BARC has been on a mission to transform the way Northern Michigan thinks about recycling, and demolition. Our De/Re Construction program carefully disassembles homes, salvaging materials that would otherwise become landfill waste. Each project has kept valuable resources in circulation, created affordable building opportunities, and proven that old houses can begin a new life!
In 2025, BARC is at an exciting moment of evolution. As our founder, Andy Gale, begins to look towards what’s next, the organization is reflecting on its past successes and setting its sights on a future that ties together sustainability, community housing, and environmental stewardship.
Why De/Re Construction Matters
Traditional home demolition is quick, but it leaves a mountain of waste behind, sending hundreds of thousands of pounds of reusable material straight to the landfill. De/Re Construction turns that model on its head. Instead of tearing down homes, we carefully disassemble them piece by piece, salvaging materials for reuse or repurposing. The benefits are profound:
Environmental Impact
Recycling a single 1,200-square-foot home can prevent around 100,000 pounds of waste from entering the landfill. That’s the lifetime waste output of the average American, all diverted in one project.
Affordable Housing & Community Resources
Salvaged lumber, windows, cabinets, and flooring can be used to build tiny homes, repurposed products, and more, helping make sustainable housing more accessible in Northern Michigan.
Economic & Local Trade Support
De/Re keeps valuable materials in circulation, supporting local carpenters, cabinet makers, roofers, and builders while also providing reusable products available for purchase at our Kaleva Resale Shop.
Tax & Cost Advantages
For homeowners, De/Re is typically cost-neutral compared to demolition, and in many cases, donating salvaged materials qualifies for tax deductions.
Active BARC De/Re Projects Across Northern Michigan
This year, BARC is tackling some of its most ambitious projects yet, each one reflecting the heart of our mission; to recycle homes, strengthen communities, and make sustainable living achievable.
Originally from Old Mission Peninsula, a home was deconstructed and moved to Acme to begin a new life. In Neahtawanta, one of our earliest De/Re projects is coming full circle, as we collaborate with local carpenters, roofers, and cabinet makers to remodel a historic cabin and bring it back to life.
Farther north in Northport, a family moved this reimagined cabin crafted from recycled materials to its new home of Empire, a perfect blend of sustainability and local tradition. Here is some photos from the process:
Closer to home, Andy’s own backyard hosts a house currently being deconstructed and prepared for recycling. BARC is also planning to move a house from Spider Lake to Suttons Bay, a creative solution that saves time, resources, and provides another opportunity for local housing.
Each of these projects reflects BARC’s commitment to waste reduction, creative repurposing, and sustainable community development, but they also signal a vision for the future, where housing solutions and environmental stewardship work hand in hand.
Where Passion Meets Purpose
For Andy, BARC’s founder, De/Re Construction is the culmination of a lifetime in building and a passion for the environment. As a kid, his father gave him his first toolbelt and taught him the basics of construction: how to clean a site, and how to stack lumber. When he got older, he taught him how to lay a floor, construct a roof, and other important skills needed to build a home. Those early lessons fueled a lifelong love of woodworking and led Andy to earn a construction degree from Colorado State University. After graduating, he spent 20 years selling engineered wood products for Trus Joist when he came up with the idea to start BARC in 2008.
Flashforward to 2019, when Andy got an unusual request that changed everything: someone asked if he could recycle an entire house. That single project sparked the creation of BARC’s De/Re Construction program, and soon after, the Kaleva Resale Shop, which gives salvaged materials and repurposed products a new life.
Today, as Andy looks toward retirement, his heart is still in De/Re projects. His focus on the future is to volunteer for causes like BARC or partner with likeminded visionaries like Larry Mawby, who sold his winery in Suttons Bay to create Peninsula Housing, Leelanau County’s first Community Land Trust. These efforts are planting the seeds for a future where recycling and affordable housing go hand in hand, giving locals the chance to live near the tourist towns they serve.
The Road Ahead: The Future Of BARC
BARC is evolving into more than a recycling company, it is becoming a community catalyst for change. The future of De/Re Construction in Northern Michigan depends on the support of people who believe in this mission. Volunteers, donors, and skilled tradespeople are at the root of our work, helping us save homes, create affordable housing, and keep reusable materials out of our landfills.
If you believe in a place where sustainable living and affordable housing go hand in hand, we need you. Volunteer your time, donate materials, or support our projects financially with a donation. Together, we can recycle homes, rebuild communities, and reimagine what’s possible!