Purchasing Reclaimed Flooring

One of the more common comments we get from installers while quoting reclaimed flooring is “I’ve never installed reclaimed flooring.” I thought I’d put together a few things to help in purchasing your reclaimed flooring.

1. Get samples. I’m always surprised when people are willing to spend money without seeing samples.

2. Check the quality of the milling. This is crucial as not all companies mill the same. As with all wood flooring you want to make sure the milling is good and that it is consistent.

3. Discuss available widths. As reclaimed flooring is dependent on the lumber coming in not every width is always available in every species. In species such as oak most widths are usually available but it’s always good to check.

4. Most companies that sell reclaimed flooring sell it in random widths. This has to do with the point I just mentioned regarding availability. We have standard width ranges but can modify if you have specific widths in mind. Depending on availability we can sometimes provide a single width.

5. Pricing is probably one of the most important things. As with any quality product, the cheapest is not always the best. This is why it’s important to get samples, check the quality of the milling and read some reviews of the company.

6. Get to know the company. Read up on them on their website, check reviews about the company on Google, Facebook, Houzz and other venues. Your conversations with the company representative will also give you a good idea. Not all companies share the same values and love of reclaimed wood.

7. Ask lots of questions to make sure the salesperson has conveyed realistic expectations. Your salesperson should be there to help you, so while some questions may seem dumb, it’s likely they are not if you haven’t purchased reclaimed flooring before.