Using antique oak flooring to create a one-of-a-kind room.
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Oak flooring ages beautifully. The patina that comes with age as the wood and its finish darken imparts a timeless elegance that can give a room warmth and character.
If you don’t want to wait a century for your oak floors to get that gorgeous luster, you can buy antique floors that have been salvaged from old barns in the American northeast and mid-Atlantic states.
In addition to the rich finish, antique oak flooring usually has some nail holes, saw marks, and cracks that add even more character. There may even be worm holes and other traces of insects.
Because barn builders weren’t concerned with appearance, the oak they used was a lower grade than what most home builders use today for flooring. So the wood originally had more knots and coarse grain patterns than clear grade lumber would have. Some board may have a beautiful ripple-grain effect known as “tigering.” All in all, these little peccadilloes make antique oak flooring truly unique.
With antique flooring, no two floors, or even boards, will be exactly alike.
Uneven sizes also add to the appeal.
Unlike traditional wood floors which usually have planks that are all the same width, antique wood floors often use planks ranging in width from 3” to 12”. The boards are often random in length as well. And since the original finish is uneven – giving the boards much less uniform color than a traditional wood floor – antique wood flooring makes a strong statement.
Instead of the neutral palette provided by a new, red or white oak floor, an antique oak floor will provide lots of drama and visual interest.
Since most antique oak floor boards are a little uneven, most have beveled edges to minimize the differences. Another option is to buy boards with a worn edge that replicates the wear that would occur naturally over decades of use.
Although the old boards are milled to modern specifications with tongue-and-groove joinery, those looking for an even more rustic look can use visible square-head nails to install the boards.
Where to use antique oak flooring.
Conventional oak floors can be used to enhance virtually any decorating style, adding warmth to modern interiors or sophistication to traditional ones. Antique oak floors work best with early American, country, rustic, or lodge-style decors.
Because genuine antique wood flooring is recycled, it’s environmentally responsible too. Most reclaimed flooring is solid, but some manufactures offer an engineered antique wood floor which is suitable to use over concrete sub floors.
Learn more about conventional wood flooring. Or learn more about oak flooring.
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