GUIDE TO RE Jason Wright, at Wagner Meters, draws on his many years of experience
Reclaimed wood is wildly popular at the moment but if you don’t have experience working with the material, you could easily overlook some critical truths and make some bad decisions.
Fortunately, the industry has learned a lot about how to make sure practical use of reclaimed wood lives up to its promises. Let’s start with these five truths.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Alright, this one you probably already know. Sustainability is one reason that reclaimed wood is so popular but you may not know just how many different ways it is good for the environment.
Not only does reclaimed wood help reduce deforestation but it also consumes fewer energy resources. The USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found that harvesting, transporting, and processing virgin wood needs 11 to 13 times the energy compared to using reclaimed wood for flooring. The wood is also saved from going to landfill or disposal through burning. Keeping it away from either option reduces pollution and waste.
But here's something that may surprise you: some reclaimed wood can present its own environmental issue. On older wood, the paint used may have had lead in it or it may have been treated with chemicals no longer used. In some cases, the reclaimed wood can be rehabilitated. In some cases, it can't.
Working with reclaimed wood definitely has a net positive effect on the environment. It’s a good idea to try to learn the backstory of the reclaimed wood you use as sharing this with the customer is at least 50% of its charm. This will also ensure you know that the reclaimed wood meets your sustainability standards. You can also choose to use reclaimed wood that's been FSC Certified Recycled.
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DIFFERENT QUALITIES The appeal of reclaimed wood is its high ranking on the charm and aesthetics scales but don't let these attributes blind you to the fact that it varies in quality. You want to make sure you're picking pieces that will create a beautiful floor for the long haul.
Start by looking at how the reclaimed wood was milled after reclamation. Were any defects removed? Reclaimed wood often has nails and knots that need to be removed for the piece to work as flooring.
The original surface of the reclaimed wood may not have been sanded flat. You don't want to buy a batch of reclaimed wood planks of uneven height and find yourself with overwood and underwood issues, where a plank is higher or lower than its neighbours. Great aesthetics won't make up for installing an unlevelled floor.
Also, consider only buying wood that was end-matched, meaning that it has been precision trimmed with a tongue and groove profile at both ends of the board material. If you don’t buy the reclaimed wood already cut into a tongue and groove profile, you'll have to buy longer planks to trim it yourself. Unless you’re skilled in end-matching wood, you’re likely to waste a high percentage of it. That may increase your time requirement too.
You also need to think about sourcing enough reclaimed wood for a project. Some projects call for mixed species or color variations, others will want a uniform appearance. In that case, you need to consider whether reclaimed planks with different origins will create the look the owners want.
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