In the past several years, partly thanks to a nationwide move towards environmentally responsible building practices, a sizeable market has developed in harvesting and installing reclaimed hard wood floors. For those unfamiliar with this flooring option, reclaimed floors consist of wood harvested from idle buildings, typically set for demolition, which, after occasionally being refinished, is then put to use in a new structure. Choosing to work with reclaimed floors, when refinishing or building your home or business, has a plethora of benefits: environmental and aesthetic. The environmental benefits are elementary; reclaimed floors are a form of recycling. Choosing to work with reclaimed materials eliminates the necessity for harvesting new lumber resources and the negative environmental effects associated with that process. Reclaimed floors' environmental benefits are substantial enough to earn credits towards a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design project certification (LEED). Defined as recycled, reclaimed floors meet LEED's criteria for "Material & Resource" credits, and, in some cases, if the lumber harvested is FCS certified, can earn "certified wood" credits as well. Although the incentives for developing a LEED certified building are nothing if not substantial, they make up only a fraction of the reasons people choose to utilize reclaimed floors in their building projects. While many flooring options succeed at being environmentally-friendly, few are capable of achieving the unique aesthetic effect that comes with using reclaimed materials.
Each reclaimed floor comes with a story and grants its new building an immediate history. Often times, property owners request a photograph of their reclaimed floor's original location. Whether this location is a closed down tobacco factory in Virginia or a Quaker built barn in Pennsylvania, the photograph gives the owner a conversation starter and an attractive decoration that helps showcase their property's uniqueness.
As with all flooring options, the most important factor is picking a product best for you. At Flooring Liquidators, our knowledgeable staff of Armstrong-certified sales technicians can help you choose an eco-friendly floor that succeeds at making your environment unique.
John Posimato is the owner of Flooring Liquidators, Elmsford & Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Teterboro, N.J.

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