Rustic Hardwood Flooring
From Floor Coverings
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Is rustic hardwood flooring cheap?
What Does Rustic Flooring Mean?
Rustic can mean a few different things to different people but some of the meanings are simple, primitive, country-like or old. Because markings and properties of the wood in rustic floors are so unique, it can add a lot of character to your home, depending on the style, when you use rustic floors in your house. Rustic is simplicity and beauty and more towards Mother Nature than a manufactured and evenly sized floorboard, for instance. Rustic is artistic. Rustic is often recycled.
Real or Created?
Basic or rustic wood can either be found as it is in the countryside or other buildings being demolished, or created by craftspeople at home or in the factory. You can make rustic wood yourself by using a few simple methods. Roughly planed and wider wood (to mimic a period of a hundred and fifty years or so ago), can be beaten up with a chain or planed on the edges and then cut to the size of floor planks then stained first and even sealed or buffed. This pre-finishing may make it easier to lay the planks on to your floor, but some might prefer laying them first, then sanding and doing all of that. Sanding is still necessary even if you want the rustic flooring look because of splinters. Staining can be a bit splotchy for the rustic floors look, but not too much so, or else your floor will look like a mottled giraffe. Not a great look for your period or log cabin home. In a log cabin home, pine planks can be used for the floor and simply sealed, gives a very authentic look.
Really, Really Rustic
There are various degrees of rusticity. Using wood with giant holes in it or termite riddled (although sealed with resin that can make some interesting furniture) or broken or full of rusty nails -- rustic can be called "plain spoken" wood. Great rustic wood can come from old barns that are either lying there in a field or about to be torn down. Make a deal with a rancher of farmer for that fantastic silvered wood. Some sanding and perhaps staining will get it looking as much rustic or as little as you want. And it's good that recycled wood can be used. Not only does it look unique and interesting -- Mother Nature is helped out by using something that has already been grown, and is now being reused -- saving a few trees in the process. If you live in a city, there is still old wood from old buildings around in some parts. People even throw away old wood, not realizing the beauty and value it holds to some. Grab hold of the pile if you find some, and keep it for later, even if you can't use it right away. Being old already, rustic wood won't hurt by being stored for a while longer.
