Reclaimed hardwood is wood that has been recovered or found. It can be antique flooring from a condemned house, school or hospital; or it can be hardwood found in a landfill. Often it is hardwood that has been pulled out of a river or lake. In the majority of cases it is hardwood that has been abandoned, that is considered waste, trash or rubbish. Hardwood is an expensive and valuable commodity in the world because it takes between 50 and 120 years for a hardwood tree to reach maturity. The great forests of the world are being over-logged and cleared for farming. It is estimated that in less than 40 years all the rainforests in the world will be cleared. It is thus imperative that we make the effort to preserve what little remains of the rainforests. We can do this by buying reclaimed hardwood instead of newly felled hardwood or 'new growth' hardwood for our wood needs.
One of our major wood needs is for flooring. Wood flooring is better than carpets because it is allergen free. It is also strong and durable. With the correct maintenance a hardwood floor can last a life time. And the same is true of reclaimed hardwood floors.
Reclaimed hardwood flooring has a different texture and look to new hardwood flooring. It has a smoother texture and a unique look. Often the colours are richer and the markings more pronounced. A reclaimed hardwood floor is an object of beauty and pride that can draw your attention. You find yourself almost unwittingly studying the various shades and patterns in the flooring. It looks more 'organic' and 'aged'. Reclaimed hardwood flooring gives a room a distinctive and classic look that is hard to beat in terms of interior design. However, often reclaimed hardwood flooring has nail marks, dents and other 'imperfections' that not everyone appreciates.
Please use this website as a resource to learn more about reclaimed hardwood flooring. The catergories down the left allow you to investigate individual wood types. The navigation bar above contains links to pages on various related issues. The directory page has a list of reclaimed hardwood suppliers in America and the UK so you can locally source your recalimed hardwood. Finally, there is a blog or post section with tips and updates.
White Oak
Hickory
Cherry