In order to “make room for progress” many historic homes, barns, and buildings are being torn down. Do you ever wonder what happened to the wood floors in those buildings? Until recently the flooring was often destroyed with the building. More and more often today salvage companies are working with the demolition companies and removing anything that can be reused, from the kitchen sink to the wood floors.
Salvaging Wood Flooring
Removing the flooring from old structures before demolition is one way to save a part of history and help the environment. The popular term for the floors that have been salvaged is reclaimed wood floors. We’ve partnered with several salvage companies throughout the Mid-Atlantic who go into homes, barns, warehouses, and other buildings prior to demolition and carefully remove the wood flooring for reuse.
What stories could those reclaimed wood floors tell?
Recently we gained exclusive access to some beautiful Chestnut from a barn in middle Tennessee. This reclaimed wood was authentically dated to 1909.The grain on this wood not only makes it a standout for which ever home or homes we end up installing it in, but imagine the story this wood has behind it. If the wood was laid in 1909, it has seen a lot. Perhaps it had illegal stills sitting upon it during prohibition. There may have been one or more families struggling through the depression hoping to keep its cows producing milk in that barn. A first and last kiss may have been stolen before a soldier headed off to war. Yes, it’s true we might not be able to know exactly what happened upon it but nonetheless, reclaiming wood flooring is a great way to capture history and beautify your home.
If you’re considering hardwood flooring for your home, reclaimed wood can add a great deal of texture, dimension, and charm. Reclaimed wood flooring often has wider planks than modern wood floors. The knots, divots and grain pattern of woods like Hickory and Chestnut can’t be found in today’s wood. Naturally, older wood has imperfections from wear and tear that many homeowners find beautiful.
Reclaimed wood floors are about more than just the history, it’s about our environment too. Today, reclaimed wood is being sourced for flooring, furniture, and décor. It’s a way of honoring the earth and making use of what we already have. If you’re interested in finding out more about reclaimed wood flooring available today from Seer Flooring, contact us at 727-785-1930.