How It’s Made: Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood has been a trend within many offices and households, and is only getting more popular. As we’ve come to be more environmentally conscious of our world, where there is now less wood available for construction, reclaimed wood emerges as a principal building material. But where does reclaimed wood come from and how is it made? Here’s an overview of how reclaimed wood goes from the factory to your house or workspace.
What Is Reclaimed Wood?
Reclaimed lumber is wood processed and retrieved from its original application for purposes of subsequent use. Most reclaimed lumber comes from timbers and decking rescued from old barns, factories and warehouses, although some companies use wood from less traditional structures such as boxcars, coal mines, and wine barrels. The majority of the recycled flooring and wall paneling made from reclaimed wood originates from the buildings and railways of the USA and France, and from the industrial north of England. Reclaimed or antique lumber is used for both residential and commercial projects, but primarily for decoration and home building (e.g: siding, architectural details, cabinetry, furniture, and flooring).
The Process Behind Reclaimed Wood
1. Initial Research
Wood millers take a look into areas with plenty of vintage wood, such as old houses or factories. Sometimes they source cheaper alternatives for wood internationally, coming from other countries such as India or China.
2. Inspection and Quality Check of Wood
There are various grades of reclaimed wood, all from different time periods and backgrounds. Reclaimed wood can range in age, from 1 to over 400 years old. It’s also important to keep an eye out for infestation and chemical contamination for your wood, which could affect its durability as all are factors to take into account.
3. Removal of Approved Wood Pieces
With the wood segments gathered, they are then separated based on type, as different trees can have different levels of durability. Any species of wood can be reclaimed, but some of the most common are Douglas fir, redwood, and oak. Oak is especially popular for reclaimed wood, due to its versatility in terms of finish and coloring.
4. Removal of Metal Nails, Filings, and Other Debris
Wood pieces are properly treated by removing nails or other metal fasteners embedded in them. Segments are also heat treated and kiln-dried so that the wood doesn’t have any insects and won’t run a risk of infestation.
5. Milling and Sanding for Lumber
Segments are trimmed and sanded to the standard for lumber usage, and some pieces are polished to brighten the natural colors of the wood.
6. Storage and Shipment
The finished project is then sectioned off and stored for shipment, to be later used for restoration projects in households, offices, transportation, and other public areas.
