We hear the term “sustainable” being thrown around all over the place these days. And while too much sustainability isn’t a bad thing—as we should all aspire to cut back on the resources we are using—the opportunity for greenwashing is more prevalent than ever.
Greenwashing refers to businesses making false claims about how sustainable, eco-friendly, and environmentally-friendly their products or services are. This is a global issue, as across the world, you’ll find instances of greenwashing and companies being fined for making these untrue claims about their offerings. So much so, in fact, that watchdog and consumer advocacy groups are making it a priority to try and fight for tighter regulations on what companies can and cannot say when it comes to their ingredients, manufacturing process, operations, etc.
To see just how bad greenwashing has become, take a look at this list of companies who have been caught dead to rights by not being truthful in terms of how eco-friendly they are.
With all that being said, you may think that there are no brands or organizations you can trust anymore. While greenwashing is prevalent in today’s world more than ever, there are still many, many great companies who are living up to their promise to reduce their carbon footprint and work towards creating a better community, city, and world wherever they operate.
Here at Manomin Resawn Timbers, we offer reclaimed wood in many different forms, including flooring, mantels, paneling, doors, and timbers. Our customers love the idea of using reclaimed wood in their home. Not only is this an extremely eco-friendly option (just think of all the trees that get cut down each year), but reclaimed wood is absolutely stunningly gorgeous. And, best of all, reclaimed wood can be sourced from so many different old places—including old factories, warehouses, boats, barns, and other miscellaneous buildings. So, while you may think that you’re limited in terms of choices when comparing reclaimed wood to new wood, you actually have a lot of options to choose from.
Here is a list of the types of wood we offer here at MR Timbers:
- Weathered Antique
- Platinum Gray
- Antique Oak
- Antique Ash
- Reclaimed Douglas Fir
- Faded Barn Wood
- Antique Elm
- Timber Tile
- Antique Mixed Hardwoods
- Antique Wormy Chestnut
- Heart Pine
- Weathered Gray Barnwood
- Shou Sugi Ban
- Unique Wood
- Prana Wood
So, while we specialize in interior reclaimed wood features, there are many other ways you can add reclaimed, recycled wood into your home. Today, we’re going to be talking specifically about siding, and why reclaimed wood siding is taking off with homeowners today.
Reclaimed Wood Exterior Siding: Why You Should Consider it
A Refined, Modern Look
We mentioned this just a bit ago, but perhaps the most important reason for considering reclaimed wood siding for your home is because of the sheer beauty that it can offer.
While it may sound like decades-old wood wouldn’t make for a very great siding choice, reclaimed wood suppliers do such an excellent job at renovating them. With recycled wood, it’s a careful balancing act of making sure to update the wood well enough that it looks new and fresh, while still maintaining the integrity and history of the wood.
The exterior of your home is such an important part of your house, so don’t make the mistake of overlooking it and not thinking long and hard about what the best option is for you.
If you’re leaning towards a log-cabin or country-styled home, then we cannot recommend looking into reclaimed wood enough.
Rich History
Reclaimed wood offers you to take a piece of history home with you—or in the case of siding, you can make most of the outside of your home a historical piece in of itself. With reclaimed wood, you’re able to carry on the history and tradition of the wood, as it transitions from its previous life to a newfound purpose as part of your home.
Imagine being able to tell your neighbors, family, friends, and guests that your home is partly constructed with the old wood from a century-old ship! Or an old factory that was crafted during the industrial revolution. Sure, it may sound like you’re bragging a little bit, but if we’re honest, it’s a fair thing to boast about.
Whether you love history and want to cement a piece of it into your home, or simply like the idea of giving old wood new life, then reclaimed exterior siding is definitely for you.
Sustainable—Without the Greenwashing
It’s hard to get any more sustainable than actually resuing something as opposed to wasting more resources to get the same thing. Here at MR Timbers, we want to try and push every wood supplier to at least offer reclaimed wood as an option. It’s almost hard to fathom just how many trees could be saved if more wood suppliers dialed back on their new, freshly cut wood and instead offered recycled wood.
So, for those who want to live more eco-friendly lives, reclaimed wood siding is definitely the right move to make.
How to Find the Right Type of Wood For Your Home
You may have looked at the list of wood we offer and thought, geez, those are almost too many options to choose from—I don’t even know where to start!
The good news for you is that here at MR Timbers, we’ll work with you to find the perfect style and species of wood-based on your taste preferences and home.
If you’re interested in adding reclaimed wood to your home, then contact us today!
And, to get a feel for the type of wood we have, come by our showroom and we’ll help you get started on finding the perfect wood for you.
Our clients have told us time and time again how much they enjoy our showroom, especially our large displays and sample selection. It’s a great first step as you begin your project because you’ll find:
- An eager, intelligent staff that is ready to help
- Thousands of square feet of reclaimed wood flooring, wall paneling, timbers, and reclaimed wood fireplace mantels
And while you’re there, stop by the manufacturing plant, too! You’ll appreciate your wood selection when you see how it came to be.