Salvaged Wood Flooring: Rustic, Vintage, and Hip
If you're drawn by the ambiance of your grandma's old farmhouse, consider adding salvaged wood flooring to your own home. Those six inch wide planks with rustic knots can make quite a statement.
Vintage Hardwood Flooring: Old Is In
Salvaged wood has become a niche business, as people enjoy the look and the environmental benefits of older wood. This focus on recycling and reclaiming housing materials has lead to a unique submarket of suppliers for you to tap into.
You'll find salvaged wood flooring that was pulled out of barns, old houses and even office or school buildings. The products will range from wide plank pine to long boards of oak or maple. Some might be in great shape while others will have some added character that people are calling "distressed." The great part is that the material comes with a rich history.
Finding Salvaged Wood Flooring
You can start by contacting local hardwood flooring distributors, as many have contacts with salvage companies across the country. Because of the way they acquire salvaged wood, you might have to wait a little while for the specific wood species, size, or quantity you're seeking.
Home owners can do some of the legwork themselves, but sometimes contractors have inside sources in this part of the industry. They might know that a certain business in Oregon has great hardwood flooring pulled out of old barns, for example.
Installation: Salvaged Wood Skills
When it comes to installation, you'll have to consider your skill level. Some hardwood flooring can be easy to install if you've done this type of work before. You'll need good carpentry skills, as there will be layout, measuring, and cutting involved. If you're not looking for that did-it-myself, rustic look, however, it might be better to let a contractor handle the job.
You'll also want to think about where to add the hardwood flooring, as it should flow with the rest of the house. If you can buy it for the entire first floor, that is ideal. Otherwise, use it to showcase a few rooms, such as the kitchen and dining room. Any flooring in adjacent rooms should be more subtle so that it falls to the background from a design perspective.
Once you find the perfect salvaged wood flooring, ask for details about its past. Did it come from an old barn in New York or an old mansion in Chicago? Those details will then become part of the character that shapes your house.
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