Understanding the Why?

Why we are doing what we are doing
What is reclaimed wood?

“Reclaimed” wood simply means it has been taken from a previous use and salvaged to be used again.

Where does it come from?

Reclaimed lumber comes from a number of different resources; fell trees, old structures, lot clearings from residential tree removals, and land development. It can also come from certified foresters who are working to maintain healthy forests.

Why Reclaimed Timber?

There are a number of benefits to using reclaimed timber. We live in world of diminished natural resources.

Environmental Responsibility

Using reclaimed wood reduces the amount of emissions associated with the logging, processing, and transportation of new wood. Freier Forestry has reclaimed and reused over one million board feet of urban lumber, most of which would otherwise end up in landfills. Investing in reclaimed lumber products helps to further reduce landfills and saves trees.

History

Reclaimed wood shares its journey. Every board tells a story where it came from and how it arrived at our mill. It offers a unique glimpse into its past. So, if you’ve got a tree that lives in your back yard that you have to remove, it doesn’t have to end there. You can provide a future for that tree from a new perspective by bringing it into your home for new memories.

Character

Reclaimed wood is a one-of-a-kind product. No two boards are identical, giving away to its depth and character. It comes from its prior purpose in life, maturity and age. The nail holes, bolt holes, shard edges, worming, knots, cracks and splits all display a distressed and rustic look that adds to its character.

Types of Wood

If you’re taking second hand wood, be sure to verify what kind of wood it is. Using the right wood for the job is important.

Oak
Oak
Oak is a hardwood, it is heavy and strong. Coarse texture and grain.
Hickory
Hickory
Extremely tough and resilient. Hickory looks very nice when finished.
Cherry
Cherry
Cherry is easy to work, fine-textured, strong, and fairly durable. Highly rated in all working properties including wood bending and turning. Becomes darker and richer with age.
Maple
Maple
Maple is hard and very resistant to impact. You’ll find maple on bowling alleys; you can find some very attractive grain veneers.
Walnut
Walnut
One of the best woods to work with. Takes finishing well and is easy to shape, without sacrificing on durability and strength. Consider using this for non-load bearing beams.
Sycamore
Sycamore
Hardwood that is similar to maple. The wood of Sycamore trees is predominantly comprised of the sapwood, with some darker heartwood streaks also found in most boards.
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