Get Gorgeous Hardwood Floors

Southern Living, May 2005

This 200-year-old wood from Maryland finds new life in a Texas dining room.

While this sunny room is beautifully decorated, it's what is underfoot that really grabs your attention. Though the home was built in the era of George W. Bush, these wood floors are from the era of another George-George Washington.

The wood was salvaged from a building in Maryland and given a second life in this Beaumont, Texas, house. A professional refinished the wood, buffing it to a high shine while leaving existing nail holes as evidence of the wood's age.

Using salvaged building materials is a growing trend. Its popularity can be attributed to both appearance and ecology (recycling old wood preserves forests).

Antique wood requires extensive processing and can be expensive. But for fans of reclaimed wood, having a piece of history at home is worth the splurge.

For tips on caring for wood floors, visit southern living.com/features.

RECLAIMED WOOD CHECKLIST

If you're considering using salvaged wood, here are a few things you should ask about.

* Are new-growth timbers mixed in with old-growth ones? Be sure the dealer is selling 100% antique wood.

* Can the wood's history be documented?

* Are unstable knots cut out of wood before shipping?

* Is the material kiln-dried, which kills dormant insects and exposes defects that need repairing?

* May you examine several large samples?

* What is the company's grading system, and what does each term mean?