Reclaimed lumber is economically and environmentally advantageous.
While purchasing new wood for your commercial construction project seems like the best and most logical idea, reclaimed lumber is often the smarter way to go. Many different varieties of wood that used to be commonly found are now extremely rare due to high demand, deforestation, and essentially extinct. How can you maximize your project budget, get the wood you want to work with, and take advantage of reclaimed lumber?
Where Does Reclaimed Lumber Come From?
When people think of reclaimed lumber, many falsely think that it is low quality or damaged due to prior use. However, that’s not true at all! Reclaimed lumber comes from old buildings like barns or warehouses, railway sleepers, fences, wine barrels, and even beer casks. Wood that is reclaimed from buildings offers you the most flexibility because it will typically be longer and less customized. In addition to reclaimed lumber, there is also recovered lumber that is taken from trees that died naturally, fell over, or fell into bodies of water.
Environmentally Friendly
The primary benefit of reclaimed lumber is that it is incredibly environmentally friendly. By not purchasing new wood, you take advantage of one less tree and recycle something into a new product. Reclaimed lumber has the additional benefit of requiring less processing than virgin wood, so there is an even lower environmental impact.
Size & Character
Now that the demand for wood is so high, many wood planks that are used are not from fully mature trees. As a result, planks are typically shorter and more prone to splitting. One of the benefits of using reclaimed lumber is that it is typically from more mature trees, so planks can be longer and are generally less prone to splitting. Reclaimed lumber has also been exposed to the elements for a longer period of time so it is completely dry. As a result, reclaimed lumber will be more durable, less likely to warp, and more stable.
Character is the last major advantage of reclaimed lumber. Years of wear and tear and use give reclaimed lumber a special character that can’t be found in virgin wood. Every plank has a story and no two planks will be exactly the same, giving your finished project a much more unique and cool feel.
When it Comes to Reclaimed Lumber, Mahogany, Inc. Has You Covered
Mahogany Inc. is a general contractor that specializes in quality construction for residential and commercial projects. We have the expertise and experience to tackle whatever your custom woodwork job is (and acquire those hard to find woods you might want to use!). If you are looking for work that will set your living room, kitchen, or business apart, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 727-0334. To see examples of our wonderful work and see what our customers have to say, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.