Quality Matters: 5 Things to Look for When Finding A Reclaimed Wood Source

How to find the best reclaimed wood for your project

Reclaimed wood is a popular choice for flooring, paneling, furniture and custom installations that is sustainable, recycled and filled with natural beauty. Reclaimed wood is often sourced from old barns, industrial buildings, fences, water towers, and other vintage structures and can display signs of age and distress, including nail holes, oxide stains and saw marks. Along with the age of this wood comes many obstacles to provide quality, consistent and stable flooring and paneling that is easy to install and maintain for the customer.

Not all reclaimed wood sources are equal, and unfortunately there are few regulations for the reclaimed wood industry. It’s important to ask your supplier questions about the processing and sourcing of their wood to make sure it is good choice. Here’s a list of 5 things to look out for to make sure your reclaimed wood is high quality and will last another lifetime.

1. Limited Waste

   Since reclaimed wood comes in the original dimensions, varying widely in lengths, widths and heights, it can be a challenge to mill it down without losing some wood along the way. Manufacturers must be smart about how they mill the wood from the original dimensions, taking into account waste and trying to minimize it. Offering variable-width products can help reduce the waste factor while providing a product with dimensional options.

2. Kiln Dried Wood

   Kiln drying wood involves drying wood in a stable environment until a specific moisture content is achieved. This eliminates any trace of insects or fungus that may be present in the wood. Reclaimed wood is particularly susceptible to harboring insects and fungus due to the age and must be kiln dried to ensure quality. Kiln drying reclaimed wood also ensures a more stable dimensional product, as boards are less likely to cup and warp once kiln dried. It is essential to inquire if your reclaimed wood is kiln dried for long-lasting quality.

3. Ready and Easy to Install

   If you are purchasing reclaimed wood flooring and paneling, make sure to inquire about the wood’s profile, as it will greatly affect the installation process. Tongue and groove paneling and flooring makes it much easier to install, as the boards fit together seamlessly, improving the structural stability of the floor or wall. On the other hand, purchasing plank flooring or cladding requires much more work to install, and can lead to an irregular look. At Anthology Woods, we offer a ThinClad tongue and groove paneling that is very thin and lightweight cladding, which makes transporting and installing the wood much easier.

4. Customer Service

   Quality and thoughtful customer service is essential for finding the right reclaimed wood for your specific application. Make sure you have a regional representative who is knowledgeable about the product, from source to installation, and someone who can answer any of your questions about the wood. It can be challenging to find a reclaimed wood source that provides both a quality product and a helpful customer interface.

5. Custom Options

   When you want that perfect look, it’s important to get exactly what you want. Sometime buying out of the box just doesn’t cut it! Having the option to create a custom product, with specific dimensions, colors and styles, is essential for custom projects. Make sure to find a reclaimed wood source that can offer the right product for you and talk to your regional representative about custom dimensions and styles. Quality reclaimed wood companies will ask about the application of the wood in order to find the right material for you that will last.

At Anthology Woods, we strive to provide the best experience for our customers, from start to finish. We provide clear lead times, which gives the customer the ability to plan for their project, as well as installation and maintenance guidance, for a successful experience once the wood arrives at your door. Give us a call or email us to find the perfect product for your project.