even though the doors vary slightly in height, the magic of molding and great carpenters can make that all disappear. The doors were in such nice shape, that the painter only had to do minor touch up.
We moved in the House December 2009. As you enter the front door, the first thing you see are 2 sets of these beauties. Everyone always comments on how unique and great they look.
We couldn’t be happier with the final product. We saved material from the dump, saved a lot of money, and got doors for my wife’s office, front closet, pantry and screened in porch that tell a story.
Thanks Murco!"
Mat Knupp
Knupper Development
www.knuppercustomhomes.com
Special Message from Jodi! (3/3/10)
Click here to view a video message from your Diva o' Deconstruction!
Every Murco purchase has a story, and we want to hear YOURS! Send us a short video (3 mins or less) of the cool improvements you've made in your home with your fabulous used materials from Murco. We'll post your video on our website for all to be inspired by!