Reclaimed Oak Floorboards – Three Lessons Learned From a Wood Recycler

 

Reclaimed oak floorboards meet the criteria for being a very eco-friendly building material, infusing your home with character and providing a conversation starter. These floorboards may be recovered from a broad selection of sources. Common sources include: old buildings that have been demolished or stripped, fences, railroad cars, wine barrels, and retired mills. So do you want to know how to find and maintain reclaimed oak floorboards for your home or workplace?

 

Three Secrets for Successfully Installing Reclaimed Oak Floorboards

 

Secret No. 1: Find a Good Source for your Reclaimed Oak Floorboards

 

Reclaimed wood flooring has lots of sources, ranging from your own floorboards if you’re renovating your home, to derelict factories or country buildings, mills and condemned properties. Wood that’s in good condition can be used to add character to new buildings while preserving natural resources. Your building contractor or interior designer may be able to find sources for you.

 

Secret No. 2: Know What to Look For

 

Remember to check how many of the reclaimed oak planks are available, the size of the boards and their condition before you buy. You need to be sure you have an adequate amount of planks from the same batch to floor an entire area of your home. Checking quality involves making sure oak boards are not split or damaged in any way. You need to avoid any damage that will simply worsen over time.

 

Secret No. 3: Take Care of Your Floorboards Once Installed

 

Water and dirt are the two main enemies of floorboards, reclaimed or brand new. Possible sources of moisture include water coming up through a concrete slab that has no barrier, and leaking water pipes. The other enemy, dirt, is ground in by footfalls, and eventually it wears through the finish and weakens the core wood fibers. Floors should be swept or vacuumed on a daily basis to remove surface dirt.