Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring Guide

Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring Basics

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular, durable choices for flooring. Going with reclaimed woods, that have had a previous life as a tobacco barn in North Carolina or railroad trestles in the midwest, is not only a green way to go, but they can offer entirely unique, character-rich floors that tell the story of a previous life.

Pros of reclaimed hardwood

Hardwood floors are long-lasting, durable, and versatile, and reclaimed hardwoods offer all those characteristics with added value from the story they can tell about their previous lives. Since the wood can be reclaimed from any number of sources, each floor is quite different, having a patina unique to the materials and your choice of finish. If properly cared for, the flooring will continue to look as good—and, some say, better—as the day it was installed for 30 years or more.

Cons of reclaimed hardwood

While reclaimed hardwood flooring can be greener than other hardwood flooring, the additional labor required to reclaim and mill the hardwood into flooring can make it more expensive. And, as with other hardwoods, prolonged exposure to moisture can warp and discolor the wood, ruining the floor in some cases. And, after a period of time—usually 10-15 years—hardwood flooring often require refinishing, a messy, difficult, expensive job.

How Green is Reclaimed Hardwood?

Because reclaimed hardwood has already enjoyed a life cycle as something else, it's a very green choice. Wood in general can be a very green material—it's renewable, sequesters carbon dioxide, and requires less energy than non-renewables like steel or concrete in manufacturing—and the "recycling" that occurs with the reclamation process ups that green quotient. As with other flooring options, care needs to be exercised in both sourcing, to insure that any green claims are legit, and installation; wood floors can require adhesive, which can contain formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals dangerous to human health.

Where do I get it?

Reclaimed hardwood has increased in popularity and supply over recent years. Individual mills like Pioneer Millworks and Trestlewood—often sell it after reclaiming wood from regional sources, and larger green home building retailers like Ecotimber and Eco-Friendly Flooring carry some as well.

Where do I use it?

Reclaimed hardwood flooring can go anywhere you'd traditionally use hardwoods. Most often, this includes high-traffic areas like the kitchen, and can extend to just about the whole house. As mentioned above, too much moisture can wreck hardwood floors, so due consideration should be given when installing new floors.

What does it cost?

Reclaimed hardwoods range in costs depending on its source, and how much work it took to transform it from previous use to flooring. Generally, it ranges from about $5 per square foot, to about $15 per square foot.

Installation?

Installing hardwood flooring is difficult, and not for the typical DIY-er. If you choose prefinished reclaimed flooring, the process gets easier—no sanding or finishing once you lay the floor—but it's a big project. As with other flooring options, you'll want to let your new wood floors acclimatize to your home for a good 48 hours or more before beginning installation; get more installation tips from HomeTips.com.

More on reclaimed flooring:
"Tobacco Wood" Flooring by Mike Windhom
Trestlewood Reclaimed Lumber
Pioneer Millworks: Wind Powered, Reclaimed Lumber Yard