Reclaimed Wood
Amanda Rieffer
Reclaimed wood in general is repurposed material from an existing form or structure. Our primary reclaimed mill uses wood that comes from old barns, buildings, and factories…typically those that were erected pre-1940 when older milling techniques were being used. They produce flooring (that can also be used on walls and ceilings), barn siding, hand-hewn mantels, beams, and beam skins.
Reclaimed wood is typically desired by customers that want something that is authentically old, and not new trying to look old. Another time for it to be a desired medium is when a recycled or environmental element is wanted or required (although I do consider regionally local new wood products to be environmentally sound as well).
One of the biggest factors I bring up during a discussion of reclaimed wood is going to be stressing the importance of kiln drying. Kiln drying brings the moisture content down to 6-8% (like a new wood floor), but more importantly, it kills any eggs, bugs, or larvae that could have been living in the structure before it was dismantled. All of our reclaimed products are kiln-dried, but be aware there are many reclaimed products on the market that are not. I have heard multiple horror stories from people that purchased reclaimed wood and a few weeks/months after installation had a massive beetle problem (not material from me, of course!).
Reclaimed wood products are not for the faint of heart. Although truly timeworn and uniquely beautiful, attributes like knot holes, nail holes, bolt holes, and texture may frighten some away from using it. It is an old wood coming from an old structure, so there needs to be a bit of a “you get what you get” quality to be considered. Also because the wood is coming from different structures, in different states, that were built in different decades no two projects are exactly the same, even if you order the “same” product. Therefore, your reclaimed wood floor can be classified as custom and distinctive to your project.
If you’d like to see a large area of our reclaimed flooring, check out the Three Kings Pub Des Peres location on Manchester Road. They have Historic Plank, 5/8” engineered glued to concrete, and job-site finished with an oil-based poly. I would recommend a visit during their happy hour, but that is just me. Cheers!
Amanda Rieffer, Commercial Wood and Tile Rep, arieffer@boardwalkhardwood.com
Serving St. Louis (and beyond) for more than 25 years — Boardwalk is your local, family-owned, quality-flooring provider.
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