What is Reclaimed Wood and How It Is Used For Flooring

One of the biggest trends in hardwood flooring this year is the use of reclaimed wood or recycled wood. Some people also refer to this as salvaging or re purposing but the main idea is to take old wood and use this wood for flooring, and other purposes. The salvaging of old wood has been happening for some time now, but in recent years and with new focus on sustainability, this trend is one that is not going to go away anytime soon.

We thought it would help to break down the process and facts about this trend, to help our readers and clients understand more about reclaimed wood trend and how they can use reclaimed wood for their next remodel project. 

One of the most common places where people find reclaimed wood is a farm. The wood used in old barns or stables, is usually great for this purpose. Other places that wood can be recycled from include old decks, warehouses, and excavation sites. To find wood to reclaim, one can choose to contact one of many providers focusing on reclaimed wood or contact farms, excavation and remodel sites. These places often will offer the wood for no charge if you are able to pick it up from them.

Many people look for old farm barns to reclaim wood from, which were built with old growth trees. The wood from older trees is a “tight grain wood” and will be naturally stronger and more durable. This type wood is ideal for re purposing as it is stronger than then wood available today.  There are some common types of wood found and reused. Long leaf Heart Pine, a slow growing pine tree comely found across North America in the past was often a source for pioneers. There is also Redwood, White Pine, Chestnut, Hickory and Oak. Oak was another popular choice by Europeans when they first came to North America because they were familiar with it, as it is also found and used across Europe.

Re purposed wood can be used in many different ways. Wood flooring is just one option but you can also use recycled wood for siding, cabinetry and furniture. There are many creative ways to recycle and reuse wood. 

Hardwood that is re-used does not loose value, because of its strength. With this practice becoming a trend, an increase in prices for consumers looking to use salvaged wood should be expected. While the cost is generally higher than traditional choices of hardwood, the value in the investment is considerably greater. This wood, when properly sourced, reclaimed and maintained can last well past 100 years. The floor or project that the wood is used for will outlast its owners and add value to any space.

Reclaimed hardwood flooring is one of the “greenest” options for those looking to take an “eco-friendly” route when installing floors. There is limited impact on the environment because the wood is not going to be harvested. By following other Eco-friendly flooring practices, recycled wood and VOC FREE finishes the floor can be almost 100% green and offer credit toward LEED certification for a building or space.

As with any addition of hardwood floor, the investment is real and of value. Hardwood flooring can add not only warmth to a space, but add significant value when considering buying or selling. The Green aspect of this type of flooring can also add to healthier spaces and a healthier environment.  The greatest thing about reclaimed hardwood floors is that they tell a story and have a history.

If you are interested in using reclaimed wood for your next flooring project or want to learn more about our professional services you can contact us Chicagoland Pro for a free evaluation or consult. We will gladly answer any questions you have and help you to determine if these types of flooring options are a good fit for you and your space.

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Hardwood Flooring Textures: Brushed, Bandsaw and Tumbling

Our Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company can tell you that the final appearance of wood flooring is not just dependent on the type of timer but the treatements applied to the wood as well.  The staining, oil, wax, lacquer finishing, or fuming/smoking will affect the color of the wood as well. 

Chicagoland Pro specializes is hardwood flooring installation, hardwood flooring restoration, and hardwood flooring maintenance. In this blog, we will focus on the physical texture and grain of solid wood flooring.  There are three main textures of hardwood flooring, they are brushed, bandsawn, and distressed/tumbled. 

Brushed:

In the past, brushed flooring texture was achieved by hand using wire brushes.  Now with technology advancements, the same appearance can be achieved with purpose-built machinery which produces a steady depth of brushing over the while floor.

When our hardwood flooring company is trying to achieve the brushed appearance, we use a machine with copper of steel brushes that rotate over the surface.  This machine opens up the grain and turns the smooth surface into a more open-textured surface with indentations that follow the grain of the wood.  We can achieve different levels of grain accentuation depending on how hard or soft the brushing is.  We also can emphasize the depth of grain by using a colored or oiled finish that will accentuate the wood’s texture.

Bandsawn:

To create saw marks over the complete surface of the wood, our hardwood flooring installers would use a bandsaw.  We adjust the settings of the bandsaw to create different degrees of texture.  We have the skills to make your hardwood flooring look high textured and rustic or subtle. 

Tumbling:

One of the most common textures our Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company provides is the look of reclaimed wood, which involves tumbling.  Tumbling is often times a much lower cost and gives wood a distressed look.  The resulting effect of tumbling is wood that appears to have years of wear and tear and is difficult to distinguish whether it is distressed or reclaimed wood/

For hardwood flooring tips, the best method to tumbling is to distress/soften the corners and edges of the wood to make it look word and our machine will also create random indentations across the surface to give an overall “naturally aged” look.  Distressing adds character and beauty to your hardwood flooring and it is suitable for modern times.

We understand that everyone has different tastes in flooring whether it be hard wood or carpet or tile.  We think it is important for people to realize that there are so many options and looks to hardwood flooring that can be achieved in a multitude of ways.  If you have any questions about hardwood textures, please contact Chicagoland Pro for Palatine Hardwood Flooring Installation or comment below!