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Reclaimed Wood Flooring, but softly

Bob Villa recently commented on the virtues of softwood flooring that is even more relevant to the realm of reclaimed; “If you think that installing hardwood flooring is a budget buster, think again. Although hardwoods such as Oak, Ash and Beech (or reclaimed Chestnut, Cherry and Ipe) is pricey, softwood flooring such as Spruce, Pine and Hemlock is less. There’s a trade off though, softwood floors are just that, soft, and more susceptible to scratches and dents. But most people feel that just adds to the rustic charm. One other plus is that they’re more environmentally friendly than hardwoods. If that sounds appealing and you won’t mind a little of the existing wear and tear, then softwood flooring may be a good choice.”

The long haul of Reclaimed Wood Floors

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One defining feature of reclaimed wood floors is their wide widths – up to 12″. But less often mentioned is their longer average length – much longer. In a world where floors arrive cut and bundled into 1-5′ lengths, longer spans of individual boards can be an overlooked factor. But if the floor is fully covered, what is the difference? The frequent x-cuts on new wood floors act like road stops as the eye travels across a floor, giving it a less unified look and feel. It’s also an apt symbol for the long passage of time, as the woods have traveled hundreds of years from a small forest sapling to salvaged and re-manufactured modern floor.

Reclaimed Joists

| Featured, Passive House

Reclaimed wood joists, reused as joists, is surprisingly uncommon. Naily old lumber, dusty and often surface checked, can easily fail the grade on first glance. But these 3 x 10’s are sound enough – at least for sistering a row house renovation. They occupy the rare middle ground between being dumped at the landfill (or chipped) or re-milled into high end flooring or furniture.

In this video, Jim Hartin of Blueline Construction, provides an overview of the reclaimed joist stock that is lined up for reuse at the passive house project, 158 Clifton Pl. in Brooklyn.

The collection includes a range of species – antique Red Spruce, Longleaf Pine, Eastern Hemlock and Douglas Fir – sourced from a variety of 19th to late-20th c. NYC buildings. The most recent is an 1883 Tribeca warehouse at 443 Greenwich St., once home to the Novelty Toy Co. (they introduced the first teddy bear), the American Steel Wool Co. and a book bindery. The penthouse at the new development, once framed with the antique lumber, hit the market at $51m.

Finishing School

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It can take some playing around with sample blocks to get just the right balance of rustic and refined qualities in reclaimed wood. Here, a local toddler (with some parental assistance), applies a hand rubbed beeswax finish to a block of antique wood. The finish is applied after soap and water, followed by a light power sanding – bringing underlying wood figure into relief without removing weathering and texture.

American Black Walnut Slabs

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Our inventory of slabs are locally sourced and salvaged from American Black Walnut trees that are sustainably harvested. Each live edge piece offers the unique beauty of raw nature. And the design statement can serve a range of applications – table tops, bar counters, benches, conference tables and dining tables.

We curate a rare selection in Black Walnut trees of remarkable old growth scale, form and figure. Representing wood in its raw form, and combined with a strong base, slabs have the potential for a life time of use, and the character to be carried into future generations,

Black walnut, the darkest of domestic trees, is most distinguished by its warm deep color tones – from dark tan to chocolate brown, with undertones at times of purple and green. The grain is straight and often irregular. And this overall look has come to represent something warm, modern and iconic – from George Nakashima’s mid-century works to today.

Our slabs are custom ordered and selected from our Connecticut mill, offering a truly personal experience at the source; with our staff helping you to choose the best slab for its use and environment.

‘the stubborn allure of old buildings, and their mysteries.’

| Passive House

A volunteer fire helmut, news fragments, a roofing trawl, a child’s dress and a few yards of silk fabric – salvaged material culture.

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