Saving Forests by Recycling Wood

written by Wendy Priesnitz, As appeared in Natural Life Magazine Jan/Feb 2004

Innovative homeowners, architects, builders and designers are leading a new trend that will save thousands of acres of old-growth forest. They are choosing reclaimed wood for its looks and quality, as well as its environmental integrity. Over 40 million board feet a year of reclaimed wood is now being sold in the United States, up from approximately eight million only ten years ago. And every million board feet of lumber reclaimed saves one thousand acres of old-growth forest.

“There is great value in reclaiming fine wood that goes beyond making a profit,” says Erika Carpenter, co-founder of TerraMai, a 12-year-old California-based specialty lumber company that finds reclaimed woods from around the world and gives them a second life for builders. “We’ve found a beauty and integrity in reclaimed wood that inspires people in a way that new wood cannot.”

Most reclaimed timber was originally sawn from trees which were much larger, slower growing and had tighter growth rings than trees cut today, which means a much finer grain. Having been fastened in place in a structure for many years, reclaimed wood has air dried and seasoned to a stable, straight condition. In addition, the look of aged and antiqued lumber and timbers has a warm and tasteful quality. From golden brown to light gray patinas, there’s something soothing in the old wood.

However, the folks at Old Grain, a Colorado-based reclaimed wood specialty supply company, warn that reclaimed wood products are not for everyone. They point out that the material needs to be treated with extra care when handling and installing. Unfamiliar builders or contractors may not realize what material is actually usable when it is delivered due to the evidence of prior use. Many products are only available once if they are rare and from a specific salvage project. If additional material is needed or wanted for a new project, it may not be possible to duplicate.

Last year, the Sebastiani Vineyard in Sonoma, California sold the last of its massive 80-year-old, wine tanks to TerraMai. This sale made available almost 100,000 board feet of redwood rated as the clearest, highest grade premium old-growth. From these tank staves, TerraMai has created premium quality lumber, decking, siding and paneling. In the 1800s and early 1900s, tens of thousands of large wine tanks were constructed from the seemingly inexhaustible supply of old-growth redwood coming out of the west coast forests. Its resistance to rot made it the perfect medium for tanks. For vintners, there was an added attraction. “Redwood was the stainless steel of the era,” says Bill Huston, operations manager for Sebastiani Vineyards.

“It will be no problem finding good homes for the products made from Sebastiani wine tank wood,” says TerraMai’s Carpenter. “When we started our business 12 years ago people thought we were just crazy. Now we have some of the biggest architectural firms in the country calling us to find out about our latest discoveries. The change in awareness and demand has been fantastic and very important.”

Carpenter continues, “Wood of this quality shouldn’t be coming out of our few remaining old-growth forests. Humans have now harvested 95 percent of the world’s old-growth and it is time to recycle what we have already harvested – that’s what our company is all about.”