Do you want to make your house look beautiful, but you worry about the impact on the environment? Though new flooring in your house might not make a dent in the carbon footprint, consider how many trees are felled in order to put hardwood in an entire neighborhood of houses, or even a whole city. The numbers quickly begin to add up!
How To Reclaim Hardwood Flooring
Do your part for the environment, and get unique and unmatched beauty at the same time. Opting for reclaimed hardwood uses wood that is already weathered and aged, the perfect kind of wood for those silky smooth hardwood floors you’ve been dreaming of installing in your own home.
Reclaimed wood comes from old barns, sheds, and homes that have seen better days. The structure might not be usable any longer, but in most cases, the wood is still pristine and very serviceable. The small nicks, scratches, and marks of character give the wood a rich history, and the best part is that no two pieces are ever the same. Each piece tells its own personal story.
When the wood is removed from the buildings, the nails are pulled out by hand. Then the wood is milled to create a smooth surface and remove any significant imperfections. Warped wood might be cut down to remove the warps, or it might be used for other purposes, such as cutting down for railings and the like. As much of the wood is used as possible.
One of the advantages of reclaimed hardwood is the fact that some species of trees are no longer abundant or used to create hardwood flooring. The only way to find those priceless woods is through reclaiming. Unique varieties such as American chestnut, antique oak varieties, “wormy” chestnut, and some kinds of white and red oak are popular options for reclaimed wood.
Reclaimed wood is much thicker and sturdier than most modern woods, thanks both to the density of age and the difference in building design from decades past. The sturdy, beautiful wood can make your own home a showplace for history — and it’s good for the environment, too. What’s not to love?
