Divine Pine Flooring

While pine is often used in the construction of houses and is frequently made into beautiful furniture, pine flooring has been in the shadow of hardwoods like oak and maple for quite some time. Pine, the true workhorse of the lumber world, is viewed by some as unworthy to showcase. The fact of the matter is, however, that pine flooring is becoming more and more attractive by the day, and the pine lumber that was left out in the cold the longest is now having its day in the sun.

Reclaimed Pine Flooring
Those who would describe pine flooring as anything less than striking obviously haven't seen a floor made of reclaimed pine. Much wood that was used for industrial purposes 100 years ago is now being salvaged, refinished, and sold to the world as reclaimed pine. Many of the pine species that are being touched up are now quite rare (due to poor harvesting practices that were used in the past), but the look is just as elegant as any hardwood you might find.

Aside from its surface appearance, reclaimed pine flooring is also sought after because of its history. Having a floor that is made of wood from a long gone textile mill is very appealing for many people. Using this wood in a new construction brings a sense of authenticity to the home that most hardwoods would be hard pressed to match.

River Reclaimed Pine
Oddly enough, pine flooring shines the brightest after it has been neglected for a while. Nothing looks like river reclaimed pine because nothing else has been so beautifully distressed.

Many years ago, timber was transported from the forest to the mill by sending it floating downstream. Some of the logs didn't make it and became submerged along the way; they remained underwater and forgotten until some industrious people decided to try and do something with it decades later.

The bold look and compelling patina of a river reclaimed pine floor is truly something to behold. Its rarity and the difficult process of retrieving and processing it make river-reclaimed wood rather expensive. Those who love exotic wood, however, will attest that it is worth every penny.

Vertical Cut Pine Flooring
Yet another look in the growing market of pine flooring can be found in vertical grain pine. The look of this wood, however, is generally not the only reason why it is chosen. Vertical grain pine flooring is more durable and holds up better to heavy traffic. It is often used in commercial settings where its strength compliments its good looks.

Environmental Issues
Pine trees tend to grow much faster than most hardwoods. Therefore, pine is a more sustainable source of wood than something like oak or maple, since replanted trees will reach maturity much more quickly.

Using reclaimed pine is a great way to practice recycling on a large scale. Every board that comes from an old building or is pulled out of a river is one less board that comes from a tree that was recently alive. That's yet another reason to find pine attractive!

Rate This Article

OVERALL RATING Be first to rate this article!

YOUR RATING

Saving Rating...

Log-in to save your ratings!

Recommend This Article

Digg
Reddit
Del.icio.us

ServiceMagic Articles To-Go