http://www.care2.com/greenliving/salvaged-wood-flooring.html
Salvaged Wood Flooring
Adapted from The Resourceful Renovator, by Jennifer Corson.
Trees and other green plants use the sun’s energy to change carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbohydrates and produce oxygen as a by-product. As plants decay, or are burned, they release the CO2 back into the atmosphere. Therefore, CO2 is literally locked up within every piece of lumber that is manufactured. The longer we can use, reuse, and recycle a wood product, the longer we can keep the CO2 from being emitted back into the atmosphere.
Flooring from salvaged lumber can add a very attractive feature to new home, or can integrate well into a renovation.
Softwood flooring planks can be found up to 24 inches wide, though at a premium price. The trees from which these boards came were most likely first-generation growth with large diameter trunks. Planing widths average 4 inches to 10 inches, and generally a variety of widths and lengths best suit a laid floor.
Commonly available softwoods include pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock. Homes built over a century ago would likely have had spruce and pine planks laid interchangeably. A fir floor will have a considerably different grain and color.
Most salvaged hardwood flooring is available at between one-half to equal the price of new hardwood flooring. Remember that if you replaced the longer, knot-free lengths with identical new material, it would be at least two to three times as expensive — if you could find it at all. Generally, salvaged flooring will be much longer and will give the finished product a quality appearance, as most new hardwood flooring pieces are shorter than four feet.
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10 comments
add your comment »Question: What is the best way to clean salvage lumber that will not be painted and used on an interior?
I have 400 ft2 of salvaged beaded board from an old farm house. It has never been painted or sealed. Some of it was in a ceiling where racoons lived (and died). The wood needs to be cleaned up. It is long leaf pine, mostly heartwood. Can it be pressure washed? Sprayed with a water/bleach mixture? Other?
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I am looking forsalvaged hardwood flooring. Oak preferrably of the 1 1/2 inch width type.
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I am looking forsalvaged hardwood flooring. Oak preferrably of the 1 1/2 inch width type.
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There are tons of salvage yards around, with more and more popping up everyday. Craigslist is a good resource as well. I've pulled up thousands of feet of flooring and installed it as well, its worth the time. Nothing compares to old salvaged flooring.
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Scare the shit out of your friend – Follow the link CAUTION: Don’t do this if your friend got a weak heart). http://www.heroesmindreader.com/?um=49
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I have about 800 sq ft of 100 year old oak flooring I took out of my parents house after it was sold. The new buyer was going to tear it down and didn't want to salvage anything. I need some ideas on selling. I cut the nails off at the subfloor but havent clean it up. I have it in boxes.
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Great article! I sold some 106 year old antique oak flooring I tore up from a theater in Clinton Iowa once for $2800 on ebay. If you can find demolition houses or schools or buildings that have wood flooring its as good as gold on ebay!
Chris P.
http://www.SolarCoupons.com
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This is a very good tip i plan on looking for resalvaged wood flooring when remodeling my home !. Thanks
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There is the Portland Rebuilding Center in Portland, Oregon that works with "de-construction" and resale at decent cost of usable recycled building materials. I don't know of other efforts that make materials available. I believe every community should have a recycle site for open clean exchange of that which is otherwise waste.
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Sounds great ,but where would we find it ?
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