Benefits of using reclaimed wood:
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It minimizes the use of natural resources. Reclaimed wood reduces the need to cut down young trees in the forest because it is recycled. Using reclaimed wood helps to preserve nature.
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It uses fewer chemical treatments. New wood is treated thoroughly to achieve a good appearance. But, when it comes to reclaimed wood, fewer treatments are needed in order to achieve a beautiful appearance. Distressed marks already add beauty to the wood, which makes it more attractive and natural.
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It is good for the environment. Since there are fewer chemicals in reclaimed wood, it helps to promote better air quality. You can feel comfortable knowing that your family isn't surrounded by harsh chemicals on a daily basis.
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Because the beams are hollow, they reduce the package weight, which decreases cargo capacity weight which reduces carbon emissions.
Reclaimed Wood (it gets better with age)
Our beams are made of unfinished Longleaf Pine.
Longleaf Pine
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), also called fat pine or heart pine, is one of the four major species of Southern pines. It’s the strongest, tallest (over 100 feet) and most fire resistant
While Longleaf pine once covered 30 to 60 million acres of the southeastern U.S. coastal plain, 200 years of logging and land clearing have reduced its range to 10 percent of that. The tree takes 100 to 150 years to become full sized and may live for 300 years. Needles are 8 to 18 inches long. Pine cones are 6 to 10 inches long.
Effort is now on protecting younger trees so there will be a supply of older trees in the future for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker who uses the mature trees for nesting. The seeds are an excellent food source for squirrels, turkey, quail, and brown-headed nuthatches.
Longleaf pines were a major resource for naval stores in the past (that is, resin or pitch before pertroleum-based tars and derivatives were available). It was also used for heavy construction, railroad bridges, floors and cooperage (barrels).
Present uses include floors and large lumber pieces and timbers, especially historical conservation and restoration, as well as typical construction uses. Some Longleaf pine lumber and timbers have been salvaged from torn down old buildings and some logs from the bottom of lakes and rivers. There is very limited harvesting of old growth Longleaf pine today.
Reclaimed Wood & LEED Certification
The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the USGBC's benchmark for designing, building, and operating green buildings. To become certified, projects must first meet the prerequisites designated by the USCBC then earn a certain number of credits within the six
Categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation & design process. Using reclaimed wood can earn credit towards achieving LEED project certification. Because reclaimed wood is considered recycled content, it meets the Materials & Resources criteria for LEED certification.
