Sources of Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Wood materials sourced from old buildings and constructions are unique and special. They can be incorporated into modern homes and interiors successfully for different purposes, most commonly wooden floors. Old wood materials that have been previously used come with a history and character, they have a story to tell. Some of these stories date back as long as centuries ago. Who wouldn’t enjoy this authentic and unique beauty in their homes? However, if you decide to incorporate reclaimed wood into the interior of your home, especially when it comes to real wood flooring, you need to keep in mind some precautions.

First of all, in order to be sure you are getting your wooden materials from a reliable source or manufacturer and have the peace of mind that you are getting high-quality materials that will last for a long time, you must be careful with whom you are buying the wooden materials and how they are sourcing them. In fact, there are enough places offering reclaimed wood you can purchase, you can do that even online and from non-specialist shops and stores. However, in order to be able to be sure of the quality of the materials and their origin, you would like to take your time and do thorough research in order to find a really responsible and reliable supplier of reclaimed wood.

For most buyers of reclaimed wood, it is important to know the story of the materials they are buying and the way they have been sourced by the supplier. In fact, when it comes to reclaimed wood, there are some potential concerns in the context of sourcing the materials and their origin, respectively their history, quality, and final price. Such concerns must be addressed and definitely discussed and highlighted before trading with reclaimed wood as well as before the installation of reclaimed wood flooring.

Why it is important to purchase your products only from a responsible and reliable reclaimed wood manufacturer or supplier? Now, if you think that reclaimed wood is just taken from the old building and directly ready to be installed as a floor in your home. Nope, reclaimed wood should be carefully prepared before it is ready to be used for its new purpose in your home. Therefore, you want to shop from a responsible reclaimed wood manufacturer. A responsible manufacturer would know how to identify wood materials that can be used again and properly prepare them for the installer and the end-user to work with them and enjoy them.

Here are some potential reclaimed wood concerns that should be taken into account when you are shopping for, purchasing and having installed reclaimed wood, keep them in mind:

Kiln-Dried

Almost all wood flooring you are going to buy is kiln-dried and reclaimed wood does not make an exception. Kiln-drying for reclaimed wood is important because it ensures the timber will dry down to the proper moisture content that is required for installation and to minimising the risk of moisture damage once the floorboards are fitted onto the subfloor. Proper kiln-drying of the wooden materials also ensures all insects and larvae that may live in the wood will be killed and won’t cause any damage. Since wood is prone to moisture damage and insect infestation, it is important the materials are properly dried before installation and any further use. When shopping for reclaimed wood, make sure to ask the supplier if the materials have been properly kiln-dried.

Lead

Less than fifty years ago, lead-based paint has been outlawed due to the health ramifications it poses with exposure. The commonly used red bar paint in the past decades is a lead-based one, however, it was commonly used because of the beautiful and uniform red colour it provided. While reclaimed wood covered with lead-based products and paints should not be used, irresponsible manufacturers and suppliers of reclaimed wood may offer them, therefore you should be really careful when purchasing reclaimed wood.

Chemicals

Wood is often treated with different types of chemicals, mainly for reasons such as preservation and additional durability. One of the common and highly sought after types of reclaimed wood are the wooden materials coming from old trestle bridges and railroad tiles. Such timbers offer some amazing durability and stress resistance because they are treated by the process of saturating the wood with chemicals known as “pressure treated wood”. This was used to be done back in the days for ensuring the timber would be really hard-wearing and long-lasting, resistant to impact and stress. However, the chemicals used during the process back in the days are nowadays categorised as carcinogens, therefore hiding some really high risks for the health and some serious side-effects when working with them.

Furthermore, recycled and reclaimed wood sourced from places such as textile factories, warehouses, boxcars, or mines are potentially dangerous and harmful too because there is a risk they have been exposed to the toxic chemicals used in the facility back in the days. Since these chemicals could possibly remain in the wood for centuries and remain toxic and harmful, you would like to work with an experienced and reliable reclaimed wood manufacturer and supplier who is able to identify reclaimed wood properly and ensure you are not purchasing dangerous and toxic materials.

Mould Spores

Mould is almost everywhere, even if you don’t notice it. Mould usually grows in places with higher moisture content, it can be found on many surfaces and even in the air. When there is moisture and water – mould will continue growing. Take the moisture and water out and mould will die, however, the spores will remain. Once water and moisture return, spores will continue growing colonies of mould. And a mouldy wooden floor is definitely something no one wants to invest their money into. First of all, mould can practically destroy your wooden floor, and second of all, exposure to mould for a prolonged period hides some serious risks for your health too. Proper treatment, usually involving minerals, is necessary for keeping the reclaimed wooden materials within the limits of standard moisture content.