There are many household materials that we commonly recycle. We normally know what to do with materials like cardboard, glass, and aluminum when we’re done with them. They either go in the recycling bin or bag. For some more specialized items, like fluorescent lights, we may have to go out of our way to dispose of them properly. 

Many people are willing to go the extra length to make sure materials are recycled properly because it’s one of many small contribution people can make to reduce their damage to the environment. When it comes to wood flooring though, many people don’t know what to do with the leftover hardwood when a floor is replaced.

As hardwood flooring experts at Artisan Wood Floors, we’ve handled hundreds of hardwood floors and have dealt with a lot of leftover wood. We’ll walk you through some of the environmentally friendly ways you can dispose of your hardwood when it’s past its usefulness. 

Hardwood Floor Recycling 

When it comes to removing your hardwood, recycling isn’t only better for the environment, it can also be cost-effective. So not only are you conserving the overall use of raw materials when you recycle that wood, you can also save yourself some money, whether that be by using the materials in another project or selling the wood. There are a number of ways you can recycle your hardwood floors, including repurposing and reusing it.

Dining room with recycled wood ceiling

Repurposing a Hardwood Floor

One of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to use your old hardwood is to repurpose it. Basically, this means that you use the old floor as the material for another home project. It’s very common for old floors to be the base material used for fixtures like cabinets or walls. In the right hands, the old hardwood can create a simple, rustic look that is timeless and stylish. 

Another common way old hardwood might be repurposed is to use it in furniture. This requires a little more talent and time, but some excellent tables, cabinets, chairs and more can be made from recycled hardwood.

Salvaging a Hardwood Floor

The other popular way to deal with your hardwood floors after you replace them is to have them salvaged. If you’re hiring someone to remove the floors, you may want to talk to them about having the floor salvaged. These floors can often be refinished and reused as material for another floor. This is by far the most cost effective way to deal with the hardwood as the wood can essentially be sold. However, while salvaging can be worth it, it does require that the wood be removed more delicately, which can make the process take a little more time.

Donate Hardwood Flooring

Your last option to recycle hardwood flooring is to find an organization to donate the materials to. Many wood floors may not be in good enough condition to donate, there’s a reason they’re being removed after all. However, for those floors that are in fairly good condition, there may be nonprofit organizations, especially those to provide housing, that could put that floor to good use as future building material.

So those are a few of the popular options you have to responsibly dispose of your old hardwood floors. It’s important to remember not to use the old wood as firewood. Most hardwood floors have been finished. These finishes may contain varnish and other heavy chemicals that will be released when the wood burns. Inhaling these chemicals can be harmful to your health. For similar reasons, hardwood floors usually aren’t good candidates to be chipped and mulched. 

When you are looking to replace and recycle or just refurbish your old hardwood floors, give the experts a call at Artisan Wood Floors LLC, the best hardwood flooring in Philadelphia! Call us today at (215) 515-7355 and ask for Steve