Here are six more reclaimed wood projects to consider tackling:

Rustic furniture

Quality recycled lumber can be easily transformed into simple, rustic furniture such as tables or bookshelves. Don’t worry if the piece isn’t perfect or doesn’t have that polished, “professional” look – imperfections add to its character and charm. Just keep in mind when pre-drilling any holes that the hole should be slightly smaller than the screws you’ll be using to fasten the pieces together.

Coat rack

If you have leftover wood from a shelf that you just had redone, think twice before throwing it out. Instead, use it to build a coat rack; attach hooks to the front of the board and mounting software to the back to create handy storage for jackets, scarves and hats.

Home beams

Recycled lumber can also be used for more involved home renovation projects. For example, you can make a decorative beam out of reclaimed 2x4s; just glue two of them together to form a 4×4 beam. Fill in the cracks with wood putty, and stain or paint the new beam a vibrant color before hanging it from the ceiling.

Children’s toys

Reclaimed wood is great for making children’s toys, as well. Project ideas can include blocks (paint or burn numbers and letters onto the cubes), doll beds, wooden trains, forts, and anything else your (or your child’s) imagination can come up with.

Porch renovation project

Here’s a more practical use for salvaged wood: Repair any damaged boards in your front porch. Using reclaimed wood for repairs is particularly desirable if you have an older home.

[ photo by: jeffedoe, on Flickr, via CC License ]

Voyage across the sea

Companies across the Pacific Ocean send many products into the United States via Portland – including raw steel and other heavy cargo. Because the packaging containers take such a beating from these weighty items, the strongest and sturdiest wood is needed to survive the journey across the ocean. Tropical hardwoods are harvested to make these rugged crates, which are then loaded into the hold of a ship and tossed around on the rough sea.

Entry into Portland

By the time these shipments arrive in Portland, the packing crates have sustained quite a beating. At the Port of Portland, the cargo is unloaded for the next leg of its journey while the banged-up crates are tossed into a pile of refuse. Unfortunately, due to the nature of offloading ships, the waste gets commingled, making it very difficult to recycle.

Sorted for use

This is where we come in. To prevent all of these materials from going into a landfill, we separate the waste, recycling the pieces we can’t use and setting aside the high-quality recycled timber that can be made into reclaimed wood floors, panels and furniture.

Restored to beauty

Now the real work begins. Every piece of lumber must go through many processes to tap its inner beauty. We kiln dry the wood to stabilize it. Then the rugged exterior of each piece of reclaimed timber is milled to bring out the beautiful character and hues of the original wood. Finally, our reclaimed wood floors are packaged up, shipped out and installed in homes and businesses, where they become exotic and stunning reclaimed wood floors.

[ Photo by: Sardonic G, on Flickr, via CC License ]

The Rainforest Alliance is an organization that seeks to conserve biodiversity and fight poverty worldwide by encouraging better land-use practices, business practices and consumer decisions. Not only does the alliance help protect forests by educating people about the economic benefits of responsible forest stewardship but it points a neon arrow for consumers at products whose materials have been sustainably harvested. Coffee, wine, hair care products, a variety of foods and reclaimed wood products (such as our reclaimed wood floors) that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council are all examples of items that can bear the Rainforest Alliance seal.

Using recycled lumber instead of virgin wood is one way to make a home construction or remodeling project less harmful to the Earth. In fact, it is possible to build an entire house out of reclaimed timber – it’s been done right nearby in Beavercreek, Ore. – as beams, decks, wood floors and even cabinetry can all be made from reclaimed wood.

Still not convinced? Here are three reasons to buy Rainforest Alliance certified products:

1. The Rainforest Alliance helps stop deforestation

The primary drivers of environmental annihilation – logging, farming, cattle ranching and tourism – are big targets for this organization. Through their efforts, the managers of millions of acres of hotel properties, forests, ranches and farms now follow strict eco-conscious standards. By buying recycled lumber and other certified products, consumers send a strong message to companies that don’t follow sustainable practices: Fall in line, or get out of business.

2. The Rainforest Alliance is helping to end poverty

Many of the culprits in deforestation and habitat destruction are native residents who have no other livelihood but to clear-cut their local forests and sell the timber illegally. As part of its program to end deforestation, the Rainforest Alliance provides these impoverished communities with the tools and education to not only sustainably manage their natural resources, but to thrive.

3. The Rainforest Alliance makes businesses more accountable

The rampant greed and excesses of unchecked commercialism have gone on far too long. Thanks to organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, companies are having a harder time hiding their destructive practices. When consumers buy reclaimed timber and other authentically sustainable products, businesses realize they have to walk the talk in order to succeed in today’s marketplace.

Getting Started: A Thorough Cleaning and Inspection

Carefully examine your floors and categorize the blemishes you find. Are your floors plagued with rot, gaps, woodworm or stains? Once you understand what kind of damage you need to fix, it will be much easier to gather the supplies and any expert help you need.

To see your floors at their best, clean them prior to your examination. Sweep or gently vacuum them to begin. (Use a vacuum that doesn’t have a beater bar.) Ideally, you should sweep your recycled lumber floors on a daily basis, since dirt can easily scratch them. Spot-clean any areas that need extra attention. A thorough cleaning will help you more accurately assess the type and extent of the damage you’ll be dealing with.

Filling Shallow Scratches: Buff, Beeswax and Wood Filler

If you find shallow scratches, you may be able to remove them yourself. If the installer of your reclaimed wood floors suggested a cleaning agent, try spraying it on a paper towel and applying it to the scratch. Very shallow scratches can often be buffed out this way.

Otherwise, shellac, beeswax or wood filler may be used to fill in scratches – although it’s a good idea to check with your reclaimed wood flooring manufacturer first. Fill the scratch completely, and wipe away excess filler. Once the area is completely dry, sand lightly.

Filling Gaps between Boards with Fillets

Fillets are narrow pieces of wood; for reclaimed wood floors, you may choose to use recycled lumber fillets to match what you already have. To place a fillet, begin by carefully measuring the space that needs to be filled. Next, cut the fillet materials to match. Cover both sides of the fillet with wood glue, then gently tap the piece into place using a hammer or wooden mallet. Wipe away excess glue. Sand lightly when the area is dry.

Bleaching Out Dark Stains

To eradicate dark stains, carefully apply bleach until the stained area matches the tone of the surrounding recycled lumber.

Darkening Light Stains with Finish

If you find a stain that has made the reclaimed wood lighter than surrounding floorboards, try reapplying finish. You can always sand the stained wood back with sandpaper if this approach doesn’t work.

Repairing Wet Rot, Dry Rot and Woodworm

Should you discover an area of your reclaimed wood floors that has worn away due to rot or pest infestation, you should apply a product meant to fix all three problems at once. Be sure to spot check for color fastness; some of these anti-rot and anti-bug products can cause dark stains. Fill any holes or dents with wood filler; fillets may be used in extreme cases.

Sanding and Finishing

Once all of your repairs are done, sanding and finishing will protect your floors. You can sand just the areas where you made repairs, or you may feel it’s time to buff out the entire floor. Use a matching finish to stain repairs. Finally, apply a protective sealant. Obviously, you will want to match the finish that protects the rest of your reclaimed wood floors.

If your floor is extremely damaged, it may be best to replace it altogether.

[ Photo by: matt hutchinson, on Flickr, via CC License ]

Committing to use reclaimed lumber instead of virgin wood benefits the world’s forests – and because our forests are the world’s respirators, converting carbon into oxygen, healthier forests means healthier air and ecosystems for every living creature.

To be more specific, here are three more advantages to building with recycled timber:

Reclaimed Lumber is often stronger than virgin wood.

When compared to new flooring, reclaimed wood flooring is up to forty points harder on the Janka scale of hardness. That’s because old-growth timber is stronger than wood extracted from first-generation forests, and most reclaimed lumber is sourced from older construction sites, where old-growth wood was used.

For instance, recycled lumber is often repurposed from old barns. The beams and sidings of these old barns were almost always built from old-growth trees; after all, many pioneers had to clear acres of trees to make room for their farms.

Reclaimed lumber is healthy for the environment.

When it comes to flooring choices, you often have to select the lesser of two evils: Petroleum-based synthetic materials such as linoleum or carpeting, or newly milled resources such as slate or wood floors. Reclaimed wood products avoid the environmental hazards of both choices. Unlike carpet or linoleum, the manufacturing process for converting reclaimed lumber does not heavily pollute the environment. And unlike virgin wood, reclaimed lumber does not require more trees to be harvested from our forests.

Reclaimed lumber has a unique story to tell.

Consumers are moving away from the cookie-cutter model of mass consumption. They’re drawn toward unique, gorgeous products that have an interesting history. Reclaimed wood floors and other reclaimed timber products definitely fit the bill. Because it had a previous life as another product, reclaimed wood is often fascinating to behold. For instance, wood paneling constructed of recycled timber from old gym bleacher seats may still bear seat numbers. Just as furniture dealers highly value the patina older pieces earn over years of use, modern shoppers appreciate the memories recycled wood contains.

Incorporating Reclaimed Wood into Your Home

Just how might your resolution to use reclaimed lumber fit into your everyday life? Well, here are a few ideas:

Remodeling your bathroom. You might not think of the bathroom as a good place for reclaimed wood. After all, the moisture levels in your bathroom are quite high. For decades, builders have warned consumers about installing wood floors in their bathrooms, since high moisture levels can exacerbate wood’s natural tendency to expand and contract with shifts in moisture and temperature. However, a piece of reclaimed wood furniture can do well in a bathroom. Furniture manufacturers are now using reclaimed lumber to build many pieces. Furthermore, 4×8 veneer panels may be installed in any room of the house, since they are engineered to minimize wood’s natural expansion and contraction. In other words, you can enjoy reclaimed lumber in your bathroom, either by selecting furniture made of recycled timber or by building with 4×8 veneer panels.

Installing wood floors. Few homeowners install new floors more than once in their lifetimes. Wood floors are popular because they’re gorgeous, durable and sanitary. (Unlike carpet, a wood floor will not hold onto dirt and moisture.) However, many consumers are unaware that they can help the planet by choosing into install reclaimed wood floors. Recycled lumber from old gym bleachers, barns and shipping containers may be converted into gorgeous wood flooring. Indeed, it’s virtually impossible to distinguish reclaimed wood floors from flooring made from virgin timber.

Adding wood paneling. Wood panels add warmth to any room. It’s easy to choose panels made of reclaimed lumber. Indeed, the range of colors, woods and textures available in today’s reclaimed wood paneling is virtually limitless.

If you are truly passionate about doing your part to save the earth, you will probably stand by the resolution to favor reclaimed lumber products. Researchers tell us we are more likely to stick to our resolutions if they are specific, realistic and personally engaging. So if the idea of helping to save the planet makes your heart beat faster, “I will choose recycled timber whenever possible” is a good resolution for you.

Wood paneling doesn’t have to be dark and dreary or stuffy– indeed, today’s wood panels are available in a full range of colors, from the uber-light honey tones of Douglas Fir to the rich heartwood of redwood.

More manufacturers are using reclaimed wood for their paneling. This means modern reclaimed wood paneling is far from boring. Old gym bleachers, shipping containers and even barn siding can be turned into paneling. Oftentimes, the original details are left intact to create a visual story of the reclaimed wood’s past.. For instance, reclaimed wood sourced from old warehouses often contains nail marks; these dark oxide stains create a vintage character. By researching what reclaimed wood paneling is available, you can easily find a color and style that is just to your taste.

Even if your current wood paneling looks dark, you don’t have to take drastic steps to lighten it up. A few simple shifts in décor can dramatically brighten any paneled room. Below, we list a few interior decorating techniques for lightening and sprucing up wood paneling.

Bring in the Light

If your room is too dark, focus on your lighting. Oftentimes when a room feels dark it’s because the current lighting doesn’t provide the correct amount of ambient, task and decorative lighting. Ambient lighting brightens the entire room. Task lighting is used for focused activities, such as reading in a living room or cutting vegetables in the kitchen. And decorative lighting adds pizzazz, such as the beautiful pendant lamps you see in coffee shops.

Evaluate which of these lighting types is lacking in the room, and begin scouring garage sales, stores and vintage shops for gorgeous lighting fixtures. The right lighting can make even the darkest wood paneling warm and inviting.

Here are a few other lighting techniques you may not have considered:

• Replace heavy draperies with translucent curtains.
• Add a skylight.
• Place a beautiful framed mirror across from the room’s largest window to reflect light and make the room feel larger.
• Add candles to bring an inviting, introspective glow.
• Choose neutral creams, whites and grays to unify and brighten the space

Review your Furniture Choices

Heavy wood furniture will automatically make a wood paneled room feel dark. Aunt Mildred’s antique tallboy may be better suited to another room, for instance. To bring light into a room that’s covered with rustic wood paneling, think about adding a couple of glass-topped tables, which, like mirrors, will reflect light. Similarly, adding glass tiles around fireplaces and other built-in features will make the room seem lighter.

A comfortable couch with plenty of throw cushions can also make a dark room more inviting. Add a couple of side lamps or sconces, perfectly situated for reading or other lap work, and voila! You will have created a cozy area that every family member will be drawn to.

Accessorize

The finishing touches for your room will have a large influence on how people feel in it. For instance, by adding a large area rug (in neutral, light shades, of course) you can counteract the cold feeling of older wood paneling. Candles also make great accessories. And don’t forget to add plants. Indoor plants such as hostas, begonias and orchids automatically enliven any room.

These techniques can help you lighten a room with any kind of wood paneling, whether it’s sleek and modern, more rustic, or dark and formal. Wood paneling doesn’t automatically doom a room to gloom; with a few simple changes and no major remodeling, you can brighten the space quickly and affordably.

Jump won an “Innovation in Energy” award from the Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) for its design of a South Street Burger restaurant at the Shops at Don Mills in Toronto. According to South Street: “The principle sustainable goals for the creation of the Don Mills location included: reducing energy consumption, reducing waste water, reducing CO2 emissions and using green practices in material selections.”

In addition to reclaimed wood paneling, the restaurant incorporates green elements throughout, including solar-generated electricity and hot water; LED lighting; a heat-exchange hood system; air-cooled ice machines and high-efficiency fryers.  The award will be presented to South Street and Jump during the A.R.E. Design Awards ceremony at Globalshop 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 28.

South Street Burger previously won the annual “Green Leadership” award from Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine.

South Street is a progressive, premium-quality fast-food chain with stores throughout Ontario and Alberta.  Viridian Reclaimed Wood products have been used in several other South Street locations.

South Street Burger and Jump Branding & Design’s commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking design is directly in line with Viridian’s core values, and we’re extremely proud to be part of this award-winning project.

Reclaimed flooring is made from salvaged or repurposed materials, such as recycled timber, and it not only reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills but also curbs the demand for virgin materials. There’s no doubt that reclaimed wood floors are great for the environment. But, as a homeowner, you’ve got also to consider economics.

Fortunately, reclaimed wood floors are a good investment for your home, as well. Here’s why:

1. Reclaimed flooring has curb appeal

Rich in color and style, reclaimed wood floors add depth and character to any room in which they are installed. Hardwood floors have always been a major selling point in real estate, and tropical hardwoods are especially prized for their beauty and durability. Imagine the delight of future prospective buyers when they walk into your home and discover that not only does it have stunning tropical hardwood floors, but that the reclaimed flooring is 100 percent guilt-free.

2. Recycled timber is often more durable than virgin wood

Old buildings, many of which were made from old-growth trees, are a common and abundant source of recycled timber. Thus, the lumber has a straighter grain and higher density than new lumber – properties that make reclaimed wood floors stronger than their virgin counterparts. And stronger floors last longer.

3. Reclaimed wood floors can help you qualify for LEED certification

An increasing number of homeowners are becoming aware of the value of earning LEED certification for a sustainable home remodel or construction. However, the certification process is a rigorous one, requiring eco-conscious decisions at every step – including flooring installation. Reclaimed flooring that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council can help homeowners meet the stringent LEED qualifications.

Reclaimed wood wall hanging.

Reclaimed timber has a natural beauty that doesn’t require a lot of effort to bring out. Cut out small planks of recycled lumber in a variety of lengths, using the same thickness. Now lay them on the floor and assemble them like a jigsaw puzzle into the desired shape. For example, you could arrange them into a square or rectangle, or you can create an asymmetrical design. Fasten them together by either gluing them onto a sheet of plywood or screwing small, flat support brackets over the seams, and add mounting hardware. You can stain the planks different colors, paint or whitewash over them, or use decoupage glue to create a collage.

Hanging ladder.

A wall ladder can stand alone as a decorative element, or it can be used for storing colorful scarves. Cut out several uniform planks of reclaimed wood in the desired size – for example, you can use six pieces that are each four inches wide and two feet long – and drill holes about an inch from each end of each piece. Loop twine through the holes, a knot under each hole to hold the plank in place, spacing the wood pieces about six inches apart. Use mounting hardware to hang your recycled lumber ladder.

Words or shapes.

If you have a jigsaw, you can cut your reclaimed timber into words or shapes, which can be stained, painted or covered in decoupage. Set them on the mantel, or hang them using mounting hardware.

You don’t have to be a professional to use recycled lumber for your projects. Figure out where your inspiration lies and start creating!

Give Ceilings a Face Lift

Instead of using reclaimed wood to panel the walls, apply it to the ceiling instead. Wood paneling on the ceiling can completely change the style of a room, lending a more colonial, Victorian or country feel, depending on the type of wood. Similarly, a basement ceiling paneled in reclaimed wood can give your lower level a British pub atmosphere. To make a room feel more spacious and rustic, you can even hire a professional to remove the existing ceiling and create a vaulted effect with reclaimed wood paneling.

By incorporating wood paneling made of different types of reclaimed wood, you can also create a stylish, patterned look on your ceiling. For example, cut the wood paneling into small pieces and assemble them in a mosaic pattern.

Spruce up Wood Furniture

Give old furniture a new life by covering it reclaimed wood paneling. With nothing but a saw, glue, finishing nails and reclaimed wood panels, you can make cheap or shabby furniture look more expensive, adding both value and aesthetic appeal.

Create Custom Doors and Tables

Wood paneling can also be used to make doors and tables. If you’re looking for a certain style, reclaimed wood paneling can be constructed into a door that matches your wood preference and is tailored to fit your style. Similarly, custom tables can be made to your specifications and accommodate most heights or widths.

Don’t fall into the misconception that reclaimed wood paneling is only used for walls and cabinetry. Use wood paneling to create a door, ceiling, table or whatever else you can think of to enhance your home décor.