When buying wood products, many people assume that newer wood is better than older wood. However, this is usually not true. There are many reasons why purchasing reclaimed lumber and reclaimed wood products is a better choice than buying new wood.

Worthy reclaimed wood vendors carry old-growth wood that is often of a higher quality than the new wood found in stores. Here are some of the main benefits of old-growth reclaimed wood:

Durability

Reclaimed lumber that comes from old-growth forests is naturally stronger than newly milled lumber. In fact, reclaimed hardwood flooring is often up to 40 points harder on the Janka hardness scale than comparable new flooring. Older forests have always been prized for their high-quality timber, in part because older trees are taller and thicker than younger ones. Some fir trees, for example, can live for more than 1,000 years.

Old wood is also more durable because it is dryer than fresh, new wood, making it less prone to warping or cracks. This level of stability and durability is not something that you can easily find in new wood; as older forests continue to disappear, most new wood these days comes from tree farms. Luckily, there are plenty of reclaimed wood products to be had!

Efficiency

Another reason to consider reclaimed lumber is because it is environmentally efficient. The more time a forest has had to develop naturally, undisturbed by industrialization and urbanization, the more efficient its eco-system becomes. Over many generations, trees develop and evolve within their local habitat and eco-system, making timber from older forests valuable because of its ecological efficiency.

When you choose reclaimed wood, you are getting wood that, while old, remains highly efficient. A building using reclaimed lumber can even receive LEED® certification points for environmental responsibility.

Locality

Reclaimed wood products frequently come from local wood sources. Today, most trees are grown on tree farms and cut down in batches, then shipped out all over the world to be sold in various markets. This process requires a lot of energy and transportation, which has a negative impact on the environment.

With reclaimed wood, however, you are often using wood that was already located near you. This helps reduce the number of trucks on the road and the amount of gas used in transporting lumber. Additionally, reclaimed timber often comes from local forests, and wood is naturally more stable and weather resistant in its natural geography.

Tradition

Reclaimed lumber often carries a piece of local history. Reclaimed wood can be salvaged from old barns, school gymnasiums, warehouses and restaurants – some dating back more than 100 years. By taking care of this old-growth wood and giving it new purpose, you’re helping to keep a bit of local history alive.