What is reclaimed wood? Colorado reclaimed wood is wood planks that have a previous history. It is wood that is retrieved from an original source, usually one with a long history that has weathered the elements for years, used for an entirely new purpose. Reclaimed wood gives new life to old wood.
A Piece of History
Reclaimed wood is rich in culture and has a story to tell. It comes from a variety of places, including:
- Old Barns
- Storage Crates
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Wine Barrels
- Retired Ships
- Bridges
Many people enjoy knowing that when they use reclaimed wood, they preserve a piece of history. It’s a way to celebrate the history of America and keep the legacy of the original wood source alive.
A Unique Appearance
Since reclaimed wood consists of recovered and reused wood building materials, it looks different from other types of wood. Mass-produced wood looks uniform. Reclaimed wood has a weathered beauty that cannot be replicated. It has ageless attributes. Every piece has its own character and architectural quality.
Strength and Durability
Old wood is known to be some of the most stable wood available. Three main factors contribute to this stability.
- Old wood typically comes from trees that stood for hundreds of years. This wood had time to mature and grow.
- Reclaimed wood comes from factories, warehouses, or even homes that were built with strong, sturdy wood that stood strong and straight for years.
- Old wood has experienced significantly more changes in weather, humidity, and temperature than newly harvested wood. The resulting contracting and expanding makes the wood more durable.
Environmentally Friendly
Reclaimed wood is all about the reusing and recycling. Reclaimed wood is repurposed material that utilizes something old and makes it new. As the demand for newly-harvested wood increases, reclaimed wood fills that need without cutting down more trees, helping preserve forests in the process. Furthermore, many people feel using reclaimed wood is a way they can save the animals, insects, and other plant life that is impacted when new wood is harvested. It is a way they choose to contribute to society and better the environment.
Reclaimed Wood Alternatives
Depending on where you live, it may be challenging to locate reclaimed wood for your building project. However, there are alternative wood products available that provide the look and feel of reclaimed wood without harvesting new trees.
Montana Ghostwood is an alternative reclaimed wood or specialty wood product. It is a type of wood primarily made from dead standing timber of Ponderosa and Lodgepole pine. Since it is derived from timber lost to forest fires or beetle infestation, consumers wishing to avoid new wood can make an eco-conscious choice with Montana Ghostwood.
The creator of Montana Ghostwood – Bitterroot Valley Forest Products – is committed to making quality products using innovative, new ways. Their products come from SFI and FSC certified sawmills to promote ethical logging practices. Plus, the proprietary multi-step process used to create Montana Ghostwood uses an eco-friendly finish, so when exposed to UV light or inclement weather, it continues to age and produce a timeless look.
Characteristics of Montana Ghostwood
Montana Ghostwood visually resembles the look of other types of reclaimed wood. It comes in different shades, colors, sizes, and even textures. Montana Ghostwood is available in four colors – Silver City, Bannack Brown, Ruby River, and Blackfoot.
It comes in Weathered or Circle Sawn textures. One texture has a weathered raised grain appearance, while the other has circle sawn markings combined with that old, natural grain appearance. Between the darker and lighter tones and the variety of textures, each piece of Montana Ghostwood looks original and unique.
Recycled Waste
Montana Ghostwood can be cut to fit exact sizes. This practice reduces and cuts down on wood that would otherwise be wasted during installation. In fact, nothing is wasted during the production of Montana Ghostwood. When the milling is complete, all sawdust, shavings, and chips are saved. Shavings are 100% kiln-dried and dust vacuumed, then placed in recycled plastic bags. Local farms and ranches receive the leftovers to use for bedding, compost, and other agricultural uses.
Defect Control
During the production process, Montana Ghostwood is inspected for defects. Defective boards are gathered during each production step, which is not the norm for the reclaimed wood industry. When working with reclaimed wood, you will come across rotted or split boards. Experts estimate somewhere between 30 – 70% of reclaimed wood is unusable. You can anticipate little to no defects with Montana Ghostwood.
Reclaimed Versus Alternative Reclaimed
Are you trying to decide between reclaimed wood and an alternative product such as Montana Ghostwood? First, outline what you need the wood for and whether your project will work better with one or the other. Next, think about the overall look you are trying to accomplish.
Reclaimed wood is used in both residential and commercial locations. The interior and exterior possibilities are numerous, including flooring, siding, cabinets, accent walls, wood beams, and more. Customers find the rustic aesthetic appeal fits a wide range of uses.
You can’t go wrong with reclaimed wood or Montana Ghostwood. Your project is bound to look beautiful with either option, so determine what is best for you and go for it. You will love the end results.
