Here at Winkleigh Timber, we use a lot of reclaimed wood, but what does that actually mean? In this blog, we’ll tell you a little more about reclaimed wood, how we source it, and why we choose to use it.
What is reclaimed wood?
Reclaimed wood is wood that has been taken from its original application and repurposed. In many cases, this timber comes from old buildings such as barns or warehouses and on docks, but reclaimed wood can also come from a range of other structures such as boxcars and barrels. It is then reclaimed for use in cabinetry, flooring, and furnishings.
You may have heard of similar terms such as recycled or salvaged wood, but these do not mean the same thing as reclaimed wood.
Recycled wood is wood that has been processed down into mulch and then reconstructed into new wood, unlike reclaimed wood, which can be cut up or reshaped but is otherwise kept in its original form.
Salvaged wood is wood that has been taken from trees that have fallen or been cut down for other purposes then cut and stored but has not previously been used in construction.
How we source our reclaimed timber
At Winkleigh Timber, we source most of our timber from right here in the UK. We have teams across the country that source old sites that are going to be demolished and will yield high-quality reclaimed timber. From these sites, we get more than just timber – we also occasionally find unique bricks, flagstones and tiles that can be repurposed. Sometimes we even come across original ‘walked on’ floorboards, which are especially rare.
We have a full range of different timbers that we work with, including old scaffold boards, factory ceiling boards, and even old oak beams that have been fished out of the water. Even timber that has been underwater for years can have brilliant and unique natural features that shine again in a new application.
Why reclaimed wood is so important
We believe that the use of reclaimed wood is incredibly important. Most people can agree that there is far too much waste in the world right now, especially in manufacturing, and we mean to be part of the solution, not the problem.
The use of reclaimed wood is a much more environmentally-friendly way of working with timber because it converts what would have otherwise been wasted into usable material.
Further to this, reclaimed wood has history and character. The natural feel, grain and knots in wood tell its story, as opposed to a new piece of mass-produced timber purpose-built for one application and then discarded. Knowing that your floor or dining table was once part of a historic building or a factory makes it that bit more intriguing.
Reclaimed wood is often hundreds of years old and having been exposed to the elements for so long can have a unique patina and is usually harder and denser than new wood, making it an excellent building material.
With many different terms used synonymously, it can be difficult to know what reclaimed wood really means, but the real thing is unmatched.
We truly believe reclaimed wood is something special, and a great building material to work towards a greener future, and hopefully we’ve shared a little of this passion with you for when you’re thinking about your next renovation.
To get started, you can view our selection of reclaimed pine and reclaimed oak flooring.
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