Reclaimed wood flooring is often an important part of a rustic look for a home. Many people are discovering the beauty of these practical and unique floors and wanting to add them to their houses. If you have ever wanted a truly unique and special wooden floor for your home, reclaimed wood is a great choice to make.
It isn’t hard to purchase reclaimed wood flooring these days. Once upon a time, you would have had to find all the wood for your floors on your own and then have someone cut it down into floorboards that would have been laid by an expert team experienced in this kind of wooden flooring. Today, getting access to reclaimed wood floors is much easier, making it an attractive option when it comes to getting quality flooring with that rustic vibe.
What is Reclaimed Wood Flooring?
Reclaimed wood flooring is wood flooring that would have otherwise been thrown out as scrap. This means that the boards might all be different colors or types of wood, and they might have imperfections. This creates a wood flooring that has the signs of aging that makes for a cozy, rustic vibe, without having to wait for years to create these kinds of imperfect floors through use.
Reclaimed wood flooring also helps to prevent waste, making it a great flooring type if you want to help make the world a better place. Upcycling flooring and other housing materials is becoming increasingly important as concerns over the health of the environment and big business practices are becoming increasingly key to a healthy future for all.
If you like the thrill of the hunt, you might want to try and source all of your reclaimed wooden flooring yourself. This can be a lot easier in some regions of the world, so be sure that you check out the availability of this kind of wood before you commit to tracking down all the material for your reclaimed wood floors.
In most cases, self-sourced reclaimed wooden flooring will need to then be cut down into floorboards by an expert. You should make sure that you have access to all the necessary labor and wood products before you head down this path. For those who cannot source their own reclaimed wood, there are plenty of suppliers these days who can offer you access to reclaimed wood for any kind of floor.
Types of Reclaimed Wood Flooring For Your House
The main types of wood that are used for reclaimed wooden flooring are heart pine, chestnut, and oak. However, there are also less common wood varieties that you might be able to get for your reclaimed wood flooring.
1. Wide Planks
Wide plank reclaimed wood flooring is a great option if you have a large space that needs a rustic floor and you want to make the most of the imperfections and color gradients offered in this kind of wooden flooring. Wide plank boards often show all kinds of colors, knots, darkened areas and so much more. Reclaimed wood flooring that is cut into wide boards can be the most visually interesting option when it comes to reclaimed wood flooring.
2. Narrow Planks
On the other end of the spectrum are narrow reclaimed wooden planks. This flooring style will not maximize color shifts in your flooring to the same degree, but it can provide that hand-hewn and hand-laid look that most people want the most when it comes to reclaimed wood flooring.
Narrow planks are perfect for smaller spaces where you really want to be sure that the reclaimed wood flooring you are using is highly visible. Narrow planks also typically require some mixing and matching to cover the area, which means that your floor will have a bunch of charm and character.
3. Barn Wood
Barn wood flooring is made from reclaimed wood sourced from old barns and outbuildings. This wood will often have been exposed to the elements for many years, creating a unique, weathered look that other kinds of reclaimed wooden floors do not offer.
Barn wood is often used for mantels over fireplaces and reclaimed wood furniture as well. This is one of the most unique and colorful kinds of reclaimed wood flooring and you will want to consider this type of wood if you are going for a really rustic and weathered appearance to your flooring.
4. Hand-Hewn
Hand-hewn boards can offer the perfect rustic tone for any housing project. Hand-cut boards are not even and totally regular, which makes for a really unique and antique look for your reclaimed wood flooring project.
Hand-hewn boards can be cut from nearly any kind of reclaimed wood minus some of the hardwoods. You will love the colors of walnut, pink, or even elm in your house flooring project. Make sure that you are able to source enough hand-hewn wooden flooring boards for the entire floor that you need to cover. Sometimes it can be hard to get enough hand-crafted wooden flooring to meet the needs of large projects.
Reclaimed Wood Makes for Beautiful Flooring
Whether you want to make your modern apartment feel like a log cabin or you actually live in a log cabin, reclaimed wooden flooring can be a perfect option for your needs. There are lots of kinds of reclaimed wooden flooring out there, and you can even go hunting for reclaimed wood on your own if you love adventures and sourcing unique materials with your own two hands.
Reclaimed wooden flooring can offer your home the rustic look that you have been wanting. Being able to create flooring that is new but looks old and well-loved is important in a rustic house design. You don’t actually have to live in an old cabin in the woods to have a rustic living space that feels authentic.
Reclaimed wooden flooring in all of its various types can be the right way to create a perfectly beautiful, rustic living space that welcomes you each time you come home.
