How do you choose the best wide plank wood flooring for your project? With many great types of flooring options available, including hardwood flooring, laminate, engineered wood, and even luxury vinyl, it can become a little overwhelming. The first step to a high-quality wide plank wood floor is the source from which the flooring materials originate. A reputable company will take several key steps to ensure that the wood is stable and suitable for wide plank hardwood flooring. The main sources for beautiful wide plank flooring come from reclaimed structures, imported European woods, and native American forests. Each of these sources has its own unique characteristics that make them great options for your next project, ensuring the highest quality and natural beauty for homeowners.
The Old Wood That Lives To Tell Another Story
Wide plank reclaimed wood flooring, often sourced from majestic American Barns, is a natural choice when it comes to creating a one-of-a-kind look with a beautiful story to tell. The old growth lumber used in these structures grew in a slow natural setting that created tight growth rings and extreme durability on the wood’s surface. The planks can be sawn from large beams and produce a clean, bright surface, or they can utilize the exterior of lumber and retain the original saw marks and texture from a century ago.
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Reclaimed wood from Elmwood is always cleaned of debris and metal before going into a drying kiln, which stabilizes the wood’s moisture content and eradicates any mold or insects before the milling process takes place. The milling of the reclaimed planks is produced on the same high-end technology-driven equipment that is used to produce new wood floors. The result is a precision milled product that will install and perform with the same reliability that one would expect from any quality hardwood floor.
Bringing Old Wood Back to Life
A Medley of Natural Wood Tones
What is so special about reclaimed wide plank flooring is the impressive diversity of native wood species that can be produced, including white oak, red oak, and heart pine. There are dozens of wood species found in these vintage structures, and each species creates its own distinct look and color. What this means for the end user is a seemingly endless set of options available to get the perfect wide plank wood floor.
Wood Joists from Old Industrial Buildings
Reclaimed woods are not just found in vintage barns, but also industrial buildings that are slated for demolition. These buildings are often full of large support columns that are solid timber, as well as floor joists that support each story of the building. It is these large beams that are ideal for a beautiful wide plank wood floor. The woods have original mill marks and patina that just cannot be replicated with today’s fresh-cut lumber. The steps for processing reclaimed wood are much like that of wood from a barn. The surface is washed, nails are removed, and the material gets cut to a rough thickness and then enters the kiln cycle to produce a balanced wood floorboard.
Rustic Heart Pine Boasts Wide Widths & Long Length Planks
Original Saw Marks in Rustic Heart Pine Planks
The images above are a perfect example of beautiful, rustic wood floors. The heart pine floors, sanded to provide a smooth surface, make for a wide plank floor that is equal parts rustic and refined. This showcases the natural beauty and durability of solid wood floors. These planks, ideal for living room spaces, were salvaged from a large industrial building and still retain the original saw marks.
European White Oak Boules
Few things in the wood flooring industry are as synonymous with European flair as white oak flooring, prized for its beautiful character and ability to produce wide boards and long lengths. When it comes to cutting logs for lumber, there is a significant process difference between the United States and European countries. The Europeans tend to “flat saw” their logs which create a slice all the way through the log without turning the log. The Europeans’ unique “flat saw” method results in fewer seams and a wide range of character in a single piece of lumber, creating distinct looks.
European White Oak with Wire Brushed Finish
European White Oak: True Scandinavian Design Element
European wide plank wood flooring compliments any design space, from rustic to modern. The impressive graining and color tones create a timeless impression. The character in the wood lends itself to both natural light tones as well as smoked and fumed dark colors. The wood planks can have a soft wire brushed texture that removes the soft fiber from the wood’s surface and creates a mild texture that emphasizes the natural grain pattern.
Sustainably Harvested Old Growth Timber
When American hardwoods are selectively harvested from well-managed forests, the result is truly sustainable lumber and one of our most valuable natural resources. Harvesting these mature timbers makes way for new growth that will also have had the opportunity to reach maturity themselves in a natural setting. The lumber offers undeniable strength and beauty, making it a great source for solid hardwood flooring. The large timbers are strategically chosen and cut to achieve wide width and long length lumber with their natural beauty intact.
Wide Plank White Oak: Naturally Warm & Beautiful
Random Widths add Character to Wide Plank Flooring
Wide plank wood floors are timeless and beautiful products that come in a wide range of colors and textures. When looking to add wide plank flooring to your design, it is important to partner with a company like Elmwood that values sustainable lumber practices and is seasoned in the unique drying and milling process that it takes to create a stable and well-balanced wide plank floor that can be enjoyed and lived on for many years to come.
Choose Wide Plank Wood Flooring For Your Next Project
There are many ways that wide plank wood floors can bring your design together with other materials in your next DIY project. Wood flooring in general is one of the most popular flooring options because of its classic beauty, durability and longevity. At Elmwood, we have a wide range of wood flooring types that fit most any application. We can help you find the right wood species, stain and finish for your next home improvement project. Contact our team today to get started!
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