Salvaged Maple Hardwood Flooring
Let’s talk about another amazing featured inventory selection that was brought in by our very own hard-working deconstruction crew. This 2.5″ wide maple flooring is some rugged stuff. Salvaged from the former Homewood Montessori School, this stuff has survived a lot of wear and tear.
One of the reasons people like reclaimed flooring so much (aside from the environmental benefit) is the character that only decades of previous use can generate. The stamping on the bottom would indicate that this material came from the Holt Lumber Co. in Oconto, WI., which really is an interesting part of the history of U.S. logging and lumber production in the late 19th and early 20th century, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Make sure to click through the images below for a look at what we have available. (Remember that these were taken when we originally inventoried this material (February), so the current selection depends on what may have sold. Stop in to see what we have in the store right now and check the inventory listing here.)
Now let’s get to the hard part.
Along with all of that great character, this particular flooring has also accumulated some issues that will need to be dealt with in order to be reused. As it came out of a public building, this material was subject to regular upkeep and maintenance. Over the years, the natural process of age required the use of a filler to deal with gaps that developed. That filler is the dark material that you see present along the tongues and grooves of each piece. In order to lay this flooring and achieve a smooth, even surface, that material (most likely cork shavings mixed with an epoxy or resin of some kind) will need to be dealt with. We took a few small pieces and did our best to figure out what it would take, and we’re going to be honest here, it is not easy. The filler material is very hard and adhered to the actual wood. We were able to sand down all of the excess filler and finish from 3 small pieces, a process which took one person a few hours. So we are very aware that multiplying that task on the scale of an entire room’s worth of flooring is not a simple feat to accomplish. For that reason, we felt it was only appropriate to be as up front about that as possible.
Never the less, whether you want an end-result that showcases all of the well-aged beauty of this maple or something that looks nearly brand new, this is some great hardwood that really has many unique possibilities!
Check out the sanded sample and current inventory for this product here.
Feel free to send any questions you may have about this particular flooring to customerservice@cjreuse.org and we will do out best to get you the right answer. Or, better yet, stop in to have a look and discuss a possible purchase with us. (Bulk discount available!)
