Do you have hardwood leftovers and don’t know what to do with them? Or do you have any old wood you want to put to use again?
You can repurpose hardwood flooring for different use such as turning them into things like cabinet refacing, wood artwork, interior decoration or coat rack.
According to data from the US Environmental protection agency (EPA)and natural resources Canada (NRCAN), the forest product laboratory estimate that wood makes up over 10 percent of all waste generated in North America, with only a small amount of wood available for recovering.
Considering its durable nature, the amount of wood wasted is high. Wood repurpose is the process of turning used woods or leftovers into usable products.
So here is a good read of the possible ways you can put that hardwood to good use again.
Related: How to Restore Hardwood Floors Without Sanding
What to Consider for Wood Repurpose
Table of Contents
Before delving into how to repurpose hardwood flooring, there are a few things to consider which include:
Condition
You want to make sure that the wood is in good condition, with no holes on it that can lead to ants and termites infestation.
The Thickness of the Wood
The thickness on the grove side of the plank should be at least 1/8 in thickness
Strength
Check for the strength of the wood. Wood pieces that don’t receive proper care are weakened over time and are unfit for repurposing
Source Ways to Re-Purpose Hardwood Floors
It is a safety measure to check for the source of the wood as it helps determine if it is safe for use. Woods used in an industrial setting may have harmful substances on them and unsafe to use in certain places
Find Pieces Suitable to Your Projects
It is best to plan for your projects, and know how many pieces and sizes of wood you need. This helps to get a better result
How to Repurpose Hardwood Flooring
These are the different ways you can repurpose hardwoods
1. Cabinet Refacing
One of the ways to repurpose hardwood floors is to use them for cabinet refacing; this is replacing cabinet skins and applying a new veneer over the existing surface of the body
2. Wood Furniture
We can reuse wood leftovers to make furniture items, chairs, a bench, and a bedside table with wood leftovers at our disposal.
While this might be a bit more difficult for an unskilled person, you can get a professional to handle it for you.
3. Interior Decoration
We know that wood can be good for aesthetics. Another way to repurpose hardwood floorings is to make little home décor.
This can give the house a whole new look. Examples of things that you could do as decoration are lampshades, wine bars, box shelves
4. Wood Artwork
This is a step up from home decoration; this can be a unique piece of artwork added to your home
Read: How Do You Keep Your House Warm on Hardwood Floors?
5. Chopping Board
Thicker pieces of wood can be recycled into a chopping board
6. Coat Rack
It can be recycled into a coat rack for hanging different wears
7. Working Tools
Pieces of wood can be an excellent choice for making homemade tools. Examples are hammers, T. Square, and wallpaper smoother.
8. Cleat for Hanging Objects
You can repurpose woods into a place for hanging objects like mirrors or headboards.
Pros of Repurposing Hardwood Floors
Here are the advantages of reusing hardwood floors
Multi-Purpose Use
There are so many available options to recycle wood scraps and leftovers into useable products. Examples are shelves, cabinets, and tables.
Eco Friendly
Recycling woods is eco-friendly as it helps preserve the trees. it doesn’t require cutting down new trees
Style
It adds to your style and design preference when you make handmade furniture with woods
Lower Cost
Reusing old wood saves cash because that would have been used to purchase new woods
Waste Reduction
Wood waste is reduced when we repurpose old woods, which is beneficial to the natural surroundings
Cons of Repurposing Hardwood Floors
Pest and Insect
Used woods are prone to ants and termites because of nail damage and other screws.
Rare Availability of Used Wood
It isn’t easy to find the exact type of wood used, and sometimes, you might have to blend it with another.
Too Thin to Repurpose
Very thin wooden floors are not suitable for repurposing. The groves of the hardwood floor should be at least 1/8 before they can be used for repurposing.
Wood Warpage
Woods that have retained moisture or are swollen are not fit for repurposing
Exposure to Sunlight
Woods exposed to sunlight can be affected; constant exposure to sunlight causes color variations on a wood
Read: Can You Reuse Hardwood Flooring?
Conclusion
Woods are natural products; they come in different variations, serve so many purposes, and are durable.
Most trees are grown for years, making the wood gotten from them thicker and denser; this means you can put any old wood to use and not worry about its longevity and that’s why we extensively discussed how to repurpose hardwood flooring in this piece.
We have written this article about how to repurpose hardwood flooring to help you make informed decisions when wanting to repurpose hardwood flooring.
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