Reclaim It

Those who know wood best will tell you that the highest quality wood comes from old trees. That's because old-growth timber is denser, harder, and less likely to shrink or expand than wood from younger trees. It also tends to have fewer blemishes or defects. The drawback is that this timber typically comes from ancient forests - a rapidly disappearing resource. As a result, a growing number of builders, remodelers and consumers are looking for alternatives.

Reclaimed wood, wood that is salvaged from existing structures, can provide all of the benefits of old-growth timber without further depleting the forests. Vast amounts of this lumber can be salvaged from old warehouses, bridges, water tanks, and other buildings that await deconstruction. Nail holes and other construction marks are part of the appeal of this type of resource.

Wood products are also salvaged from urban landscapes, orchards, or rivers and lake bottoms. A huge number of trees are removed every year from easements, yards, and parks as a result of storm damage and other causes. Most of this wood ends up in landfills, but more and more is being diverted for reclamation every year. Trees salvaged in this way include many varieties of high quality hard- and softwood.

Either way, when you select reclaimed wood products, the pressure on the environment is reduced and you end up with beautiful floors and the assurance that you have made a responsible choice.