Antique Beam-Sawn Oak Flooring
Sawn from the heart of century-old structural Oak beams, this flooring captures the unmatched density of historic old-growth timber. It anchors modern architectural design in the enduring strength of our mountain heritage.
- Species: A curated blend of historic Red and White Oak
- Source: Structural beams and barn timber frames
- Face Grade: Character-rich selection featuring knots, insect scarring, natural mineral streaks , and stable checking
- Widths: Random Mix of 3"-5", 4"-7" or 5"-9"
- Thickness: 3/4" solid plank precision-milled for stability
- Length: Random 2' - 10'+
- Milling: Tongue and groove with precision end-matching.
- Finish: Site Finished (Prefinished options available)
- Shipping: Nationwide Jobsite Delivery
- Price: $9.30 to $16.10 (Custom Quoted per Project)
- Current Lead Time: 4–6 weeks for custom milling (Expedited options available)
Structural Integrity, Precision Refined.
Every plank of our Antique Beam Sawn Oak flooring begins as a structural beam salvaged from the robust structures of century-old barns and historic mountain estates. Milled directly from these historic timbers, this flooring showcases the understated beauty and dense grain lying beneath the surface. It is a deliberate marriage of legacy and refinement—capturing the timeless character of antique oak with the flawless, technical precision of a modern mill.
Defining the Character
The Tactile Finish
Though less surface character than our barn board floors, this beam sawn oak retains a distinctive, tactile presence inherent to its storied past. True barefoot comfort is achieved through the artistry of the on-site finish: a gentle sanding or “screening” by your flooring professional preserves the authentic integrity of the reclaimed grain. The result is a floor that feels smooth to the touch and safe for a busy home.
Original Fastener Marks
Years ago, iron nails were driven into these timbers, leaving behind the unmistakable “shadows” of blackened tannin staining. We preserve these original fastener marks—along with the occasional spike hole—to ground your floor in its authentic history. Far from being defects, these marks are the structural signatures of a previous life, adding a rhythmic, high-contrast character that mass-produced flooring simply cannot replicate.
INSECT SCARS & WORM HOLES
Often called the “natural script” of the forest, these delicate pinholes and meandering worm tracks serve as an authentic record of the timber’s organic life cycle. Such markings are a true hallmark of genuine, century-old wood. Far from being a defect, these subtle scars lend an intricate, high-character texture that honors the wood’s biological history and brings a layer of unmistakable honesty to your finished floor.
Aging Stress Cracks
Also known as “checking,” these stable fissures are the result of the wood naturally seasoning and “settling” over a century of structural service. Unlike the cracks found in improperly dried new lumber, these are deep-seated hallmarks of age—evidence of the immense loads these boards once carried. We leave these intact to provide a sense of depth and grit, ensuring the floor feels like a permanent, grounded piece of American architecture rather than a temporary surface.
SOUND KNOTS & NATURAL VOIDS
Knots are the biological signatures of a tree’s growth, marking where branches once met the trunk. Our Beam Sawn oak embraces this history with a generous mix of solid knots and partially broken ones that define the genuine reclaimed experience. Depending on your desired aesthetic, these voids can be easily filled during the on-site finishing process to create a more refined surface while keeping the wood’s natural rhythm completely intact.
In Its Element
Observe how Antique Beam-Sawn Oak flooring anchors a room, bridging the divide between structural history and refined modern geometry. This gallery captures the material’s power to ground a space in the dense, tactile soul of the Appalachian frontier.
Timeless Warmth
Witness how Antique Beam Sawn Oak transforms classical architectural spaces, grounding the airiness of white columns and vaulted ceilings in the dense soul of the past. This gallery highlights the material’s ability to bring an immediate sense of “Modern Heritage” to interiors that value both structural history and contemporary light.
Hold History in Your Hands.
Choosing an Antique Beam Sawn Oak floor is a deeply visual experience. Photographs can only tell part of the story. You need to witness the exceptionally dense grain, explore the rich internal colors of the timber, and see exactly how this historic wood reacts to the natural light in your own home. Request a curated sample package and experience the Appalachian Woods difference firsthand.
Your $10 sample fee is fully credited toward your final custom commission.
The Architect's Guide
DRAWING NO: AW-2026
How long does it take to mill a custom oak floor?
Every floor we produce is a bespoke commission, milled to order in our Virginia shop. Lead times typically range from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the size of the project and our current shop schedule. We recommend engaging with us early in the design phase to ensure your custom floor is ready the moment your job site is prepared for installation.
Why is flooring priced as a range rather than a fixed cost?
Because we do not sell mass-produced commodities. Every Appalachian Woods floor is a custom commission, milled specifically for your project. A fixed price assumes a one-size-fits-all product, but your floor’s final cost is determined by your exact architectural requirements. Your dedicated quote will be based on four specific variables:
Project Scale & Manufacturing Efficiency: Every custom floor requires dedicated mill setup and precise calibration. Larger square footages allow us to run the mill at peak efficiency, which often allows us to apply favorable volume-based pricing to substantial orders.
Width Specifications: A random mix of widths yields the best use of historic timber and is the most cost-effective. Specifying a single, uniform width (e.g., all 8-inch planks) requires highly selective milling and shifts the investment.
Milling & Edge Profiles: Standard tongue-and-groove carries a different production time than a custom pillowed edge or hand-scraped finish.
Current Timber Availability: Because we source genuine 19th-century agricultural structures, the rarity and yield of specific raw materials naturally fluctuate.
Will a sock catch on original nail holes or splinters?
While our frlooring retains the tactile “grit” of its previous life, it is designed for comfortable, barefoot living. The key is in the on-site finishing process. We recommend a professional “screening” or light sanding after installation. This process removes any sharp fibers while leaving the visual integrity of the surface and perfectly intact.
How much variation in color should I expect?
Expect a moderate contrast palette that no new-growth floor can replicate. Because our lumber is sawn from reclaimed oak beams, this flooring will not have as much variance as some of our other floors.
Can your solid reclaimed oak be installed over radiant floor heating?
Yes, solid reclaimed Oak offers exceptional stability for radiant heat systems because it has been naturally seasoning for over a century. This historic aging process makes the lumber significantly more resilient and dimensionally consistent than new-growth solid wood.
However, any bespoke integration requires site-specific expertise. Determining whether our specific plank widths and your unique heating system are a perfect architectural match is a critical judgment call that must be made by the onsite architect or professional builder. We have supplied many successful radiant heat projects, but final responsibility for total environmental control—including proper subfloor preparation, humidity monitoring, and heating system temperature regulation—always rests with your specialized installation team
What type of finish do you recommend?
To honor the beautiful tones of Beam Sawn Oak, we suggest finishes that enhance rather than mask the wood’s history. High-quality natural oils or matte water-based finishes are often preferred for their ability to highlight the character without adding an artificial sheen. However, because reclaimed wood is more porous than new timber and every home has unique lighting and wear requirements, we recommend consulting a professional finisher familiar with antique wood. They can perform on-site samples to ensure the finish reacts perfectly with the “aged” and “weathered” sections of your specific floor.
Do you provide specific installation instructions?
We believe the best results are achieved when our flooring is handled by a professional installer experienced with wide-plank, solid reclaimed wood. For the highest standards of performance, all installations should strictly follow the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) guidelines. Because environmental variables—such as subfloor composition, local humidity, and site-specific HVAC schedules—vary significantly from one project to the next, your professional installer is the best authority on the specific acclimation and fastening techniques required for your unique job site.
About how much does it cost to ship flooring to my job site?
Freight costs vary depending on the size of your specific order, the exact delivery location, and current carrier fuel surcharges. As a general baseline, you can budget approximately $0.75 per square foot for Mid-Atlantic shipments, and $1.25 per square foot for West Coast deliveries.
Because freight rates fluctuate and every job site is unique, these numbers are strictly ballparks. To get a perfectly accurate shipping rate, we highly recommend calling us or filling out a Quote Request, and our team will calculate the exact logistics for your project.
Are your shipping quotes firm, or will costs change after I order?
We pride ourselves on providing firm shipping quotes upfront directly on your Sales Order, and we work hard to ensure there are no “surprise” surcharges after the fact.
On rare occasions, we may need to re-quote a delivery due to unusual circumstances—such as sudden spikes in carrier fuel surcharges or new information regarding your specific delivery site details. If this ever happens, we prioritize complete transparency and will communicate with you immediately so you are always fully informed about your project’s budget.
Precision Architectural Profiles
Every wide-plank floor we produce is custom-milled to your project’s exact architectural specifications. From the seamless monolithic surface of a square edge to the authentic, foot-worn undulation of a pillowed joint, our profiles are engineered for both historic accuracy and generations of structural stability.
Tongue and Groove
Square Edge Profile
Our Square Edge profile creates a monolithic, seamless surface that honors the hand-fit craftsmanship of 19th-century architecture. It is the definitive choice for designers seeking a flush, continuous plane without the visual interruption of modern bevels.
drawing no: t&g-SQ-01
Tongue and Groove
Beveled Edge Profile
Features a precise micro-cut along the joint to deliberately articulate each individual board. This dimensional shadow-line accommodates slight subfloor variations while adding subtle linear depth to the space.
drawing no: t&g-bv-02
Tongue and Groove
Worn "Pillowed" Edge
Softly undulating edges meticulously crafted to replicate centuries of natural foot traffic. This tactile profile creates a highly authentic, timeworn aesthetic that is exceptionally forgiving and comfortable underfoot.
drawing no: t&g-PL-03
s4s / butt joint
surfaced four sides
A completely squared, un-profiled plank designed specifically for traditional face-nailing. This raw, structural approach delivers uncompromising rustic authenticity for historic flooring installations.
drawing no: s4s-bj-04
shiplap profile
overlapping rabbet joint
Milled with opposing rabbet joints to create a tight, overlapping seal while accommodating natural seasonal movement. A premier specification for structural wall cladding, wainscoting, and architectural ceilings.
drawing no: sl-rb-05
Profile sketches are for illustrative purposes and are not drawn to exact scale. Exact milling specifications and CAD profile drawings are available for architects and design professionals upon request.
Technical Specifications
Dimensions & Milling
- Widths: Random Mix of 3"-5", 4"-7" or 5"-9" (Custom Options: Single Width or Other Combination)
- Thickness: 3/4" Solid Plank
- Length: Random 2' - 10'+
- Side Profile: Tongue & Groove with nail groove
- End Profile: Tongue & Groove & precision squared
- Edges: Square Edge (Custom Worn Edge, Beveled or Hand Scraped available)
- Bottom: Stress Relief Channels
Character & Grading
- Knots & Holes: Many sound and partially broken knots, nail/spike holes, and occasional insect scars
- Cracks: Aging stress cracks up to 1/8" are allowed as long as the plank is stable and usable
- Color & Patina: Natural brown, tan, and reddish hues
- Grain: Mixed grain patterns
Performance & Installation
- Moisture Content: 8-10% or less
- Heartwood: 90% and better
- Finish: Unfinished (Designed for site finish but prefinishing available for custom orders)
Nationwide Logistics
From Our Mill to Your Job Site
Distance is never a barrier to exceptional millwork. Whether your project is a historic brownstone in Boston or a modern retreat in the Pacific Northwest, we coordinate dedicated, fully-insured freight delivery directly to your residential or commercial job site. Every order is custom-crated by our team to ensure your order arrives in the exact pristine condition it left our mill shop.
Steve was warm, friendly and always there. We purchased reclaimed flooring and it’s gorgeous! No problems with the installation – the milling was great. Lightening fast shipping! It was there in perfect time. We hope to reorder from Appalachian Woods in the near future. Their product and sales crew made it very easy to become a future return customer. 100% satisfaction and ease in shipping/calling/purchasing/delivery.
Katie Bowen
Cambridge, New York
I installed the antique oak in our bonus room. We loved it so much that we decided to put the same in our kitchen, living room and dining room. Quality of the product is great and the feel is warm and inviting. The look is unique and grabs your attention.
Mark D’angelo
Portland, Connecticut
Great customer service allowed us to keep going on a job when we found out our original floor was unsalvageable. Staff worked with us to fulfill our order with stock on hand so we stayed on schedule. Wonderful, top notch product with a staff that helps an individual consumer with the same level of service as a national account!
Brian Scripps
Staunton, Virginia
Request a Custom Proposal
Every wide-plank floor we produce is custom-milled to order. Connect with our project team to discuss your architectural specifications, room dimensions, and timeline. We will provide a comprehensive proposal including dedicated freight to your job site. Our project team typically returns custom proposals within 24 to 48 hours.
