A New Life for Old Forest Wood

When the first settlers arrived in North America, there were approximately 28 Million acres of Long Leaf Pine forests. Now, it is estimated that hopefully, there are 11,000 acres left.

The trees that compromised these immense, ecologically diverse habitats reached full maturity at about 150 to 400 years of age. The dense overhead growth, allowing limited amounts of rain and sunlight to the forest floor, caused much slower growth making the wood very dense and beautifully grained.

For centuries the wood from these pine forests were the primary source of construction material all single family houses and buildings in this country. The builders of log cabins in the deep South often used longleaf heart pine logs for the lower tiers because not only is heart pine resistant to decay, it is also termite proof.

Not until the 1930’s when the few remaining acres were protected and forest management techniques were instituted was the destruction of this species of Pine tree halted.

To replace the destroyed forests, fast growing Loblolly Pine was introduced to reforest for commercial harvesting in order to provide building materials. While fast growing, it produces a much inferior wood that is more susceptible to destruction by fire.

Never again will the gorgeous, hardy Long Leaf pine be available for building material. The old growth forests, that produced these towering Pine trees which were 175 feet tall and 125 inches in width, are lost and gone forever from the face of the earth.

Antique Long Leaf pine wood is still available but the scarcity continues to increase because the rich character, beautiful grain and irreplaceable quality of this lost timber is being destroyed and thrown into land fills every day. All day, every day, bulldozers level these historic treasures originally harvested from the ancient Old Growth Forests.

Like the Pine, Oak flooring was cut from these same old growth forests. The Oak wood used primarily from the turn of the last century until the middle of the century was cut from trees that were a hundred to three hundred years old, and grew in Old Growth forest settings. With less light and moisture, they grew slowly and produced wood of great density and incomparable beauty.

Soon, there will be no more of this antique wood available, and like the forests from which this fabulous wood originated, it will all be destroyed. For now, this gorgeous Oak flooring of unparalleled quality, which will never be replicated, is made available through our recycling process.

Saved from demolition, this antique Pine and Oak is being recycled and given New Life. With each act of preservation, future generations will be able to admire the quality, beauty and value of this distinctive Old Growth forest product.

Our Long Leaf Pine flooring is manufactured locally, using structural building materials from the turn of last century to the early mid century. Each board is cut and then re-milled into tongue & groove flooring of various widths. Our recycled Oak flooring is the original flooring harvested from ancient Oak trees and installed during this same period, generations ago.

The preservation of these materials not only recognizes the quality of the wood itself, but also shows respect for the original Old Growth Forest source of this wood. All, while enjoying unprecedented beauty, quality and value.

In this way, we decrease the demand for additional harvesting of our forests, while adhering to the growing call for “Green” building. By recycling, re-using and reducing consumption we provide good stewardship of our resources. And, by doing so, not only do we as manufacturers, but each end user as well, helps remove additional stress to the environment and contributes to the protection of it for future generations.