The Pros and Cons of Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Using reclaimed wood isn’t a new concept, but there is a surge in popularity, especially with the green building and remodeling boom. Reclaimed lumber is wood with a past life used for a new purpose. Perhaps it was a storage crate or an old barn that has been milled into reclaimed hardwood flooring, though this lumber too is even being used for creating reclaimed engineered wood floors that look like it was made from virgin products. Like all materials, reclaimed wood flooring in Phoenix has not only benefits, but also has a few drawbacks.

The Downside

Legitimacy and Price

Due to the popularity of reclaimed lumber, some dealers make false claims about the source of their products. To make sure lumber is indeed reclaimed, buy it from a reputable dealer with certifications from accredited organizations.

Reclaimed wood may be more expensive than virgin wood because of the process it undergoes. A dealer sorts and prepares the wood so it’s safe for consumer use, and often there is a lot of nail pulling and extra work involved over using virgin lumber. If you have experience handling lumber, you can reduce this cost in some cases by deconstructing wood products yourself.
 
Toxins and Pests

Companies can treat or may in the past treated lumber with chemicals and paint containing volatile organic compounds, preservatives, adhesives, insecticides, or lead. If you’re sourcing reclaimed wood on your own, test the lumber for toxins. Also, by learning about the woods past life, you can gather information about any treatments it has undergone.

Many pests like to make their homes in wood. Before purchasing lumber or deconstructing an item for getting your own wood, inspect it for signs of an infestation. Signs can include asymmetrical holes in the lumber, the presence of bugs, or wood that crumbles when you touch it. In any case, if you are using reclaimed wood flooring in Phoenix as a building material, it should be kiln-dried to ensure invasive pests are killed.
 
The Advantages

Eco- friendly, quality and strength

When you are using reclaimed wood, you reduce the demand for newly sourced lumber that helps in curbing deforestation. If harvested responsibly, reclaimed wood is a renewable resource that reduces landfill waste and the use of environmental hazards for manufacturing new products.
 
Reclaimed wood is much harder than virgin wood because it often comes from old-growth trees instead of first-generation forests.

Guilt-free exotics and looks

The use of exotic woods is being eradicated for some in the design world – unless it comes from reclaimed lumber. Because it’s aged and weathered, reclaimed wood flooring in Phoenix has a desirably unique look that’s hard to find in new materials.

Added interest and LEED points

Reclaimed lumber has a story that adds to the appeal of your finished project. Sources of the reclaimed material include old barns, crates, ships, decommissioned buildings, homes, schools, railroads, pallets, and others.

Using reclaimed wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council can help your remodeling project or construction earn LEED points.