Salvaged Wood Flooring

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.

Read more: Home, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse

Adapted from The Resourceful Renovator, by Jennifer Corson.Copyright (c) 2000 by Jennifer Corson. Reprinted by permission of Chelsea Green Publishing Company.
Adapted from The Resourceful Renovator, by Jennifer Corson.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Glenn B.

5:46AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

preparing for some remodeling - good information to keep in mind

send a green star

May H.

11:46AM PST on Feb 24, 2011

very interesting

KS G.

2:22AM PST on Feb 1, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Bente S.

8:24AM PDT on Aug 30, 2010

Ok!

Peter B.

1:15PM PDT on Aug 2, 2010

thanks for shareing Annie

SuS NoMail Plez P.

12:39AM PDT on Jul 24, 2010

TY Dearest!

Philippa P.

5:28PM PDT on Jul 20, 2010

I love the look of salvaged wood flooring.

Freddie P.

9:34AM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

I have a unique way of fixing the cracks and holes. Take the sawdust after sanding mix it with your stain, spread over the floor pressing into the cracks, let the stain dry and then with a soft paint brush sweep up the sawdust that remains on top to smooth. then apply your finish to seal.

Cynda S.

9:08AM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

Resources about refinishing previously stained fir flooring? We recently barged a 100 year old house to an island location. Because of the buckling which occurred as a result of the expansion and contraction of the flooring we had to resand the surface. The fir floors had in the last 10 years been stained and polyfill was used to fill the cracks. Not wanting to resand down the bare wood, we were hoping to restain the floor the same colour. The challenge being that the polyfill is not taking the new stain, so there are uneven strips along the floor boards. Although I'm not looking for a perfectly refined floor as it is an secondary property, I am hoping to eliminate the uneven look of the polyfill. Any suggestions or resources?

Bella Cera H.

9:58AM PDT on May 3, 2010

You should also check out bellacerafloors.com. Its a great company out of Washington state.