Reclaimed wood is a stylish, attractive, and sustainable way to create flooring. Reclaimed wood materials can foster an entirely new set of themes for your next project. For all of the plaudits reclaimed wood deserves, it’s not without its downsides. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of reclaimed wood.  If you think you are ready to explore reclaimed wood flooring, check out Artisan Wood Floors.

The Positives About Reclaimed Wood Floors

• Reclaimed wood for flooring is an obvious choice towards sustainability. Reclaimed wood is a recycled material and, as such, its environmental impact is significantly lower than buying new wood. In fact, many commercial environmental organizations take reclaimed or recycled wood into account when certifying commercial or business space.
• Reclaimed wood has its own aesthetic and appearance. Years of wear and use can often lend a special feel or identity to reclaimed wood.
• Using reclaimed wood opens your options up to a wider spectrum than choosing new wood. Certain tree varieties are no longer in use due to rarity, endangerment, or infeasibility. Reclaimed hardwood opens up many new possibilities in terms of getting your hands on rare or hard-to-find selections.
• Historically speaking, reclaimed wood can serve as a great conversation piece — not to mention adding a one-of-a-kind look. If you are lucky to know the source of your reclaimed wood, you may discover your reclaimed wood has a unique source. Consider how a collection of rustic reclaimed materials from a historic renovated home can provide a sense of warmth to a room, all while telling a story.
• Reclaimed wood tends to be stronger, more durable, and of generally higher-quality than the rushed, mass-produced materials often found today. This occurs for a number of reasons. For one, wood from the past century had more time to thrive in its original living environment as opposed to the fast-paced commercial grows of today.
• It was also benefited by cleaner atmospheric quality in relation to today’s air pollution levels. Not to mention, reclaimed wood has already had decades of time to adapt to the torque-like factors of temperature, humidity, and pressure. This means that reclaimed wood has a lower probability of warping, bowing, cracking, or generally weakening due to unfavorable elements.

The Negatives About Reclaimed Wood Flooring

• An uptick in trendiness and popularity surrounding reclaimed wood flooring has led to some vendors who deal in subpar — or even new — wood, while billing it as reclaimed materials. Because of this, it is important to seek out a reputable vendor with a breadth of experience.
• The costs associated with reclaimed wood stem partly from high demand in the market. Reclaimed wood is popular, in-demand, and stylish. Not to mention, the process of readying reclaimed wood for sale often involves a particular refinement and refurbishing process — reclaimed wood does not always work well with tools made for new cuts of wood, and specialized treatment to extract foreign objects or reshape the wood can drive costs up.
• Due to amateurish methods or inexperienced vendors, buyers can often encounter difficulty properly identifying the wood-type. A reputable vendor will have the proper tools and expertise to make this assessment.
• Vendors who do not use great care, or pay little attention to detail, may know the degree with which your reclaimed wood has been chemically treated or processed. An excellent vendor will maintain a close connection with his sources, be well-networked, and have a keen eye for spotting different treatments. Optimally, your vendor should be able to provide you with some trace or lineage which points to the source of your reclaimed wood.
• Reclaimed wood can often be prone to pests or other defects due to its age and quality.

Are you looking for a reliable hardwood installation company in Philadelphia to help redo your flooring? Don’t hesitate to call Artisan Wood Floors us at 215-515-7355.