For a die-hard environmentalist, the name antique wood floorings conjure gruesome images of innocent trees being felled in a massive forest somewhere. What if we could tell you that it is possible to have exquisite wooden flooring while sparing you the raw imagery of deforestation?
How is this possible? One would ask. Thanks to the age old trick of recycling- glass, plastic, and metal, it has been discovered that wood is recyclable as well. Through a process called reclaiming, it is possible to get ready raw materials to install your antique flooring with.
Antique Wood Reclaiming
Antique wood reclaiming is a unique process that kills two birds with one stone. It is simply sourcing antique wood materials from industrial buildings or barn wood for sale (from barns that are scheduled for demolition). By doing so, we are appeasing the environmentalists on one side and also making antique flooring enthusiasts happy on the other.
You are now probably wondering what kind of antique wood is reclaimable. Here is a comprehensive list for you.
1. Heart Pine
The heart pine is the hardest and darkest of pine wood trees. Heart pine wood is rare because it is sourced from pine wood trees that are hundreds of years old. Since the demand for heart pine is high, reclaiming heart pine from demolished buildings becomes a ready option. Heart pine is hard, durable, and a stable material in construction. Once installed, your floors remain intact for years even as you pass down your home to your grandchildren.
2. Walnut
Walnut is loved for its rich chocolate hue that gives your interior a sophisticated dark tone. Walnut wood is reclaimed from century-old barns where they are used as girders or beams. Walnut boasts of intricate knots and mineral stains that become more pronounced with age.
3. Oak
Equally reclaimed from century-old barns, oak wood is famed for its durability and strength. It is the type of antique flooring to go for if you want a pale rustic interior with a rich woody scent. Oak wood is also resistant to decay so they are perfect for antique flooring that defy time.
4. Maple Beech
Maple has the paleness of pine with pinkish undertones. It is also reclaimed from barns and spots those irresistible wood knots that ooze a rustic vibe. Maple is a medium density hard wood and is often blended with beech wood because of its color and grain accommodation.
There are various ways in which you can install antique wood floorings. As you do so, you do not have to worry about the impact it does to the environment, thanks to the new method of reclaiming wood.
