What is reclaimed wood?
Before we talk about what reclaimed wood is, it’s important to know what it isn’t. If you’re considering investing in a high-quality piece of furniture, it’s crucial to understand the difference between reclaimed wood and other wood used for furniture.
“Reclaimed wood is not recycled wood, nor is it upcycled or repurposed wood”
So, what is it? Reclaimed wood is wood with a past. It was a part of another era and another structure, salvaged for reuse during demolition or restructure.
The cherished timber is taken apart piece by piece to preserve its distinctive qualities. While it is often re-sized and reworked, it is never reprocessed – a fundamental difference between reclaimed and recycled wood.
Crucially, reclaimed wood remains almost identical to its original state, retaining its natural beauty and charming history. And helping you identify a genuine piece of reclaimed wooden furniture.
Benefits of using reclaimed wood for furniture?
Eco-credentials aside, there are many reasons why reclaimed wood is ideal to create timeless pieces of furniture.
“It strikes a balance between style and practicality, and both stand the test of time”
Rustic sophistication
The rustic-look associated with reclaimed wooden furniture is an enduring style that brings warmth and character to your home. And it sits well alongside a more contemporary design too, creating contrast and interest. When you choose authentic reclaimed wooden furniture, your home goes beyond the simplicity of style and reflects the sophistication of your choice.
Charm and character
The individual character of the furniture soaks your room with charm and fascination. Years of service lie beyond its multi-tonal colouring and unique markings. Staining, knots, nail holes and more allude to its past, and authentic individuality.
Hard-wearing
Weathered by its past, the piece is durable, sturdy and damage-resistant. The irregular and rustic nature makes reclaimed wooden furniture ideal for young families. It’s perfect for well-used pieces such as dining tables and furniture more at home in high-traffic areas. Scratches and marks easily blend in with the uneven tones and texture, adding to the story it will live to tell for years to come.
Long-lasting
Made using seasoned wood, your reclaimed wooden furniture has seen it all. Being exposed to its surroundings for years, perhaps decades, means less risk of warping, cracking, expanding or contracting. You’re left with a beautiful yet practical piece of furniture that will handle whatever life throws at it.
Where does reclaimed wood come from?
Whether oak, beech, timber or pine, we source the reclaimed wood used in our handmade wooden furniture from the UK.
“Every piece of furniture is a slice of our country’s history”
In years gone by, durable and sturdy wood was the material of choice for many constructions, and fortunately much of it is being salvaged. As old buildings and structures are demolished to make way for purpose-built creations, rustic wood is rescued and reclaimed.
Happily, that also means that while once-palatial private residences and significant public buildings are destroyed, history isn’t lost. Dockyard timber and old barn beams tell tales of times gone by. Wood recovered from former factory buildings and Victorian homes hark back to an age almost unrecognisable.
Is reclaimed wood environmentally-friendly?
As well as having beauty and resilience, many people visiting our showroom choose reclaimed wooden furniture because of its eco-friendly credentials. From reducing deforestation to limiting damage to our environment, their choice shows style and a commitment to sustainability.
Protecting our eco-systems
Yet, despite conscious homeowners becoming more aware of the impact their choices have on our environment, the demand for newly-harvested wood is ever-growing. And with it, forests are shrinking. Environmentally-friendly reclaimed lumber helps preserve what is left of our forests. It protects our countryside and our eco-system.
Reducing landfill
Perhaps closer to home is the contribution to landfill caused by the demolition of disused buildings. Unwanted wood adds to the problem and the damaging impact the sites have on our environment. Reclaiming it not only limits the effects, but enhances our living spaces and our environment.
Here at Roy Walker Furniture, we’re committed to caring for our communities, supporting the environment and preserving the planet.
Why a piece of reclaimed furniture should be your next investment…
- It’s the ultimate in style
- And a small nod to sustainability
- Its functional durability makes the perfect houseguest
- And its distinctive charm is a slice of history