What is Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood has been taken from long-standing idle buildings and refinished for new purposes. Abeln Floor Systems flooring comes from old buildings, barns, and other structures.

Much of our reclaimed wood comes from century-old factories built during the Industrial Revolution using 300 to 400 year-old Pine. Unfortunately, decades of deforestation and over-harvesting have nearly wiped out many species. However, the wood once used to build America is still available through reclamation. Every year, more and more 19th century facilities become slated for demolition. Prior to demolition, Abeln Floor Systems rescues thousands of board feet that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.

Other types of wood come from fascinating historical structures all over the country. The common thread among these diverse sites is that all of the structures were going to be torn down and their materials discarded. By reclaiming this wood, we not only create incredible flooring, but we also preserves historically significant artifacts that would have otherwise been destroyed.

Why choose reclaimed wood flooring?

There are several reasons why you may be intrigued with using reclaimed wood for the interior finishes of your home, office, or retail outlet:

• A floor made from antique wood has a unique beauty and defining character that cannot be found in newly sawn timber.
• Recycling wood is an environmentally responsible alternative to cutting down trees.
• Reclaimed wood has been transformed by nature and time into something unique that links us to our past.
• Every one of the floors from Abeln Floor Systems™ has a story to tell - one that can be retold time and time again.
• Only the most stable timbers were used to build the original structures, supporting them for sometimes hundreds of years; so, you can be confident of the wood’s continued stability in the next phase of its life as a floor.
• Some wood, such as the American Chestnut, can only be found through reclaimed resources.