From the floors to the ceiling and everything in between, using reclaimed wood can put a special spin on sustainable living.
Sometimes interior designers, furniture makers and do-it-yourselfers hunt out salvaged wood for home projects. Reclaimed wood from homes, barns and commercial buildings, and reused items such as pallets are popping up as structural features, including beams and doors, as bookshelves and cabinets, and even for coffee tables, headboards and desks with a story.
Companies such as Nydree Flooring, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, are seeing more of an interest among customers in reclaimed options, said Jason Brubaker, vice president of sales and marketing for Nydree. Part of the interest is due to the natural look of reused wood, such as low-sheen matte instead of a high-gloss finish.
Consider these key things before running out to rescue wood for your construction or renovation project, or to make a small update to the decor.
Avoid wet wood
Sometimes, you can find pallets or pallet wood for cheap or free and use them for accent walls or new furniture, but stay away from damp or soggy pieces. If the wood is wet, it can shrink when brought into a dry home, said Brian Preston, founder of Lamon Luther, a metro Atlanta furniture company that reclaims wood from barns and hires carpenters who are homeless. “Make sure the pallets are nice and dry before using them,” Preston said. The West Elm Local initiative has included Lamon Luther among its artisans with products on display.
Kill the mold and bugs
With the reclaimed pieces that Preston uses, he and his carpenters slightly sand the boards to remove dust and debris and any potential for mold. The cautionary step doesn’t remove the characteristics and aged look of the wood. Damp wood also can be attractive to insects. Preston recommends making sure that barn wood, for example, has been kiln-dried, to remove bugs.
Know what you’re requesting
Sometimes homeowners are confused about “rustic” versus “reclaimed” wood when wanting to update their floors. Reclaimed wood uses actual beams, floors or other pieces of lumber from a structure, such as a barn or warehouse, or other items such as logs that are cleaned up and turned into floors, Brubaker said. If purchasing engineered floors, the top layer can incorporate reclaimed wood. Newly harvested wood – which can still gathered in a sustainable manner – is a “rustic” option, and details, such as knots, may be distressed by machines at a factory. With Nydree’s Korus line, the Virginia-based company’s residential customers can select from reclaimed wood and customize the colors.
Expect the unexpected
The look of reclaimed wood can vary, even if the batch is from the same building. “No two pieces of reclaimed wood are alike,” Preston said. “It’s almost like every piece you build from reclaimed wood is unique and it has its own identity.” Stay away from trying to replicate the look of another piece – even one made from reused wood. Even if you paint the wood, pieces can look different because of their original color and composition. Preston suggests studying the wood you have selected and featuring its most beautiful characteristics for a one-of-a-kind piece.
