Image via Wikipedia

Recycled timber doesn’t have to be left all rustic and rural, it can be milled to make it look brand new if you prefer, it really makes no difference ‘cos it’s the same stuff. It can even become a little addictive – there’s something very satisfying about finding just the right type of recycled timber for your latest project, and conversely finding a nice bit of wood and deciding on how it should best be utilized is pretty satisfying too – even if it is only to prop open the kitchen door until you think of something a little more appropriate.

• Sourcing Recycled Timber – Probably the cheapest and best way to get your recycled timber is to head straight to the source – demolition sites are a great place to start. You’ll probably be able to hunt around for whatever you want and pay a very small price, they might even let you take it away for nothing as it means they won’t have to deal with it themselves.
• Recycled Timber – Get As Much As You Need – if you’re planning on using recycled timber for a pretty large project in your home, like decking or flooring, then it’s important that you can get hold of enough of the stuff in one go, ‘cos it’ll be pretty difficult to match if you don’t. You not only need to match the type of lumber, but also the color and the grain – it’ll be pretty obvious if half of the floor is one type of recycled timber and the other half is different and could really spoil the whole effect of the room.
• Choose Unpainted Recycled Timber – you might be tempted to buy reclaimed lumber which has been painted or treated in some way, and then simply sand off the paint. Okay, sounds easy enough, but it’s not ideal. The best recycled timber you can use is unpainted, old paints contained lead and other dangerous stuff which doesn’t stay in the surface coat of the paint but can penetrate beneath into the timber itself and even become airborne. If you can use recycled timber which has never been painted you’re gonna’ save yourself a whole load of time and trouble.
• Know Your Wood – some recycled timber lends itself perfectly for some projects, much better than other types of wood. It really helps if you know the difference between the types of wood and what they’re good for. Some types of reclaimed lumber make great floors and decking, others are better for other projects. Know your wood, and if you don’t then make sure that you source your recycled timber somewhere where somebody can help you.
• Acclimatize Your Timber - before you use your recycled timber, make sure that you clean it up and place it in the room where it will be eventually used . . . for a good amount of time too. The moisture within the air of the room will cause the timber to crack, warp, bend and move. It you leave your recycled lumber to do all of its cracking, warping, bending and moving before you try to shape it into something creative, it will help to prevent it from doing it later on and causing problems.

Using recycled timber really can be friendly on your pocket, add something unique and traditional to your home – and you’ll be able to sleep soundly at night secure in the knowlege that you haven’t contributed to deforestation of the planet – and that’s a good thing for everybody.

A – - – MA – - – ZING . . .