Although reclaimed wood is popular for its eco-friendly, versatile, and durable traits, it also has a few drawbacks. These range from its high costs and the potential pests it may harbor, to the difficulties in sourcing the wood.
This article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of choosing reclaimed wood for your next project.
| Advantages of Reclaimed Wood | Disadvantages of Reclaimed Wood |
| Durability | Price |
| History | Availability |
| Eco-Friendly | Quality Concerns |
| Design and Aesthetics | Pest Infestation |
| Versatility | |
| Lower Costs |
Advantages of Reclaimed Wood
✓ Durability
Reclaimed wood usually comes from old-growth trees that have had decades, and sometimes even centuries, to mature. These trees grow slowly, and their rings are more closely spaced, making them denser and more durable than younger trees.
Repurposed has seen it all, from harsh weather conditions to years of daily wear and tear. These conditions toughen the wood and make it stronger than standard options since any weak wood would have given in and be unusable as reclaimed wood.
| Quick Note: On the Janka hardness scale, reclaimed wood is up to 40 points higher than younger virgin wood. |
Reclaimed wood is naturally resistant to warping and splitting and only needs minimal maintenance. In other words, it has been tried, tested, and trusted.
✓ History
Each piece of reclaimed wood has gone through a unique journey. It has weathered different obstacles and has stood the test of time. When you use reclaimed wood for your indoor or outdoor construction, you’ll be infusing a sense of historical and cultural value.
Reclaimed wood can also be a great conversation starter. Your visitors will appreciate the rich history and significance that your furniture pieces represent.
✓ Eco-Friendly
Reclaimed wood is environmentally friendly. By using reclaimed wood for your home projects, you’re reducing the demand for new timber. This, in turn, mitigates deforestation and environmental pollution.
Reclaimed wood is obtained from old barns, buildings, and structures that are nearing the end of their lifespan. Instead of this wood going to waste or ending up in a landfill, it is given a second chance. This way, new trees don’t have to get chopped up.
Reclaimed wood eliminates the risk of discharging gasses into the air during wood disposal. When wood is burned, decomposed, or landfilled, carbon released into the atmosphere can pollute the air. Reusing the wood for other purposes reduces your carbon footprint, as the carbon stays put for years to come.
Furthermore, reclaimed wood betters the environment by cutting down on emissions released during the wood manufacturing process.
✓ Design and Aesthetics
Reclaimed wood is available in different grain patterns, finishes, colors, and species. Each piece has undergone a completely different journey which has helped to shape its appearance and knot.
This means you get to find rare designs that you can’t find with newer trees, or even anywhere. You can create any look you want with reclaimed wood, whether you’re going for a modern vibe, a minimalistic one, or something rustic.
If you’re lucky, you might even get your hands on scarce, almost-extinct exotic wood species like Heart Pine, American Chestnut, or American Elm.
✓ Versatility
Reclaimed wood can serve a wide range of purposes. From flooring and furniture-making to cabinetry and decoration, it works for everything new timber can be used for.
What’s more, reclaimed wood is popular among builders, designers, homeowners, and DIY enthusiasts. As such, this cherished material is often put to use in a variety of projects.
✓ Lower Costs
Rare logs like quarter-sawn Oak, American Elm, and the like are either unavailable or come at high prices. Reclaimed wood allows you to access these logs at lower prices. The only caveat is that it’s second-hand wood.
Since reclaimed wood is already available and used, there’s no need for extra processes like logging, debarking, and packaging—all of which usually make wood production expensive.
| Note: Depending on specific cases and how you view them, the issue of cost can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. |
Disadvantages of Reclaimed Wood
✗ Price
Reclaimed wood may be a cost-efficient way of getting rare wood species at lower prices, but that’s not to say it’s cheap.
Reclaimed wood is known for harboring pests and other undesirables and thus needs to be subjected to a treatment process. This, plus the cost of salvaging the wood, removing the nails, cleaning it, and making it fit for use, can make prices rack up pretty fast.
In the end, the total cost of purchasing and revitalizing reclaimed wood pieces becomes more expensive than just getting fresh lumber.
To learn how to get reclaimed wood within budget, read our article: “Where to Get Reclaimed Wood for Free or Cheap.”
✗ Availability
This is probably the biggest issue with reclaimed wood. You can find regular wood at any home improvement store, but getting reclaimed wood is an entire chore on its own.
Since it is obtained from demolished or old buildings, its supply is limited. You may find a piece you like today, but be unable to find matching pieces ever again.
This can make reclaimed wood unsuitable for large projects, as it may be impossible to get the right quantity of the same design. This unavailability can also lead to high prices since the demand for high-quality pieces will exceed the supply.
✗ Quality Concerns
Another problem with reclaimed wood is that after spending time and effort to source it, you could still end up with counterfeit pieces. Many vendors have been known to misrepresent regular wood as reclaimed.
Additionally, some pieces can have defects like rot or insect infestations from their previous life. You won’t always discover these hidden defects until it’s too late.
Tip: To avoid purchasing fake or defective reclaimed wood pieces, you should always buy from verified dealers and sources. Inspect the wood and ask questions about their sourcing process and the quality checks that have been implemented.
✗ Pest Infestation
Reclaimed wood is sourced from old and often abandoned buildings and structures. This increases the possibility of harboring pests, mold, or contaminants.
| For Instance: The wood from an old building might have been treated with harmful substances like lead paint or pesticides. This can pose a health hazard in your space, especially if you didn’t know and thus, didn’t take any mitigating steps. |
To avoid this, you should always inspect each wood piece before buying or using it. Look for signs like weird holes, bug damage, and crumbly bits. You can also test the wood for toxins and other compounds.
Furthermore, we recommend asking the supplier about the treatment process. That way, you can be sure the wood is safe for use in your environment.
Read More: What is Reclaimed Wood?
Main Photo Credit: Freepik
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