For those who are looking for ways to ‘go green’ but are unwilling to compromise on either luxury, style or quality, begin by installing reclaimed wood floors in your homes. Reclaimed or recycled wood floor looks as magnificent as its traditional counterpart. Additionally, it attaches historical value and thereby, a unique character that cannot be replicated by new wood.
What are Reclaimed Wood Floors?
Reclaimed wood floors are refers to flooring that have been made from wood salvaged from demolition sites, vintage houses, lumber and textile mills. Some other sources of old wood are piers, barns, factories and dismantled warehouses. Wood retrieved from these places is re-finished for use in modern settings in order to reduce the negative environmental impact of harvesting trees.
Trees are put to use in every aspect of life, be it for writing or flooring purposes. The hardwood flooring industry is reported to have produced $1.9 billion products in 2005. With the rising popularity of wood floors, this number has constantly risen. If this continues for a few more years, the loss of trees will effect the environment drastically.
Although great initiatives have been taken by several countries to plant trees, the deforestation rates far exceed the rate at which trees mature. Therefore, reclaiming wood for flooring purposes seems to the ideal way of supporting the ‘green’ ideology as well as preserving some of the historically-significant artifacts.
Reclaimed Wood Floors: Benefits and Maintenance
You can be absolutely confident about the durability and stability of reclaimed wood floors since they have already stood the test of time and have proven their worth. Also, wood that has been seasoned with passing time has a unique look and feel. Some wood sources, such as oak from the Irish old beer vats or from the Russian railway coaches, can be more exotic than others. However, any other kind of wood will also give you a perfect blend of old-time charm and modern aesthetics.
It is a common, and wrong notion that recycled wood flooring requires greater care and maintenance when compared to modern wood floors. The maintenance of wood flooring varies according to the type of wood and its finish. Wood floors require regular cleaning, as dirt will spoil the protective finish, thereby ruining the floor quickly.
You can vacuum clean or use a dust mop. Occasional wet mopping is a good idea but excessive moisture can ruin the floor. Avoid using oil-based soaps or wax-based solutions. A best cleaning strategy would be to use a mop dampened with white vinegar and water.
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