We at Santa Barbara Stone Masters are experts when it comes to stone.
We make no secret of that! But we also recognize that stone isn’t for everybody, and for that reason our technicians are also trained to provide service for a client’s wood surfaces through our parent company Master Clean USA.
To that end, we will every now and again offer some tips for caring for your wood surfaces, and today we’ll be dipping into that pool. In fact, we’re going to combine our knowledge of wood care with our penchant for sustainability!
You’re interested in investing in wood surfaces for your home, but you want to be environmentally responsible in your approach. Here are some tips to help you along!
Prioritize reclaimed or salvaged wood
This is honestly a win-win most of the time.
Reclaimed and salvaged wood tend towards beauty, particularly if you are aiming for a rustic aestheticfor your space. And inso investing, you aren’t generating new demand on resources used to harvest wood, even from responsible growers.
Knowing the difference can be helpful as well!
Reclaimed wood is essentially recycled wood pulled from demolished barns or other old buildings. Salvaged wood comes from unused logs which fell from natural causes or were leftover by some other means; it wasn’t previously used in construction.
If, however, you desire a more refined look for your home or business, this may not be in line with your goals.
Therefore:
Look for the FSC logo!
FSC is the Forestry Stewardship Council, and they essentially accredit companies who acquire wood in both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible ways.
Using wood which abides by their standard for integrity in the industry is a great way to feel good about the materials you are using for your project.
Where is it from?
Avoid wood that comes from countries with notoriously destructive production habits.
We’ve all heard about deforestation in the Amazon, so I won’t beat that dead horse. But Malaysia and Indonesia have all but exhausted their supply, and several Eastern European nations (Romania, Poland, and Armenia in particular), are also quickly exceeding their capacity to sustain.
Prioritize wood that is grown domestically if you can – FSC Certified lumber from the USA or Canadaare great options. Western Europe is also a generally safe option, as they have invested at length in preserving their forests.
What is it?
It’s really important to ask yourself why you want a particular kind of wood.
Ebony, teak, and mahogany (Brazilian mahogany in particular) are beautiful, exotic woods, but they are also endangered and often exported illegally.
Evaluate carefully if using these types of wood is truly necessary, or if you can achieve your design goals without them!
If you really want teak, be especially diligent in where you source it from. But consider using more sustainable breeds instead! Bamboo and oak, especially when responsibly grown, are beautiful, sturdy options that are flexible aesthetically and relatively eco-friendly!
Diligent maintenance!
I will never stop saying it.
If you don’t take good care of your surfaces once they are installed, they will be very susceptible to irreparable damage and you’ll have to replace them, demanding more from the planet. Invest the time and effort needed to keep your wood surfaces healthy and beautiful.
If you’re not sure how, we can help!
Do you have wood surfaces that need some attention? Or do you just need a hand learning best practices for keeping them up?
We would love to help!
Give us a call today.
