Because reclaimed wood flooring is a recent innovation in home decor, many people consider it a unique choice on its own. However, you can add even more customization by first carefully selecting which timber to use. Below, we’ve listed additional ways to make recycled lumber floors your own.
1. Create inlays and borders with contrasting woods. When Europeans first laid down wood on their dirt floors in the 1600s, only the very wealthy could afford details such as contrasting border patterns and inlays. Now, however, it’s much more affordable to add these intricate adornments to reclaimed wood flooring. From stunning parquet to a straightforward border, wood floors may be personalized in countless ways using inlay techniques.
2. Distressing and whitewashing: Like patinas for wood floors. Antique dealers look for a patina – a natural layer of use that builds up on older objects. For wood floors, a patina might consist of dents from wear. Some manufacturers of wood flooring now offer pre-aged wood that has been distressed before it leaves the factory. They may distress wood flooring with nuts and bolts wrapped in a burlap bag, or they might use special saws to wear away the wood’s surface. With reclaimed wood flooring, of course, a natural patina is often already present, but there are other ways of personalizing recycled timber. For example, whitewashing, pickling and bleaching are paint-free methods of changing the overall tone of wood flooring. Whitewashing and pickling are glazes that don’t penetrate the surface of recycled timber. These methods should be applied after the reclaimed wood flooring has been sanded, and before it has been sealed.
3. Apply wood stains. Because timber is organic, it soaks up stains like a sponge soaks up water. Staining is an excellent way to customize wood flooring. Stains are available in a rainbow of colors, so we recommend performing a color test before you make a final decision. Just as you would apply different paints to an inconspicuous strip of wall before settling on the ultimate tone, a staining color test involves putting different stains on wood flooring in order to find the best match for the room. Live with the test strip for a few days so you can find clarity about which stain you prefer. For a completely unique look, try mixing together different stains. Because it’s difficult to achieve a consistent tone otherwise, we recommend a half-and-half mixture for such staining adventures. Sealants will also produce various tones; once your stain has been applied, repeat the testing process for the different sealants you’re considering.
4. Keep board width consistent, but mix up the woods. Mix-and-match wood flooring became possible with the advent of tongue-and-groove flooring. Different species of recycled lumber may be combined in the same floor for a stunning look. As an example, light oak reclaimed wood becomes even more gorgeous when paired with rich Doug Fir planks. Combining different timbers creates truly peerless wood floors. One rule will help tie together different timbers: Use floorboards of a consistent width.