Over the last decade, sustainability has become more of a priority for homeowners, builders and retailers. This has resulted in reclaimed wood becoming increasingly popular, as by nature it is recycled and reused – saving cutting down more trees. Reclaimed wood can add a rustic charm to your property, whether it’s used for flooring, walls, doors or furniture. Today we’re answering some of the questions we’re often asked about reclaimed floorboards.
How much do reclaimed floorboards typically cost compared to new?
Reclaimed wooden floorboards typically cost more than new floorboards, due to the amount of time and care involved in salvaging them. Just like with new floorboards, the price of reclaimed boards will depend on the type of wood, quality and thickness – but in general you can expect reclaimed flooring to be roughly 20% more expensive. The price of our reclaimed wooden floorboards ranges from £35 – £125 per m². We think that the beautiful unique grains and rustic look are well worth the slight increase in price though.
How to lay reclaimed floorboards
When it comes to laying your reclaimed wooden floorboards, the overall process is the same as if you were installing new wood – with just a few more elements to be considerate of.
If your subfloor is concrete, you’ll have to glue your floorboards in place, but if it’s wooden you can choose whether gluing or nailing is more appropriate for you.
It’s worth noting that reclaimed wood is often dryer and therefore less flexibly than newer wood, meaning it can be more likely to split. It’s therefore important to take care when hammering nails into the wood. We’d suggest pre-drilling the hole with a drill bit slightly smaller than your nail, to avoid risking splitting the wood.
Another consideration when laying reclaimed wooden flooring is where to place the boards based on things like knots, previous nail holes and the grain patterns. You may want to position a floorboard with particular character somewhere central to the room, or hide a board with lots of previous nail marks inside a cupboard. These imperfections only add to the old-fashioned charm of reclaimed wood, and allow you to be more creative in your placement of the boards.
Where can I buy reclaimed floorboards
There are reclamation yards all over the country selling a variety of types of reclaimed wood. Based in Oxfordshire, at Burgess Reclamation we provide high-quality and beautifully patterned reclaimed wooden floorboards. Whether you’re looking for solid oak flooring with a rich and interesting grain, or pale and versatile pine – we stock a
range of options for you to peruse.
Can you match existing hardwood floors?
Although it can sometimes be difficult to find reclaimed flooring that matches your existing floor, if you take the time searching for a close enough match, then the finish can be altered to get a very closely matching end product. Some factors to consider are the woods thickness, width, grain and patina.
If you’re interested in installing a beautiful reclaimed wooden floor, browse our range of
high-quality reclaimed floorboards for inspiration, or pop in to see us at Souldern Gate, Banbury Road, Souldern, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX277HT - and our friendly sales team will show you round.
