We’re all being urged to be more environmentally conscious these days. A big part of this is being able to make use of old materials that might otherwise end up being discarded. Wood is a good example of this, as it can be reused in many different ways.
There is inevitably some wastage in this process. Some parts of the timber may be damaged due to holes or water marks, for example, so it therefore needs to be cleaned up before it can be put to a new use.
Indoor Use
Wood that has been used indoors can quite often be reused with minimum extra work involved. Interior panelling or parquet flooring in Ireland, for example, may just need to be refitted – with little work needed to make it fit a new location.
It’s important that the wood is sensitively removed from its original position in order to minimise damage and therefore waste. If you’re buying from a salvage specialist such as Wilsons Yards, they should have taken the time to ensure the product is in good condition.
Of course, timber is a natural material and some variation in colour or even the odd imperfection can add character to a project, so don’t discard pieces just because they don’t quite match.
Take Care When Buying
If you’re buying reclaimed wood for a particular project, then you need to ensure that you order the right quantity. Allowing for wastage is an important part of this, because if you find you don’t have enough material to finish the job, you may have trouble sourcing more to match. You should therefore allow a percentage for waste in your measurements and order enough to allow for this.
If you don’t need the material straight away, it’s vital that you store it properly. If you’re bringing old wood into a heated house, it’s likely to shrink so you need to allow for this too. Store it in the room where it will be used to allow it to acclimatise before you start to use it.
You also need to make sure that any wood you’re buying has been properly treated against rot and pests. This helps ensure that it will have a long life, continue to look good for many years to come and may well be reused again in future.
