Until structural steel came on the scene in the middle of the 20th century, wood was the material of choice for all types of structural uses. Most wood harvested prior to the mid 1900's was wood that came from "old-growth" or "first growth" forests. These are forests that have never been logged and contain trees that are often centuries old, large in diameter and very tall. Trees like these, unfortunately for the forest and its inhabitants, yield large quantities of very high quality lumber. Large, old trees produce clear, straight and dense wood. This is unquestionably the best wood in the world.

Almost all the wood reclaimed today originally came from these old-growth forests. It is increasingly rare wood of exceptional quality and beauty. It is wood saved. Wood conserved. Wood preserved for another generation to appreciate and use. It is also a reminder to all of us that all resources on our planet are, in fact, finite.

Here are more specific reasons why reclaimed wood will benefit your project…

Beauty
Reclaimed wood is beautiful. It offers rich grain patterns, intriguing character marks, deep colors and, with some of our products, a completely distinctive antique patina. The attractiveness of these qualities alone makes reclaimed wood the only choice for many discriminating builders, architects, designers and home-owners.

Stability
Reclaimed wood is stable. Most reclaimed wood has been air drying for decades. The water that is still trapped in the cells of new lumber has, in the case of reclaimed wood, been allowed to slowly evaporate. In addition, we kiln dry some of our products to ensure even greater stability. This means that reclaimed wood is much less likely than new lumber to bend, warp or twist when it is placed in your application. Also, unlike new wood, it will not off-gas moisture into your building, which can cause problems with mildew and other finishes.

Clarity
Because most reclaimed wood is from old-growth trees, it tends to be clearer than lumber available from your average lumber supplier. The word “clear” means fewer knots, pitch pockets, wane, sapwood and other natural defects.

Density
Old-growth wood is also characterized by a higher ring count per inch than new, second-growth wood. This dense ring count leads to wood that is stronger and more durable, with a much higher specific gravity. In short, reclaimed wood offers a much better value than new wood for areas of high traffic or wear.

Customized Service
At TerraMai we have developed a company around providing innovative and creative customers with rare and unique products. Unlike a traditional lumber yard we are accustomed to being responsive to the needs of our customers and have the ability to develop products that perfectly suit their needs. Because every piece of our wood is as special as your project, we provide custom sourcing, custom mill work and everything in between.

History
With reclaimed wood you get history in every stick of wood. According to our customers, just knowing that the wood in their project came from a source with a story adds depth and value to their environment. We have been told over and over that combined with the beauty of reclaimed wood, the historical element often makes our product the centerpiece of a building.

Environmental Responsibility
Buying reclaimed wood is one of the few options for environmentally responsible people who wish to use old-growth wood. Using reclaimed wood prevents the continued destruction of existing old-growth forests. This means it protects trees, watershed health, habitat for wildlife and understory plants. Using reclaimed wood also prevents roads from being built in roadless areas and on lands used by indigenous people. This is a critical element in keeping sensitive forest land off limits to illegal mining, agriculture and settlement. These benefits hold true in both temperate and tropical forests.

Less embodied energy is generally used to create reclaimed wood products than to create new ones or their substitutes (ie plastic lumber, concrete, steel). “As-is” reclaimed products further minimize embodied energy costs. This even holds true for material shipped via boat from other continents when compared to similar new products; sea freight is one of the most energy efficient forms of transportation in existence.

Social Responsibility
At TerraMai we do everything we can to keep the financial benefits of reclaiming wood close to the community where the wood originates. This is radically different from the approach taken by most multinational lumber corporations.