Fir Flooring

If you are contemplating a new fir flooring in your home but are tired of the same look found in other homes, you can add an air of rustic exclusivity and uniqueness by going with salty firs that have an antique look. These beautiful wood relics are named for the coloring effects of salt and minerals on fir woods. Specifically, salty firs refer to the rescued trestles from trains crossing the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The fir wood finish is unlike anything you’ve ever seen and is milled from reclaimed Douglas fir lumber. The effect of the salt and other minerals from repeated train crossings of Salt Lake is a subtler look with hints of amber to red and even a little green. What makes salty fir flooring so unique is the antique gray and black coloring stains from contact with salt water. The end effect is like an old black and white photograph. It gives off a rustic, antique vibe due to the random black stains on the wood, yet still preserves some of the warm orange colors of a Douglas fir. This type of flooring would look great in any rustic or modern home.

Going with fir flooring made from salty fir planks not only looks beautiful in any home, it is also an environmentally friendly choice. Since lumbers are actually re-purposed from Douglas fir trestles that have been milled, they extend the life of the original wood and prevent a new tree from being cut down to meet the demand. Reclaimed fir flooring has always been an attractive option for many people both for its worn look and low cost. The aged effect is at times highly desirable and cannot be bought from new lumber. Add on the unique dark stains from the salt and the rich history of the wood’s previous life and you have a great story to tell your guests when they see it.

To add an antique touch to plain fir flooring, salty firs make an excellent choice while conserving the planet at the same time.

Tongue and groove lumber is widely used in construction for fir flooring, mahogany wood, and more. The name for tongue and groove fir flooring, also known as T&G fir flooring, comes from the shapes of the edges. On one edge of the lumber there is usually a U-shaped groove that is cut into it. This part is the “groove” in a tongue and groove lumber. The other edge is the exact opposite shape with a U-shaped tongue sticking out, thus giving the “tongue” in T&G. It’s a popular style in fir wood floors whether you are laying down a porch, kitchen floor or even a wall. The edges are always cut on the longest edge of the lumber as that is how they are interlocked together. When these are being processed in a lumber yard, one edge has a blade that is cutting a tongue and at the same time another blade shapes the groove.

The benefit of this type of design in fir plank flooring is the ability to interlock each plank together. When these are assembled in groove-meets-tongue and tongue-meets-groove style, they create a natural lock together. Because of this intelligent design, the entire wood floor ends up being very smooth as each piece of the fir flooring must move with the piece next to it as they are locked into each other. If one plank moves up, the adjacent planks must also move up, and the planks adjacent to those in a rippling effect. Imagine non-T&G straight wooden planks laid down on a floor without being locked into each other. Just one small stray bend will be obvious as each individual plank is free to move on its own accord. This design offers less stability and smoothness, hence the popularity of tongue and groove fir flooring.

Removing a T&G fir floor must be done carefully. Even if the wood is damaged or rotting, you cannot randomly dislodge a plank as there is a high possibility it will destroy the groove of its adjacent edge. Removal of a single plank should start with two cuts down the length of the plank close to the edges of the groove and tongue. You should easily be able to remove the center piece. Tap the groove piece away from the adjacent tongue where it is nailed in. For the tongue side you’ll need to tap, hammer, or pull in the opposite direction. Doing it this way prevent damage to any adjoining fir planks while preserving the rest of your T&G floor.

Fir flooring is a popular option using widely throughout North America due to the easy accessibility of Douglas firs. Firs are also great to work with as they are easy to cut and shape, accept paints without any trouble, and can hold nails firmly. Reclaimed fir flooring is an attractive and cheap type of flooring that is highly sought after. Since the material is easily reusable, it is a green and Earth-conscious way to reduce tree cutting in new home construction or home improvement projects. The tongue and groove design is popular for its solid and smooth finish thanks to its interlocking design. While removal can be tricky if not done properly, doing is patiently and properly will prevent damage to the rest of your fir flooring.