Doors can be built from many materials, but wood remains a classic choice for property owners. Of course, if you decide to use wood for your doors, you have plenty of options, such as oak, pine, cedar, and more. Further still, you can choose between new or reclaimed wood. In the past decade or so, reclaimed wood has seen an uptick in use for a variety of applications, such as furniture, floors, and doors. But what’s so special about reclaimed wood, and is it worth using for your doors?

What Is Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood refers to previously used wood with a new lease on life, meant to serve a new purpose. The origin of this wood can vary, sometimes hailing from broken-down barns, packaging materials, railroad tracks, or simply old-growth trees. Some people might like the look of reclaimed wood so much that they don’t even hire painting contractors to cover up its natural beauty. If the wood is in good enough condition, it might be used in its current state, but oftentimes it’s reworked by various processes. 

Pros of Using Reclaimed Wood for Your Doors

Reclaimed wood might be a trend, but it’s not a completely unwarranted one. Let’s outline some good reasons to use reclaimed wood for your doors.

Add Rustic Charm to Your Home

When it comes to residential painting and design, everyone has different philosophies and preferences. Some prefer a sleek, clean, symmetrical look, while others are at home with the imperfections of nature and time. Reclaimed wood certainly falls into this latter category. If you’re looking to add some character and grit to your home, installing doors constructed from reclaimed wood is a great start.

A More Durable Option

As consumers, we’ve been trained to associate used products with reduced quality and integrity. However, reclaimed wood is in fact stronger than newer wood products. This seems counterintuitive at first, but reclaimed wood is typically derived from lumber that grew for a long time, standing the test of time and hardening with age. Additionally, the process for restoring and preparing reclaimed wood for sale helps strengthen it even more. Exterior painters can provide even more protection with high-quality paint or wood stains.

Do the Environment a Favor

If sustainability is a priority for you, reclaimed wood gives you another opportunity to get the most out of the Earth’s natural resources.

Cons of Using Reclaimed Wood for Your Doors

Despite its benefits, reclaimed wood comes with downsides, too. Before making a decision for your doors, it helps to get both sides of the story.

Recycled Doesn’t Mean Cheap

Just as “used” doesn’t mean low-quality when it comes to reclaimed wood, it doesn’t mean lower cost, either. In fact, reclaimed wood is generally more expensive than non-reclaimed options. This has to do with the labor involved in gathering, cleaning, processing, and preparing this wood.

False Claims of Reclaimed Wood

You also have to be careful about where you’re getting your reclaimed wood from. Some unreliable sellers are trying to take advantage of this design trend by pushing faux-reclaimed wood or poorly sourced and improperly processed reclaimed wood. Fortunately, you can determine the legitimacy of your wood by asking for proper certification from the Rainforest Alliance or Forest Stewardship Council.

Maintenance and Health Risks

Because reclaimed wood had a previous life, it may come with some relics of this past, including insects, nails and other unwanted materials, or rot. If you purchase your reclaimed wood from a reliable, certified source, you shouldn’t have to worry about these risks, as the provider will have carefully inspected and prepared the material. That said, you may have to maintain your reclaimed wood more frequently than newer wood materials.

Reclaimed Wood for Your Doors: The Verdict

Your priorities and circumstances will determine whether it’s worthwhile to use reclaimed wood for your doors. If cost isn’t a major concern and you’re able to purchase from a trustworthy seller, then this material might be for you. Otherwise, you might want to go with a different option. 

Whatever you choose, team up with the right contractor to help you maintain, paint, install, and/or repair your doors. In addition to your interior and exterior painting services, All American Painting Plus can repair and replace your rotted wood, install your doors, and so much more. To learn more about all that we can do for our clients in Northern Virginia, give us a call at (703)-620-5563!