Reclaimed Wood is Popular

The popularity of reclaimed wood floors and other products milled from reclaimed lumber has increased in popularity, with demand for all manner of reclaimed wood species and throughout the country.

Harvested from old buildings, factories and barns no longer useful and from the depths or rivers from which it is recovered, reclaimed wood adapts well with its surroundings. Like any building material, wood will suffer the effects of time and usage. But with installation of reclaimed wood flooring and other vintage wood materials, suddenly the consequences of age become cause for celebration.

Reclaimed lumber is popular for many reasons, including its appearance, uniqueness, the fact that it's a green building material, the history or story often associated with the wood, and the wood's quality, strength and stability.

For home owners renovating older homes, reclaimed wood offers the opportunity to match and repair to existing materials, especially when the requirement is for antique wood floors. For new construction - residential or commercial, reclaimed wood creates a sense of permanence and stability, and opens up new design possibilities such as the use of hand-hewn beams and timbers.

People are looking for a way to differentiate their project or home, and the uniqueness factor seems to intrigue buyers the most.

Reclaimed Wood is Environmentally Friendly

For projects that embrace the green building standards incorporated within the LEED rating system for new construction and environmentally friendly flooring, the use of reclaimed lumber will boost the ratings that ultimately provide for one-time and ongoing energy-saving tax credits.

In many cases, reclaimed wood from old buildings is of far better quality than new materials. Old buildings were often built with slow-growing first-growth timber, which is denser and more stable than new, faster growing second-growth or plantation grown timber. And while reclaimed lumber is not specified as a framing component, its beneficial use as sustainable wood paneling and reclaimed wood flooring cannot be doubted.

Using reclaimed wood is good for the environment since no new trees have been cut down and recycled wood products avoid needless energy investment that would be required by them at landfills.

Reclaimed Wood Price- to-Value Measurements

As with all things of true value, the beauty and benefits of using reclaimed lumber comes with a price.

And while it supports a conscious, sustainable building approach to life, the costs to retrieve and re-use it are not always inexpensive to the reclaimed wood suppliers. If taken from old buildings or homes, careful de-construction practice must be observed to preserve the integrity of the reclaimed wood and protect it from careless handling. This transformational process begins when old structures are taken down and ends when remarkable reclaimed wood floors are installed, and involves multiple steps.

Careful attention to removing nails, rocks and other embedded materials such as textile travelers is an initial step taken to prevent damage to saws and manufacturing equipment used to bring vintage wood back to life again. This can be a tedious process and addresses some of the "character marks" that many appreciate for the timelessness they represent. And while nail holes, worm-scars*, dents and dings are sought and accepted when purchasing reclaimed lumber and reclaimed wood flooring, grading according to customer requirements which may restrict amounts of "character," focusing primarily on species and grain quality, requires experience and meticulous handling for highest product yield. Waste factors of 50% and more are not uncommon to produce high quality, useable reclaimed wood products.

Our lives are surrounded by wood; it flourishes in forests, supports us where we park ourselves, and cradles our books. Yet, in a world economy where price has been determined in the recent past by mass production and high speed delivery, reclaimed wood flooring and products made of recycled antique wood, stand apart no differently than organically grown food and sustainable lifestyles - somewhat pricier but of a substance more enduring and gratifying than comparisons. It's certainly not for everyone, but for more information about well-made floors, doors and more of reclaimed wood - that will last another life and beyond, call us at 866-912-WOOD, or email us via our Contact Us form.

* Wormy chestnut is a highly-prized reclaimed wood floor

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