FEEL GOOD WOOD
Reclaimed wood is a sustainable and sought-after choice for a multitude of specifications. Here Jason Spangler, Wagner Meters’ flooring division manager, offers his top tips on selecting and installing an aged wood floor.
It’s no wonder that the trend for reclaimed wood flooring continues to grow, as each plank has its own unique character. Mass-produced, new boards and planks present a uniform size and appearance and new timber lacks the stories that reclaimed wood shares through its aged patinas, grains, and markings.
Antique wood also carries the intangible beauty of its history with barns and retired ships just two examples of salvaged wood sources. When installed in a new structure, it brings with it the spirit of its prior life.
The sustainable and environmentally-friendly credentials of reclaimed wood contribute to its charisma. While salvaged wood products reduce the need to harvest new timber, thereby preserving forests, the harvesting of aged wood also consumes less energy than virgin wood. Moreover, the cost of reclaimed wood fits within the same range as mid-range new wood floors or engineered wood, yet, the durability of reclaimed wood compounds both its environmental and economic benefits.
FROM THE SOURCE TO THE FLOOR One of the joys of reclaimed wood is the possibility of working with an extinct or rare species. For example, reclaimed heart pine is hundreds of years old and has a strength befitting a quality hardwood floor. The wide availability of oak makes it a cost-effective option along with maple and walnut, which are also good choices for reclaimed wood flooring.
A key challenge when working on a salvaged wood flooring installation is ensuring supply. Distinctiveness is one of its prizes but consistency within a project is also important. This means buying wood reclaimed from one original source if possible. Work with a reputable reclaimed wood dealer as they can estimate what you'll need for a project. Then, they can find sources that can cover that quantity. If you do need reclaimed wood from multiple sources, they should be of
twitter.com/TContractFloors
similar age, location, and use (internal or external). Sources with these similarities will have aged in similar ways.
MANAGING MOISTURE Another consideration is assessing the moisture content (MC) of reclaimed wood, which has to reach its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) to avoid moisture-related defects after installation. A wood product's EMC varies based on its environment. Wood reclaimed from a factory has acclimatised to the factory's environment, not your project's. You need to wait until the reclaimed wood has stabilised to its EMC in its new home before starting any installation.
The only way to know if it's reached its EMC state is to measure and track the wood's MC. A sophisticated meter like Wagner Meters’ Orion 950 measures the MC that exists inside the wood. The Orion 950 also has a built-in temperature and RH sensor. The pinless meter uses all this data to calculate the EMC for you. Results are easy to read as the sensors send the data via Bluetooth to the free FloorSmart app.
Having an accurate reading of the reclaimed wood's EMC is vital to knowing when it's safe to install.
The trend for reclaimed wood flooring in residential and commercial applications is only going to grow as designers and specifiers look towards achieving a unique scheme with sustainability at the core. Using reclaimed wood fulfills both these objectives.
With the right preparation, care, and tools, it’s possible to install sustainable, rewarding, and enduring wood floors that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
www.wagnermeters.com WOOD & LAMINATE | 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
