The growing popularity of reclaimed wood floors is a testament to the developing concern about the extensive use of our natural resources as well as the appreciation of unique designs. For the love of our environment, we harvest our materials in harmony with nature in a sustainable and responsible way. And just like you, we love how the look of reclaimed wood floors can bring warmth to any interior and the uniqueness that comes from no two pieces looking exactly alike.
Let’s talk about the hidden challenges of reclaimed wood floors…
Limited availability is a major obstacle for reclaimed wood.
Reclaimed wood is a limited resource which means that obtaining your reclaimed wood floor may require many months of searching. This leads to a second obstacle which is that you will often find a higher price point associated with reclaimed wood than you will with other hardwood flooring options.
We can’t always tell what reclaimed wood has been exposed to throughout its life.
Reclaimed wood is procured from barns, homes, fences and commercial buildings of all kinds. This can make it difficult to know for certain how healthy the product may be for your home. Between paints that may contain lead and chemical treatments and exposure to moisture that leads to fungal growth it can be a little bit risky to use unknown sources of reclaimed wood. For these reasons, it is highly suggested to be very careful when purchasing any real reclaimed wood products.
“If the wood comes from a commercial building, traces of heavy metal or other residues from the manufacturing process could pose a risk. Reclaimed materials should be tested in a laboratory to ensure they do not contain any hazardous materials.” – Ron; Hallmark Floors Technical Services Director
Are there any alternatives to reclaimed wood floors?
Absolutely! You can get a real reclaimed wood look that is environmentally and health conscious. Not to mention, you can get them at a lower price point.
“Today, there are hardwood collections that are environmentally friendly and also designed to duplicate the aesthetics of reclaimed wood floors.” -Ron; Hallmark Floors Technical Services Director
Hallmark Floors’ Organic collections are a more holistic approach to wood flooring. We have blended natural, vintage materials into contemporary living in order to compliment both nature and design trends. Additionally, these floors have a natural patina and are 100% handcrafted to create the most genuine real reclaimed visuals. Furthermore, the floors are finished with our two-stage hybrid oil system. The NuOil finish is ready to use straight from the box, stain resistant and super easy to maintain.
Click the links to find out more about these collections: Organic Solid + Organic 567 Engineered
“Manufacturers today are building the patina of reclaimed wood into brand-new flooring products. Solid and engineered hardwood formats can have all the distressed and eroded character of products much older so each board has a unique look.” – NAPS (North American Precis Syndicate)
Photo details: Floors are Earl Grey from our Organic 567 Collection. Installed by the highly recommended Spotlight Dealer Timberland Hardwood Floors in Omaha!
Not in the Omaha area? No problem! Find a Spotlight Dealer near you using our locator.
