Recycled timber furniture has been receiving significant attention from discerning customers in recent times. This is not very surprising since fashions and trends tend to be cyclical and most of the fashionable stuff that we crave for today were common a century or two ago. Perhaps, your grandma or great-grandma can even testify to this. But, timber has maintained its timeless allure and even in modern times, we find timber furniture of varying description nearly in every home. New homes and home improvement projects consume a significant amount of timber and this causes great strain on the environment and natural resources. Although many local bodies and federal governments have put in place effective systems to monitor our forests, greedy businesses often find ways to circumvent these provisions.
Some honest vendors have therefore drawn inspiration from this trend and focus on recycled timber derived from old construction sites and dilapidated buildings. Such timber would otherwise have headed for the landfill or other destinations where they would have had little or no productive use. But, you must know some basic facts before you decide on recycled timber furniture.
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What helps the growth in demand for these recycled timber furniture?
Aged timber comes with significant definition and character apart from enhanced stability on account of natural seasoning over many decades. More and more consumers are also leaning towards recycled timber furniture due to environmental concerns.
What features distinguish reclaimed timber?
Natural characteristics are present in all types of wood making it a desirable choice for furniture of varying description. However, with recycled timber would present an aged appearance with a unique texture that cannot be seen in new wood. Further, you may also notice certain imperfections in recycled timber furniture like uneven surface as well as marks. You should be inclined to appreciate these features since they contribute to the authentic character and uniqueness of reclaimed timber furniture.
Variations
Reclaimed timber comes from multiple sources and therefore the natural elements can vary significantly. This can also mean that within the same product, such as a dining set, the grain and shading can vary from one piece to the other, making each piece unique.
Knots
Knots are natural for every type of natural wood and this becomes an even more interesting feature with reclaimed timber. Knots do not impact the performance of your furniture but does add character.
Nail holes
Often you will notice small holes in reclaimed timber furniture. These holes occur when old nails are removed and are also one way of giving the furniture the antique look.
Source of recycled timber and the recycling process
Derelict and old buildings, bridges, old mills, warehouses, wood stores, shearing sheds, etc largely make up the source for recycled timber. The process involved in extracting wood from these sources is mostly manual and time-consuming. Further, it could take several days even to determine whether the wood extracted from these sources are fit enough to be recycled.
Once the suitability of the extracted timber for recycling is established, it reaches a recycling facility. In this facility, workmen remove the metal bolts, nails and other impediments embedded into the extracted timber. In the next stage of the process, the timber is dried and made into planks before moving into the skimming process. Depending on the quality of extracted timber, the drying and skimming process may be repeated to ensure that the recycled timber furniture you buy is free from natural defects.
Drying process
The moisture level in different pieces of recycled timber varies and therefore the drying process will also consequently be different for each variant. Generally, drying recycled timber takes between 3 and 6 months and the timber is ready for milling once the drying is completed. In the milling process, the recycled timber gets converted into desired shape and size for different end applications.
Choosing specific species of timber
Manufacturers of recycled timber take care to stack different species of recycled timber distinctly. However, classifying these can be a challenge due to cross-pollination, particularly when the region from which the timber originally came was heavily wooded.
Recycled timber flooring
If you are looking for recycled timber flooring, or recycled timber furniture, the best place to start shopping is the vendor’s showroom. Remember not to focus on specific wood species, as even the pieces obtained from identical species may look different when you consider the colour and texture. The better way of choosing recycled timber furniture is considered several elements apart from colour and including the originality, environment, hardness, climate, and individuality.
Consider the space where the furniture will sit
Standard sizes may not apply to recycled timber furniture. Always identify the space where your furniture will sit and preferably carry the exact measurements when you go shopping. This will also help the vendor to determine the best size that you can choose from.
In a nutshell, being an informed customer always helps and this is even more important when you are shopping for something like recycled timber furniture.