By: Claire Schilperoort, Salvage Specialist
Reclaimed flooring is a very commonly used salvaged building material, whether you are flooring a new area or changing up your existing flooring. To help demystify the process of choosing salvaged flooring for your project, I’ve laid out some salvaged flooring basics and demonstrated an example flooring project below!
How Much Material Will I Need?
(& See example project below of these steps in action!)
First and foremost, know the measurements of your space. This is critical for shopping, cost estimation, work bids, time, etc. To find square footage for square and rectangular spaces, simply multiply length by width. If you have an irregularly shaped space, this handy calculator is really helpful.
Many building material stores, like the ReBuilding Center, sell product by the linear foot (how long each piece is in feet). To be prepared, you will want to convert your flooring space’s square feet to linear feet. I like to use the online measuring tools on Trestlewood, as they are helpful and very easy to use.
If you are trying to match existing flooring, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Oftentimes, salvaged flooring has been refinished over the years. This means that the thickness of one floorboard can differ from another, but don’t let this scare you from choosing to reuse! If you plan to do a “patch job,” you’ll want to have a small sample of your flooring with you when you are shopping. If that’s not possible, try to take as precise measurements as possible, with extra attention to thickness and width.
Before/After Example of Refinished Reclaimed Flooring
How Much Will the Materials Cost?
Make sure to read through the example at the end. I run through how to use square or linear footage to estimate what new or salvage flooring may cost. Prices of flooring range quite a bit, from used engineered flooring to new hardwood flooring. But, generally speaking, buying salvaged can save an impressive chunk of change—including the ReBuilding Center’s discounts of 40-90% off retail/market value!
It is important to keep in mind the cost of refinishing salvaged floors once installed. Refinishing is not required, but you might want to depending on the aesthetic that you desire. Do your research, and know what you’re looking for—this can be incredibly helpful knowledge prior to shopping around! You can hire out for this service, but you can also rent the equipment and do it yourself!
Why Salvaged Flooring?
Did you know that production, transportation, and disposal of materials in the U.S. contributes to over 40% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions? When deciding between choosing to reuse versus buy new, it’s important to also consider the environmental impacts you will (or won’t be) making. Buying salvaged flooring means NOT buying new materials. By choosing to reuse and participate in the circular economy, you are preventing the huge impacts of new production.
Additionally, choosing to reuse means inheriting materials that have history! Some materials come from museums, old schools, or old Portland homes. How neat is it to be taking something that’s been used for a hundred years already, and giving it a full makeover and a fresh chapter of its story for many more years? Keeping things local and historical can also be very rewarding, not to mention a great conversation starter!
Example Flooring Project Calculations & Cost
1. Take area measurements. Let’s say this is my living room, which I’d like to remodel with 2-1/4”-wide oak flooring. It isn’t a perfect rectangle—but not too far off, so I would measure it as one. (This would give me slightly more flooring than I need, and I could assume that as overage). I’d call it a 26’ x 10’ room. To calculate the area: 26’ x 10’ = 260 Square Feet
Note: Although not included in calculations below, it is important to account for overage (cut boards/defective materials) which is usually recommended between 5-15%. I did not specifically include overage because it can vary depending on what the individual needs are per project.
2. Convert square feet to linear feet. Using Trestlewood, or any other calculating website, I’d plug in the data I have, including the width of the flooring I want (2-1/4” oak) to determine that I’d need 1,386.67 linear feet (12” sections) to fill this space.
3. Calculating the Cost and Get Shopping!
Now, for reference only, 2-1/4” by 3/4” thick new oak flooring retails at $3.46 per square foot at a common home improvement store. Buying new would put me at $899.60 (260 SF x $3.46).
ReBuilding Center prices fluctuate based on inventory, condition, lot size, etc. however, this dimension oak usually ranges from $0.25-0.40 per linear foot. That means $346.67-$554.69.
Even at higher end cost, I’d be saving $344.91, and at lower end $552.93 by purchasing salvaged—I am just FLOORED by these savings! A lot of projects or small remodels depend heavily on budget, so, if you’re caught in that struggle, keep in mind the savings you may find with choosing to buy used flooring, along with environmental impact, landfill struggles, historical value, and more.
Thanks for tuning in! I hope this 101 was helpful in breaking down the basics. There can be a learning curve when using reclaimed materials, but don’t let that stop you. With some dedication and time, anyone can become a DIYer. Come say hi to me in the lumberyard anytime, I’ll be happy to chat with you about your project!