Send photos
Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.
DEMOLITION GUIDE
Who Gets the Scrap When a House Is Demolished?
The copper in a teardown is worth real money — and who owns it is decided before the first wall comes down. Here is how demolition scrap ownership actually works.
The short answer.
Whoever the demolition contract says gets it. In practice, most demolition contractors separate metal for recycling as standard procedure and keep the proceeds — it is priced into how they bid the job. But that is custom, not law. If the contract is silent, the scrap becomes a handshake dispute, and those are the most common jobsite arguments in demolition. See our demolition partner program →
How owners keep the scrap value.
If you own the building coming down, you have two clean options: write it into the contract that scrap stays with the owner, or negotiate a credit — the contractor keeps the metal and reduces the demolition price by its estimated value. The credit route is simpler; keeping the metal yourself usually nets more if you sell it right, because you capture the full sorted value instead of the contractor’s estimate.
What the scrap is actually worth.
A house demolition yields copper wiring, copper plumbing (in older homes), HVAC line sets and coils, aluminum, and steel. The copper is the prize — and it must come out before demolition starts, because once the structure comes down, clean recovery becomes nearly impossible. Photograph the electrical panels, visible wiring, and mechanical systems before work begins, and get an offer on the metal first.
Sell it the straightforward way.
Photograph what you have — nameplates, labels, and overall condition — and send it to Ironcrest for today’s offer. We buy nationally and coordinate pickup from your site.
Sell your demolition copper to Ironcrest → | Call or text 312-880-8174 | Send photos →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
Do demolition contractors keep the scrap metal?
Usually yes, by custom — most separate metal as standard practice and the value is priced into their bid. But it is negotiable: put ownership in the written contract.
Can I sell the copper from my own demolition?
Yes, if your contract gives you the scrap rights. Pull the copper before demolition starts, photograph it, and sell it sorted for the strongest price.
Should the scrap value lower my demolition bid?
It can. Ask contractors to bid two ways — with and without the scrap credit — so you can see exactly what the metal is worth to them versus what you could get selling it yourself.
What metals come out of a house demolition?
Copper wiring and plumbing, aluminum (siding, gutters, wire), steel, brass fixtures, and HVAC coils and line sets. Copper dominates the value.
What if my contract does not mention scrap at all?
Then you are relying on custom and goodwill — the worst position. Amend the contract before work starts; it takes one sentence.
OWNERSHIP
The contract decides.
Nothing about demolition scrap is automatic. Ownership follows the written agreement — or the absence of one.
New: Explore the Ironcrest Copper Resource Center — grades, markets, identification guides, and interactive tools.
HOW SELLING WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
Material review
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.