Photo by Mountain Lumber
Reclaimed oak gives warm character to an entryway.
By Natural Home Staff
Interested in bringing the finish and environmental benefits of salvaged wood into your home? Willie Drake, owner of Mountain Lumber, offers the following advice:
- Make sure salvaged wood products are properly kiln-dried. “Old wood has gone through changes in humidity year after year for a long time,” Willie says. “Once it’s been kiln-dried, this conditioning that’s been taking place over many years actually makes reclaimed wood more stable than new lumber.”
- Make sure your home’s HVAC system is in good working order. This will minimize damage to the wood from expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity .
- When buying salvaged wood for flooring or paneling, seek products with tongues and grooves on the ends as well as on the edges of each plank. “This will save the end-user money in the installation,” Willie says.
- Check the salvaged wood supplier’s reputation. Look for a company that stands by what it sells, offers a warranty on its products, and provides good instructions for handling, sanding, installing and finishing its products.
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