Reclaimed Wood Flooring – Comes from Old Barns, Homes, and Factories

The ultimate expression of recycling, reclaimed wood flooring is experiencing a significant surge in popularity. This rise is driven by several factors, not the least of which is the warm, aged, mellow tones of the wood. Additionally, the history embedded in the lumber itself adds character, as it may have previously been a barn beam or siding. Nail holes, insect borings, dents, dings, and stains create a rich tapestry that speaks to its past.

Reclaimed wood flooring comes from old barns, homes, and factories that are being dismantled or remodeled. Thick, heavy beams are a prime source, but old factory floors, often made of thick-cut slabs of oak, chestnut, hemlock, and heart pine—some species no longer available today—are also reclaimed. Barn siding is reclaimed when it has the necessary depth and isn’t too compromised by sun exposure.

In recent years, specialized reclamation and milling facilities have emerged to meet the growing demand for antique flooring. These mills are dedicated to sourcing, treating, and milling old lumber into usable flooring. All rough lumber they purchase must be thoroughly checked and de-nailed before sale. The lumber is then scanned for metal objects such as screws or nails, which could damage saws. Once cleared, the wood is heated to eliminate insect problems and stabilize moisture content to the industry-standard 6-8%.

The lumber is sorted by species and prepared for milling, which can be rough-sawn or smooth. Since this is antique wood, there may be unseen blemishes or issues that make some boards substandard, so each piece is meticulously inspected at the initial slab-cut stage. The boards are then planed to the appropriate thickness and given relief cuts on the back to allow for expansion and contraction. Finally, the boards are finished with details such as hand scraping, hand planning, eased edges, rough or smooth finishing, and a tongue-and-groove edge.

Many firms specializing in reclaimed wood flooring offer custom orders, allowing you to select the species, width, depth, length, and finish. These mills are also happy to provide complementary products from the same antique sources, such as casings, shoe moldings, and stair treads. Be prepared to pay a premium, as this work is labor-intensive, and supplies are strictly limited. However, for a warm, antique look, there’s nothing quite like a reclaimed wooden floor. Look for suppliers who are Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC), ensuring the wood meets rigorous sustainability standards. Purchasing FSC-certified wood can help you achieve LEED green building certification for your project.

What’s Available in Reclaimed Wood Flooring?

Eastern White Pine
Highly regarded for its clean, simple graining, subtle knots, and mellow warm tone, Eastern White Pine can also be made into very wide planks (up to 20 inches!) for floors, recreating the old-style wide-plank floors of yesteryear. Many prefer a more rustic surface treatment, such as saw kerfs or hand scraping, and these wider planks are perfect for face nailing or top nailing with reproduction antique nails.

Heart Pine
These huge timbers were nearly overharvested one hundred years ago due to their popularity as framing materials for barns in the South and factories in the North. Heart Pine offers one of the warmest, golden-umber-orange colorations of any antique wood, making it ideal for cabins, lodges, camps, and hearth rooms.

Oak
Known for its density and strength, oak has long been a favorite flooring material because of its ability to resist wear. With fine grain and distinctive features, oak offers warm golden tones accented by amber and coffee hues. Oak is a natural choice for Mission-style homes, bungalows, and Victorian houses.

American Chestnut
They just don’t make it like this anymore. In fact, American Chestnut was nearly wiped out by the 1905 blight. This rare, beautiful wood is an American classic, loaded with character—from light to dark tones, holes from worms and nails, and occasional knots. Chestnut gives your floor lots of visual interest.

American Elm
Once the most popular shade tree in the country, Elm was nearly eradicated by Dutch Elm Disease. Now, it is only available through reclaimed lumber from old barns and rural homes. Elm has a long, straight grain with few knots and offers tones ranging from light blond to soft reddish-brown, making it particularly attractive.

Hickory
Andrew Jackson’s nickname was “Old Hickory” due to his iron will and strength of character. Hickory is even harder than oak, ash, and maple—some of the hardest woods around. What’s more, hickory features an amazing grain that ranges from light to dark, creating an intensely beautiful and mesmerizing pattern. For durable floors with a “wow” factor, reclaimed hickory is an excellent choice.

Poplar
Frequently used for barn boards, Poplar often features rough-sawn marks, nail holes, stress cracks, knots, and lots of character. It displays a wide color palette, from warm, sunny yellow to honey amber to dark green. Poplar is a softer wood that dents and dings easily, so it’s usually pre-distressed before installation, giving your floor a warm, lived-in appearance.

Surface Barnwood
Once used as barn siding, Surface Barnwood is now repurposed into flooring rich with nail holes, water stains, knots, and splits. When the gray surface layer is milled away, it reveals the warm, rich amber to umber coloration of the heartwood beneath. Usually a mix of softwoods such as hemlock, spruce, white pine, and red pine, it’s full of character.

Ash
Once the preferred wood for axe handles, tool handles, and even baseball bats, Ash has a long and useful history. Its tight grain and strength made it a popular choice for support beams in barns, homes, and factories across the Northeast. More formal than some reclaimed woods, Ash has a refined, dignified golden-brown grain that adds a sense of history to your floors. Ash is also more humidity-tolerant and even elastic, making it a perfect choice for installation over radiant heat.