Hey all
I posted recently about reclaimed timbers I salvaged dismantling a building. I have 6 pcs, 20′ L X 13″ X 3″. Doug Fir, old growth, hard as stone, heavy like you would expect.
I really want to recycle these and use in the addition i built on the original footprint. I want to use as flooring.
Thought about doing an end grain floor after reading some recent posts here. I cross cut some and it is beautiful. But the tiles are brittle and cutting 1000 or so of them and then laying as tile seems like a lot of work for something I am unfamiliar with.
If cleaned up so it could be milled, and I ripped across the face it would essentially be 1/4 sawn and the grain that way is straight and sharp like you want in a fir floor. Question is this.
If i can get someone to mill it into T&G boards that are about 2″ wide will it twist and warp like crazy if it sits inside the addition for a month or so before install? The wood is very old, so I am not sure if it is going to absorb more moisture than newly milled flooring or less? Is it going to become “Unhappy” after being converted from a 20′ 13″x3″ to 10′ 3/4″x2″ ?
Any and all insights welcome.
Jim
Replies
Most of the movement in lumber comes during initial drying.
Since you've got recycled lumber, it shouldn't be much of a probelm.
I'd still sticker the finish product, and let it acclimate in the area where it will be installed.
When it's being milled, there may be some reaction wood that will warp or twist. But my guess is that wood that old and dry won't have many problems.
As I said I cut a few 3/4" and 1" thick slabs to get a look at the end grain. Looks great, got home from work last night and at least 2 pieces had cupped already. 1 about 1/16" and the other about 1/8". Both were the thinner 3/4" thick pieces.
Simple says just do th floor in 1" thick end grain tiles right?
But all the plumbing and elec were run with the idea that I was putting down 3/4" strip flooring. Maybe we just stick to the strip idea. If it remains stable ripped that way I will be good. The tiles are very brittle and do break.........Dont want to try to get them to lay flat and crack them at the same time.