You've chosen the material — here's how to install it, live with it, and read its natural character correctly along the way.
Reclaimed wood behaves a little differently from new timber at every stage — from how it's handled on site to how it's fixed in place. This is general guidance; always confirm specifics against the species you've chosen
01
Let boards acclimate to the site's temperature and humidity before installing, and re-check for any movement since processing.
02
Denser species carry real weight — lift, carry, and stack with that in mind, and protect faces and edges during transport.
03
Reclaimed timber can hide old fasteners or debris. Inspect before cutting, and expect blade and bit wear to run higher than with new wood.
04
Match fixings and spacing to the density and movement of the specific species, and allow for expansion appropriate to the environment.
05
Indoor settings allow more flexibility in finish and species choice. Outdoor use should prioritise species and treatments suited to direct weather exposure.
06
For structural, outdoor, or large-volume work, use an installer with specific experience in reclaimed timber's irregularities — not just timber in general.
Reclaimed wood asks for less than most people expect — mostly it just needs to be left to age the way it naturally will.
01
Regular dry sweeping or vacuuming, with occasional damp cleaning using a mild, wood-safe solution. Avoid harsh or abrasive chemical cleaners.
02
Oils and sealants suited to the species can protect and deepen the natural tone. Test on an offcut first — reclaimed wood can absorb finish differently to new timber.
03
Limit sustained moisture exposure where the species isn't suited to it, and ensure adequate drainage and airflow around outdoor installations.
04
Expect gradual colour shifts with UV exposure over time — part of the material's character, not a defect to correct.
05
A periodic check — roughly every 6–12 months for outdoor installations — catches finish wear or fixing movement early, before it becomes a bigger job.
06
Deepening or lightening tone, a weathered patina outdoors, more pronounced grain — all typical signs of a material settling in, not failing.
Reclaimed wood carries visible signs of the life it lived before this one. Most of what shows up on a board is exactly that: character. A smaller set of things are worth flagging, because they affect how the board performs rather than how it looks.
Boards may differ subtly or noticeably in tone, even within the same species and order.
Small holes from a board's earlier life are common, and are usually left visible on purpose.
Scuffs, stains, or tool marks from previous use may remain in the finished piece.
Paint traces, weld marks, or old joinery cuts can appear depending on where the timber came from.
No two boards are identical — grain, density, and colour will vary across a single order.
Small surface checks or hairline cracks can appear, particularly as the wood continues to acclimate.
A sign of active rot rather than surface weathering.
Fresh boring dust or frass, rather than old, sealed damage.
Splits that run through a board's structural depth, or that extend under normal use.
Distortion beyond what's typical for the species, and that can't be corrected during installation.
Old fixings that are loose or positioned in a way that compromises the board.
A sign of unresolved moisture damage rather than natural patina.
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