Q. Where does your wood come from?
A. Reclaimed wood is sourced primarily from aging, typically pre-WW2, industrial wooden infrastructure such as warehouses, mills, railroads and port facilities. Occasionally we also get wood from sunken or buried logs, shipping crates and water or wine / food processing tanks.
Q. What is the difference between solid and engineered flooring?
A. Solid floors are milled from a single piece of wood and are typically 5/8” thick. Solid floors are best suited for installations where the floor is nailed to plywood subfloor, above grade. Engineered floors are 9/16” thick with a 3/16” “wear Layer” of wood glued to a plywood substrate. Engineered floors can be installed on any subfloor, whether concrete or conventional, and can also be installed below grade.
Q. What applications are best for Engineered flooring?
A. Engineered flooring is appropriate when the installation is below grade, such as in a basement or ground floor, where the floor need to be floated or glued to concrete, or installed over a radiant heating system. Solid wood flooring can be used above grade in the same applications, engineered provides a more stable option and more efficient use of the resources.
Q. Can your reclaimed wood flooring be installed over radiant heat?
A. Yes, both our solid and engineered products can be installed over radiant heat. For both product types, there are specific procedures that must be followed to ensure a successful installation. The specifics will be, in part, determined by the type of radiant heating system being used. Please give us a call to discuss what will work best for you.
Q. What is the substrate on your engineered wood made from?
A. We use an FSC certified plywood substrate.
Q. What is the difference between “Finger joined” and “Finger Joint Laminate” flooring?
A. Finger Joined (FJ) flooring is typically a 6’ or 8’ stick of flooring composed of 2-4 shorter pieces of solid wood joined together end to end with glued finger joints. Finger Joint Laminate (FJL) flooring is composed narrower strips of wood edge-laminated to create a wider piece, which is then joined end to end with finger joints to create a 6’ or 8’ piece of flooring.
Q. Why don’t you sell your flooring in standard (4”, 6”, etc) widths and thicknesses?
A. We manufacture our products overseas in countries that use the metric system of weights and measures. In order to keep our prices low, we manufacture out products to these specifications and simply convert to the Imperial system of inches and feet used in the US.
Q. How long will it take for me to receive my order?
A. Our products are manufactured an shipped from out overseas production facilities. This is one of the ways we keep our overhead cost down, which results in lower prices to our customers. Depending on the nature of your order, it could be anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months. Less for standard products, more for custom orders.
Q. Is your wood certified as reclaimed or recycled?
A. We, the founders of Elemental Republic, have been in the reclaimed wood business since 1991. We have never bought or sold anything other than 100% post-consumer reclaimed wood. We have, in the past, participated in third party certification programs. In fact, we helped to create them. We see the value of these programs, especially for companies that deal in both new and reclaimed woods. However, these programs have become quite expensive and, arguably, less valuable, over time. Today, we choose to forego these programs, stand on our reputation, experience and integrity and pass the considerable saving on to our customers. Besides, as we’ve always said, the nail holes speak for themselves.
Q. Does your wood qualify for LEED points?
A Yes, reclaimed wood can qualify for LEED credits / points. The criteria are somewhat variable and it is best to consult with a LEED AP. Please contact us and we can hook you up.
Q. Can I order my flooring in custom sizes from you?
A. Yes, we do accommodate custom dimensions when your budget and lead times will accommodate it.
Q. What species are in your “mixed” products?
A. There are a variety of tropical hardwood species in our mixed species products. Often, the structures that are the source of our woods were originally constructed with wood from multiple species. While it is possible to identify specific genus and species, the process is cumbersome, time consuming and only moderately accurate. Instead, we sort by color. Most of these tropical hardwoods have similar durability and hardness and we find that color sorting creates eclectic interesting, one of a kind installations that make the best use of the resources. For those who must know, some of the species that we find include, Narra, Pyinkado, Merbau, Ironwood, various types of Rosewood, Balau, Ipe, Afromosia, Peroba and others.
Q. What country does your wood come from?
A. Our wood comes from a number of countries in Asia, Africa and South America.
Q. Will my floor change color over time?
A. Yes, all wood changes color over time and upon exposure to ultraviolet light. This is why old wood is often grey. You can expect areas exposed to direct sunlight to change color more than others. By sanding and refinishing the original color and luster is restored.
Q. Can I order trim, stair treads, etc to match my flooring?
A. Yes, we can produce may different custom trim packages. However, take time and will impact your budget. Many trip and stair tread packages can be produces using our standard lumber products. Please discuss your needs with us and we will work with you to find the most cost-effective and timely solutions.
Q. What about insects? Doesn’t old wood have bugs in it sometimes?
A. All of our products are kiln dried as part of the production process. This kills any insects that may be in the wood. Additionally, all shipping containers are fumigated as part of the import / export process.
Q. I have an old barn. Do you buy wood?
A. Our specialty is reclaimed tropical hardwoods, so unless your barn is located in the tropics, or built with something very unique, it is probably not for us. That said, we have a lot of associates in the industry and love to see all things wood get re-used. So let us know what you have and we will do our best to help you find a home for it.
Q. I have heard that some reclaimed wood companies are buying historic buildings such as temples and mosques. How do I know my wood doesn’t come from such structures?
A. In our experience, it is highly unusual for a structure of true cultural or historic significance to be demolished. Such buildings are usually revered in the local communities and are much more likely to be preserved and restored, than replaced. Most of our wood comes from industrial infrastructure of some sort. On occasion we have been offered wood from buildings (such as tribal houses from the Central Sulawesi highlands) that we deemed were too unique and culturally significant to warrant the encouragement of salvage. In such cased, we will always pass on the opportunity and support the culture.
Q. I know your wood comes from foreign countries. How can I be sure it isn’t produced with child labor or unsafe work environments?
A. We use manufacturing facilities that we have been working with for years. We have long-term relationships with them and we support them in caring for their employees in every way. We do not use sweat-shop or child labor. If we see unsafe working conditions we apply pressure on the management to change.
Q. What about the embodied energy costs of shipping wood around the world?
A. Containerized shipping is the most energy efficient shipping method in use today. It takes more energy to move a truck from San Francisco to Los Angeles than it does to move a container from Hong Kong to Los Angeles.