Salvaged Wood

Lets all do our part to reduce the waste that goes into our landfills. We need to learn to reuse things we already have instead of constantly buying new stuff. New is not necessarily better. In the case of salvaged wood; old is actually better and may even be cheaper. So the next time you have a remodeling or restoration project, think about using salvaged wood.

Wood can be salvaged from old houses, barns, bridges, and industrial sites. The woodwork in older homes is unequalled in beauty and durability. The emphasis a few hundred years ago was on craftsmanship, something you do not see as often these days. The millwork, mantels, windows, and fireplace surrounds can all be reused. Flooring and beams provide a rustic touch to newer homes. Old barn boards can be recycled into flooring and wall paneling.

Most salvaged wood is from old growth forests. It is often 100-200 years old. By reusing this wood, we take some of the burden off the last of our old growth forests. We are using wood much faster than we can grow new trees, so anything we can do to save our resources will benefit us all in the long run. Old wood has a color and patina that cannot be reproduced. The natural aging process and oxidation varies depending on whether the wood was used in interiors or was exposed to the elements.

Old exterior wood takes on a beautiful silvery hue with the original color visible underneath. Most interior wood retains its natural color, but it mellows with age and wear. Most of the time salvaged lumber will have scarring from insects, nail holes, cracks, and other signs of wear. It is still durable; just has some character. Old wood is prized for its durability, straight grain, and patina.

Furniture makers also love to work with salvaged wood to make one of kind pieces of furniture. Old mantels can be reused in new construction. I have even seen them used as spectacular headboards for a bed. Even if you dont have a fireplace, the mantels can be used as an architectural detail. Smaller pieces of wood become picture frames and may be used by crafters to make interesting birdhouses and other small pieces. The idea is not waste anything. Our forefathers were not wasteful and it is becoming apparent to many of us that they had the right idea.






 

Building Salvage News:

 

Architect Upgrades Cville Building Using Recycled Materials - NBC29 WVIR . - NBC 29 News

Architect Upgrades Cville Building Using Recycled Materials - NBC29 WVIR .
NBC 29 News
Everything old is new again in a Charlottesville apartment building that takes recycling to new heights. Architect Betty Driskill's adventure in reclaimed housing began when she became the owner of an apartment building on the corner of Henry Avenue .

and more »
..


Death toll from Bangladesh building collapse above 800
The death toll from a building collapse in Bangladesh surpassed 800 Wednesday, as salvage workers continued to pull bodies from the rubble two weeks after the disaster. ..


Recycled design - Chico News & Review

Recycled design
Chico News & Review
Equally unsurprising is the fact that his furniture-design/fabrication class is strictly focused on EURworking with reclaimed, recycled materials,EUR as he explained in a recent interview. Instead of relegating abandoned logs and boards and other discarded .

..


Steampunk Nintendo coffee table is made from recycled materials - Polygon

Steampunk Nintendo coffee table is made from recycled materials
Polygon
Etsy user Charles Lushear and Bohemian Workbench created a Steampunk-themed Nintendo coffee table from recycled and reclaimed materials. The table measures 40 inches in length and about 18 inches in height and is designed after the 1985 classic .

..


State looks to recycled asphalt for roads - Chillicothe Times-Bulletin (blog)

State looks to recycled asphalt for roads
Chillicothe Times-Bulletin (blog)
EURWe recycle and use over a million tons of reclaimed materials on our highways annually as a matter of everyday practice,EUR said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. EURWe believe Total Recycle Asphalt will take Illinois to a new level of .

and more »
..


UK & World News: Woman rescued from Dhaka rubble
Bangladesh rescue workers have freed a woman trapped for 17 days in the rubble of a collapsed garment factory building...


Bangladesh building collapse toll touches 931
Dhaka, May 9 (ANI): The death toll in the collapse of an eight storey building in Bangladesh's Savar area rose to 931 on Thursday, after rescuers pulled out 97 more decomposed bodies from its sandwiched floors overnight...


Bangladesh garment disaster death toll crosses 800
Dozens of bodies recovered Wednesday from a collapsed garment factory building were so decomposed they were being sent to a lab for DNA identification, police said, as the death toll from Bangladesh's ...


Boyertown School Board wants to salvage high school
Boyertown School Board members Tuesday rejected the administration's recommendation to raze the original high school building following a $55 million makeover of the campus...


 

Many, if not all of the links on this website are affiliate links which means that we will be compensated if you choose to buy at some point in the near future. Please accept our sincere thanks for your support.