Correct me if I'm wrong but if "the decks were custom made with concave only on one edge" is that really "creative ways to re-use things"?

I suspect the resources put in to creating the custom decks far outweighs those used by, say, a simple board of wood.

I would really hesitate to call this recycling.

Also the detail where the stringer meets the landing is horrible!

Lastly how did they get away with not having a handrail?

Awesome. I'd add tread because I'm the girl who trips over her own feet, but other than that I love this look. And skateboards.

I thought the same thing as Rajio when I saw that line... This is very strange. Maybe we're both just misunderstanding? Maybe they had to customize existing skateboards?

if these boards were not on their way to the dumpster, it's hardly a green effort. seems like just a cool interior design idea, nothing more.

okay its not at all 'green' (solid bit of aluminium is neither the most structurally efficient form or even tolerably energy efficient to produce) but I think it looks great, very lean. An approach that actually considered sustainability at all could probably yield a similarly attractive result; inspiring but must try harder.

re: handrail

Yea, as a skateboard project, they totally failed with the handrail.

Rails are totally part of skateboard culture.

Like Rajio, I'm failing to see the green aspect here. Less wood is used than a traditional staircase, but you're substituting energy-intensive aluminum? These are obviously not used boards, so there's no recycling/reusing going on here. What's the point of this article?

Used skateboards could probably never be used for this for a few reasons. First, boards come in all different sizes and shapes, so you'd have to get pretty lucky to collect a bunch of exactly the same size/shape. Second, most boards are "retired" because the owner has broken the deck in half.

aluminium may possess a high embodied energy cost to initially produce but from then on itis one of the most effecient materials to recycle. why are you all always so negative?

aluminium may possess a high embodied energy cost to initially produce but from then on itis one of the most effecient materials to recycle. why are you all always so negative?

@will campbell: its not efficient to recycle unless you are comparing its embodied e of recycling with its embodied e of initial manufacture and calling the result 'efficiency'. They could have used wood or steel, even glass. And I did say it looked nice.

@JSDryer,
Contrary to your belief most skateboards are not "retired" because they are broken in half. Having been skateboarding for nearly 20 years and having worked in numerous skate shops along the east coast I can promise you that is not true. Most decks are retired because they simply lack the rigidness that they had when they were first purchased, commonly referred to as "Pop". No body likes to ride an old deck that feels flimsy. Another reason is the board is just worn down. The tail and the nose get ground down from so much contact with the ground/obstacles.

Many of the skate shops I worked at would simply give away any old boards that were left behind when someone purchased a new one or sell them for a few bucks. If one were to go to a couple decent skate shops over the course of say a month you could easily put together a set of decks that could be sanded down and used for stairs. The only problem I see would be removing the grip tape from the top of the board which is my no means easy. Once that's removed you'd have to remove the thick mess of adhesive it's going to leave behind.

I'm assuming the reason these boards were custom made though was for safety reasons. Skateboards are concave and the last thing you want on a stair is an upturned lip on the front of the tread. There would be no way to sand this down or remove it on a "recycled" board without it's appearance being compromised.

cool.... maybe they could repair the boards- then use them for stairs.... maybe the school people would fool around on railings with their boards.... they need a REALLY good reason not to have railings! Please write.... love to hear your comments!!

luv
ChacoLatte~