What Is Reclaimed Wood? (Updated In 2022)

What Is Reclaimed Wood? (Updated In 2022)

23rd Apr 2021

Reclaimed Wood or Lumber has a by and has been used for buildings and structures from the 18th to the early 20th century. The wood is recycled and reused to run across today'south ever-growing need for sustainable and eco-friendly homes and businesses.

Reclaimed wood shouldn´t be confused with salvaged wood, which has been cut and stored for several years, but not used for whatsoever form of construction.

The reclaimed wood story

Today's century-former reclaimed wood emerges from a time when wood was in abundance, both in North America and Europe, and was used as a master building cloth.

As the industrial revolution took concur sawmills were often the core of many towns, providing employment and a plentiful supply of woods.

The majority of the recycled flooring and wall panelling you lot run across in homes, offices, bars, and restaurants, comes from the factories, warehouses, mills and railways of the U.s. and France, and from the industrial north of England.

In recent years nosotros've come to learn to protect our world and there is less wood bachelor for construction, so we've looked to the ecological equivalent to newly harvested forest – reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed forest is a fashionable and popular choice to decorate and enhance commercial bounds and modern homes.

Wood over 100 years old is particularly suitable for loftier-traffic areas, due its tight grain, which makes it resistant and hard-wearing.

Which woods are reclaimed?

Any species of wood can be reclaimed, simply some of the most common are Douglas fir, redwood, and oak.

A rare reclaimed wood species is longleaf (heart) pine, which can have up to 500 years to mature, as opposed to the more than common yellow pine which just takes 50 years.

In the past longleaf pine produced enormous trees, meaning long and sturdy planks, which were the mainstay of the The states's wood industry hundreds of years ago.

Even so, today but 2% of its original planted area in the US is covered by this species, compared to 41% in the 1800s. This loss is immense and shows why using reclaimed woods is and then of import.

Oak is a popular pick for reclaimed wood and in item flooring due to its versatility in terms of finish and colouring. Much of our reclaimed oak floor range comes from oak copse used for old buildings throughout Europe.

Why utilize reclaimed wood?

Also the beautifully rustic graphic symbol reclaimed wood lends to any building, modern or traditional, commercial or private, its ecological do good is articulate.

The ecology impact of mass forestation throughout the world has heightened our awareness of how using reclaimed woods can help protect our future.

Coupled with this social responsibility is the want for the authenticity of reclaimed forest that tells a story and has a history. Your kitchen floor could take one time been the walls of a French railway station or your office wall cladding the beams from a befouled or warehouse.

Does the source and age of reclaimed wood affair?

There are diverse grades of reclaimed wood, all from dissimilar time periods and backgrounds. It's important to consider the post-obit when choosing reclaimed wood (which is what nosotros do on your behalf):

  • Wood – infestation, chemical contamination, and durability are all factors to take into account.
  • Quantity – when ordering reclaimed wood it's essential to check the quantity of timber bachelor for the delivery appointment. Because the woods is reclaimed at that place may not be sufficient in the batch ordered for a project. A unlike batch volition comprise different wood.
  • Age – reclaimed wood can range in historic period, from 1 to over 400 years former. The specification is important – where it comes from and how old information technology is.

Using reclaimed wood

A reclaimed wooden floor or wall cladding makes a statement. As well equally demonstrating immaculate sense of taste and a dearest for the graphic symbol and terminate of reclaimed wood, it shows your commitment to environmental matters.

Reclaimed woods is used for both residential and commercial projects akin. It can be used for both interiors and exteriors, equally flooring, piece of furniture or cladding.

Where does your Reclaimed forest come up from?

We source our wood from all over the world but predominantly from the U.k., USA, and Western Europe. Mostly we carry reclaimed oak and pine, although occasionally we do take other species.

I'm worried about the inherent inconsistencies with reconstructed wood, how practice you lot solve this problem?

The strongest feature in reclaimed forest is the tonal variation. We feel this should be embraced rather than combated. Depending what y'all cull to finish the floor with (hard wax oil, traditional wax, lacquer) y'all will be able to even out the tone of the flooring but this will not be every bit uniform as pre-finished new wood. If you are concerned about achieving the right colour when using reclaimed wood you should speak to your fitter about colouring options.

Is reclaimed wood FSC certified?

Not all reclaimed wood is FSC certified; all the same, it's helpful to refer to their rules effectually reclaimed or recycled timber. For it to qualify as FSC certified timber of post-consumer origin, reclaimed wood must have already been used one time and have reached "the end of its useful life" for its original purpose.

FSC certified wood has met certain standards that guarantee sustainable practices were used in its creation. Using FSC certified timbers in your building will earn you credits in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Organization.

Does reclaimed wood floor have to be installed a certain fashion? Is it different from Solid Wood?

After reclaimed forest is carefully candy into flooring, it is extremely stable and can be installed the same every bit most solid and hardwood flooring.

The divergence is that reclaimed wood can take ii or three weeks to be set for installation and become acclimatised to the new surroundings and the level of humidity.

Depending on the natural surface of the wood, some boards may crave some hand scraping to even out a few of the edges.

Woods acclimation and installation are the ii most important things to ensure your floor lasts a lifetime.

Glue and Nails are the standards with Reclaimed Forest, but it is e'er advisable to read the supplier's installation manual.

* We do non recommend the floating methodology, as is not a long-term solution.

Is reclaimed forest a good choice for kitchen or bath floors?

Reclaimed wood floors are a wonderful option for both kitchens and bathrooms, when you're selling your property.

Older reclaimed planks have naturally closed pores, which makes antique reclaimed woods great for kitchens and bathrooms. Although sealing on-site is always advisable.

Does reclaimed wood require a lot of intendance and maintenance?

Like any new forest flooring, reclaimed wood will perform and look its best with advisable maintenance.

Woods finishing, indoor foot-traffic, and level of usage are the few things that will direct a intendance and maintenance plan.

The correct intendance goes a long way and can help proceed your floors dandy for decades.

For more than data on after-intendance utilise this link:

Subsequently-Care and Maintenance

Before, During and After Fitting Guides

guide

How to choose the right flooring?

Buying a wooden floor is not always an easy process. There are plenty elements worth considering prior to specification.

guide

Care & Maintenance

Maintaining your floor with the correct care routine is the easiest manner to preserve its beauty and safeguard its longevity.

guide

Who are nosotros?

Acquire more than about why we do what we do.