The Eco-Friendly Nature of Salvaged Wood - And the Uses For It

Salvaged Wood is an eco-friendly option for carpentry and other woodcrafts. It is brand new wood that has never been used as opposed to recycled wood pieces.

What Is Salvaged Wood?

Salvaged wood is not recycled or repurposed. It is basically new wood used in woodworking. It is a sustainable option since it is literally “wood waste,” which means it holds no actual value unless otherwise used for something.

Most salvaged wood is a byproduct of timber used in agricultural and industrial applications. Woods can also be salvaged from abandoned tree roots when their trunks have been logged and harvested. They may also be discarded byproducts after the sawmills cut and take away the pieces they need.

Salvaged Wood vs Reclaimed Wood

Salvaged wood is often confused with reclaimed wood. While both are sustainable choices, they are very different in all aspects.

The significant difference is that salvaged wood has never been used, while reclaimed material is officially secondhand. Reclaimed lumber is upcycled from various places, like old barns or pallets, to make something new.

Another difference is the wood’s age. Reclaimed lumber is often older (with some pieces being more than 100 years old!), while salvaged wood is simply a surplus of recently cut trees.

Sources of Salvaged Wood

Salvaged wood comes from several sources and is categorized into different types.

Urban Salvage

These are leftover trees removed from roadsides or cities for aesthetic, safety, or construction reasons. Since the trees are cut down, the new wood taken from them is salvaged for other purposes.

Orchard Salvage

Orchards are a significant source of salvaged wood. Fruit-bearing trees usually have a lifespan and only produce fruits for a certain period. After the trees reach their fruit-bearing years, they are cut down and used for other things, like furniture making, custom millwork, or decorative wall panels.

Other sources include sawmills, abandoned tree waste, wood shops, etc.

Why Choose Salvaged Wood?

Using salvaged wood has a positive environmental impact. Instead of being treated like junk, salvaged pieces are utilized for many things. There are also several reasons why salvaged wood is a desirable option for woodworking.

Go Green

Utilizing salvage wood promotes sustainability. Instead of letting these wood pieces go to waste, you can use them to create wonderful furniture, cabinets, stair treads, wall panels, and many more. Not only are you reducing the waste in the environment, but you are also making good use of them.

Never Been Used

If used pieces are not your thing and you want to go brand new, salvaged wood is your best option. It does not have holes, stains, or other issues that may come with recovered wood from old structures.

Available in Large Dimensions

Unlike reclaimed material, salvaged pieces are available even in large dimensions. They are also readily available in most lumber stores. Due to its vast size, it is more convenient to use in many woodworking projects than reclaimed wood.

Uses of Salvaged Wood

Salvaged wood can be processed and used in many things depending on its size, condition, and wood species. This building material's applications include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Wood accent wall
• Wood paneling for walls
• Shiplap paneling
• Wood slat wall
• Tongue and groove
• Wall planks
• Tonewood
• Custom trim
• Custom millwork

FAQs

Is salvaged wood expensive?

The prices of salvaged wood depend on several factors, such as the region where it is bought. The type of wood, size, and overall condition also affect the pricing. However, most salvaged wood is cheaper than regular lumber.

Is salvaged wood readily available?

Yes, most lumber stores have a wide supply of salvaged wood.

Where to Buy Salvaged Wood

Using salvaged wood in any application helps the environment in many ways. But do you know where to get quality pieces?

Reclaimed lumber dealers and special lumber stores like Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. have a wide selection of salvaged lumber. They are appropriately stored in our warehouse, contributing to their effective drying. Thus, cracks and splits are minimized.

Our wood inventory is ever-changing because it sells fast. Details on our website about availability may not be up-to-date. The best way to know our current stock is to send an inquiry via email or give us a call with details of the wood that you need, and we will gladly look it up for you in our warehouse.