A system and method for storing a data object in a single-instance storage system are described. The data object may be deconstructed into a template and one or more values. If the template is not already stored in the single-instance storage system then it may be stored. Otherwise an existing copy of the template may be referenced. Similarly, existing copies of the values may be referenced if they are already present, or otherwise the values may be stored. Reconstruction information useable to reconstruct the data object may also be stored. The reconstruction information may reference the template and the one or more values stored in the single-instance storage system.