Selling reclaimed building materials? We are interested in buying them

Important information when offering materials

To arrive at a suitable price for both parties, we do not bid on materials offered to us. Where possible, we try to match the asking price you provide. Always include your asking price with your initial enquiry.

Before offering us materials, consider what you would like to receive for them. When setting your asking price, take account of the quantity, transport costs, condition and dimensions, and the work required to clean, sort and prepare the materials for resale.

Our retail prices also cover staff, machinery, energy, transport, storage, maintenance, breakage and other losses, further processing and taxes. Therefore, do not use our retail prices as a measure of the purchase value of your materials.

Selling reclaimed building materials to Van Dillen

Would you like to sell reclaimed building materials? Van Dillen Antieke Bouwmaterialen buys reusable batches from private sellers and businesses. These include reclaimed masonry bricks, roof tiles, floor tiles, traditional Dutch terracotta tiles known as estrikken, paving and various antique wall tiles. After assessment, cleaning and sorting, suitable materials can be offered again for restoration, renovation and new builds.

We assess every batch individually. We consider not only age and appearance, but also the material type, dimensions, quantity, condition, site access, transport costs and work needed to prepare it for sale. If you have materials and are unsure whether we would be interested, send clear photos and the key details.

We do not make bids on offered batches. You state an asking price or price indication. We then assess whether the batch is of interest and commercially workable at that price, taking account of quality, quantity, logistics and any processing costs. We do not make an opening offer ourselves.

Which reclaimed materials do we buy?

We are mainly interested in authentic materials that can be used again. Every batch is different, and current demand can vary. We regularly buy the following material types.

Reclaimed bricks

Do you have old bricks left over from demolition, renovation, a shed, garden wall or another batch? We are interested in a variety of reclaimed facing bricks, including red, brown and yellow batches, handmade bricks, moulded bricks and historical sizes. Frisian yellow bricks and IJssel bricks may also be of interest.

Bricks do not always need to be completely clean before you offer them. However, mortar residue, soiling and damage affect our assessment and the eventual purchase value. If you do not know the type, read how to recognise an old brick. A photo of the exposed face, a close-up and the dimensions usually give us a useful starting point.

Reclaimed roof tiles

We also buy old roof tiles, but our interest is focused on particular historical types. At present, these are mainly traditional Dutch hollow pantiles, both red and grey reduction-fired. Compare your tiles with our reclaimed roof tile collection. If you have another old tile and do not know its type, send photos, dimensions and an approximate quantity first.

Reclaimed floor tiles and traditional Dutch tiles

Is an old tiled floor becoming available? We are interested in materials including reclaimed floor tiles and traditional Dutch terracotta tiles, in various colours and finishes. Both glazed and unglazed batches may be of interest. Total quantity, size, thickness and condition play an important part in our assessment.

If the floor is still in place, you do not need to start breaking it out without preparation to find out whether we are interested. Send photos and measurements first. Our knowledge base also explains more about removing and reusing old floor tiles.

Reclaimed paving

Old fired-clay paving can also be suitable for reuse. Examples include Waalformaat pavers, IJssel paving bricks and other fired-clay paving materials. See our reclaimed paving for examples of what we sell. We assess size, wear, soiling, quantity and whether the batch can practically be loaded and transported.

Antique wall tiles and tile tableaux

Do you have old wall tiles or a historical tile tableau? You can contact us about these too. Complete, recognisable or readily reusable batches may be particularly interesting. Compare them with our antique wall tiles and tile tableaux. Always include the size, quantity and any damage when offering a batch.

Other old materials

Is your material not listed above? You can still offer it to us. Send photos and a short description so we can quickly tell you whether it fits our purchasing range. We deliberately do not buy every used building material: reusability, quality, logistics and demand for the material must make sense together.

What determines the purchase value?

The value of a batch is never determined by one factor alone. Two batches that initially look similar may differ considerably in usability and purchase value. Our assessment includes:

• type and reusability;
• total quantity and consistency;
• dimensions, colour, sorting and any distinctive features;
• breakage, damage, wear and dirt;
• cleaning, mortar removal, sorting and palletising;
• location, access, loading and transport;
• any demolition or dismantling still required.

For an idea of the factors affecting the selling price of reclaimed masonry, read our explanation of reclaimed brick prices. Bear in mind that the selling price of a cleaned and sorted batch is not the same as the purchase value of materials that still need processing, storage and transport.

How to offer your materials

The more complete your initial enquiry, the sooner we can assess whether a batch is of interest. For an initial assessment, please provide:

1. Clear photos: Take an overview of the whole batch and several close-ups. For bricks and tiles, include the surface, sides and any mortar or cement residue.
2. The quantity: Give an approximate number of pieces, m² or pallets. A rough estimate is better than no quantity at all.
3. Dimensions: State the length, width and, where relevant, thickness. For roof tiles and bricks, a simple photo showing measurements can be very helpful.
4. Location and access: Tell us where the materials are and whether the site is accessible for loading and transport. Mention whether the batch is already on pallets or still loose.
5. Condition: Explain whether the materials are clean, soiled, cleaned of mortar, still in a wall or still laid in a floor. Damage should be visible in the photos too.
6. Your asking price: State what you would like to receive for the batch. We do not make bids or opening offers. Once you have given an asking price or price indication, we will tell you whether the batch is of interest on that basis.

Transport and collection

Transport is an important part of buying reclaimed building materials. A large batch may be commercially interesting, but how it can be loaded and the distance to our storage affect the overall assessment. Always provide the exact location and practical details.

If bricks, floor tiles or roof tiles are already on sturdy pallets accessible by pallet truck or forklift, that is useful information. Also mention if a batch is still scattered, built into a wall or fixed in a floor. We assess what handling is feasible in each situation and how transport can best be arranged.

Private sellers and businesses

You do not need to be a professional trader to offer us materials. We assess batches from private individuals, contractors and other businesses on the same practical points: what the material is, how much there is, its condition and how it can be handled. Old bricks from a private renovation can be just as interesting as a larger commercial batch.

For larger quantities, it is especially important to include clear overview photos, quantities and loading and transport details. This avoids unnecessary back-and-forth and helps us decide sooner whether the batch suits our purchasing needs.

Reuse instead of disposal

Reclaimed building materials are often too valuable to discard as waste. If bricks, floor tiles, roof tiles or paving remain technically usable, they can be cleaned, sorted and used again. This preserves their character and prevents usable batches from being unnecessarily lost. Read more in our knowledge base about sustainable reuse of building materials.

Frequently asked questions

Must bricks or tiles already be clean?

No, not always. Mortar residue, cement, soiling and the cleaning needed are included in our assessment. A clean, sorted batch is easier to process than materials that still need all their mortar removed or a full clean.

Do you buy small batches?

We assess this by material and situation. Quantity is one factor determining whether collection and processing are economically feasible. Feel free to send photos, quantities and the location for a smaller batch too.

Do you buy every type of roof tile?

No. We are mainly interested in traditional Dutch hollow pantiles in red or grey reduction-fired finishes. If you have another historical type, send photos and dimensions first so we can assess whether we are interested.

Which photographs do you need?

A good enquiry includes at least an overview, several close-ups and preferably a photo showing dimensions. Show damage, mortar residue and other notable details too. This gives us a more realistic impression of the batch.

Must I state a price?

Yes. We do not make bids on offered batches. State your own asking price or price indication. We then assess whether it is feasible for us, based on material type, quantity, condition, processing needed and transport costs.

Will you make an offer for my batch?

No. We do not make bids. You decide the price you want for the batch. We then assess whether we want to buy it on the basis of that asking price, quality, quantity, processing and logistics.

Can you collect the materials?

That depends on the batch, location and access. Transport and loading are always included in the assessment. In your enquiry, say whether the materials are already on pallets, how the site can be reached and what loading facilities are available.

Offer us your reclaimed materials

Would you like to know whether we are interested in buying your reclaimed building materials? Send clear photos, the quantity, dimensions, location, condition details and your desired price. This lets us assess whether the batch fits our purchasing range.

You can submit your materials through our contact page. Ideally, state the material type straight away and include several photos, so we can respond as quickly and specifically as possible.