Salvage Lumber Is Environmentally Friendly

Salvage lumber as a source of building and decorative wood material is continuing to grow in popularity. Salvage lumber has gained in popularity for a number of reasons. One of the reasons is that people concerned how the environment is managed and who promote using materials that are recyclable have gotten behind the push to use salvage lumber.

Salvage lumber is lumber that has previously been cut and used or trees that are no longer viable as healthy trees. Salvage lumber includes old growth logs that were cut and floated downstream toward sawmills but lost in the bottoms of rivers and bays. These logs were sealed in mud and silt and have recently been recovered, preserved and still prime timber. Salvage lumber includes houses and barns and other structures that have been torn down and the lumber saved. Some of this lumber was cut and milled a century or longer ago. Logs once cut for log homes and buildings nearly two centuries ago are being reused as salvage lumber.

Environmentally Conscious Choose Salvage Wood

People choosing to use salvage lumber include people who are environmentally conscious and who are concerned about destruction of forests. They feel that every board of salvage lumber reused in new construction or in building or hobby projects is one board less of new growth trees being cut. It isn’t just the environmentally conscious who are choosing to use salvage lumber. Home decorators, builders and hobbyists who value this lumber for its quality, for its history and for its aesthetic values, are using salvage lumber.

Salvage lumber is valued because of the quality of the wood, the way it was cured, the dimensions in which it was cut and the character the wood has taken on in its previous ‘life’. Weathered barn boards have long been enjoyed as rustic interior wall coverings. Salvaged fireplace mantles, doors, window sashes and trim boards are treasured additions to new construction. Much of this lumber is re-used in a fashion similar to its first use. Other salvage lumber is sawn and milled again to give it a fresh appearance.

Salvage lumber has special character. It is high quality wood. It is an ideal choice, when available, for many building, remodelling and decorative applications. Homeowners and contractors, including environmentally friendly people, make their first choice salvage lumber.