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ECLAIMED WOOD e in the flooring industry to share five top tips on selecting and working with reclaimed wood.


Finding quality reclaimed wood comes down to creating relationships with source mills and vendors you can trust. Find people with expertise and quality controls you can rely on to provide quality reclaimed wood.


LONG-LASTING Listen, it's already lasted for decades. Don't confuse being old with being fragile. Of course, you need to consider the species and whether it's a good wood for flooring. Oak, maple, and hickory make durable floors, whether new or reclaimed wood. Choose the species based on its ability to withstand the traffic volume expected for a floor.


Reclaimed wood may be more durable than new wood. Some reclaimed wood is old-growth if you can find it. Old-growth trees were able to grow deep into maturity before being felled. As a result, their internal fiber is denser, making them more durable than wood from younger trees. Old-growth lumber can be up to 40 points harder on the Janka scale than virgin lumber. Look at the end grains of a plank. Old-growth wood has very tight rings.


The planks from old-growth trees milled over a hundred years ago will also likely be wider than today's conventional measurements. They could cut wider planks because the trees were larger. If you can find a reclaimed floor made from old-growth trees – that's gold.


Even if the reclaimed wood isn't from old-growth trees, it has already weathered quite a lot. Give it the proper care that all wood floors require, and it can continue to last for a long time.


Last, how and when you finish a reclaimed wood floor impacts its longevity. When picking a finish, again consider the


expected traffic volume for the floor. You also need to make sure the wood has acclimatised before applying the finish.


MOISTURE MATTERS Moisture is always an issue with wood. No matter where it's been, you need to make sure the wood you want to install has acclimatised to its in-service surroundings. If the installed wood has excess moisture or is too dry, the floor could buckle, warp, or weaken the sealant.


Fully acclimatised wood no longer exchanges moisture with its surroundings. This is the point when the wood has reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC). That is, the wood no longer absorbs or releases moisture with the air around it. If the wood’s moisture content is within a couple of percentage points of its EMC, it is sufficiently acclimatised and safe to install. If the discrepancy is larger, the reclaimed wood could still shrink or expand and should not be installed until it more fully acclimatises.


Moisture can get into reclaimed wood in many ways. The wood often needs to get cleaned before using, which can mean anything from steam to soapy water to using a pressure washer. Some reclaimed wood is actually from logs that have been submerged underwater for over a century.


Often, reclaimed wood has been kiln-dried to kill any potential pest infestation. Mould and infestations are common with barn wood and other external reclaimed wood. Kiln-dried wood is good for ensuring there aren't lurking issues. But it may mean the wood is too dry for its end-use location until it accilmatises.


The way to know for certain whether the reclaimed wood has reached its EMC is to measure its moisture content with a wood moisture meter.


INSTALLS LIKE NEW WOOD Once you've selected quality reclaimed wood, it installs like any other wood. By selecting for quality, you've already handled issues like uniform level, grain alignment, and fit of the boards.


When it's time to install, start where you'd always start – by acclimatising the wood onsite. Establish what the typical relative humidity and temperature of the end-use location will be and calculate the EMC. Measure the wood with a moisture meter to determine when the wood has reached its EMC.


When you're picking the finish, consult the manufacturer for a specified moisture tolerance. If there is one, then your moisture meter will also tell you when the wood is within this tolerance range.


Just like with any flooring project, when you work with reclaimed wood, it’s important to pay attention to moisture by using a wood moisture meter.


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Reclaimed wood has a lot of benefits. It's gorgeous, interesting, and sustainable. Be deliberate in your selection process and take time to install properly, including using a wood moisture meter to get accurate information about its moisture content. Follow these truths about reclaimed wood and you'll be installing dramatic flooring that will last decades.


www.wagnermeters.com FEATURE | 23


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