The reclaimed hardwood trend has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, it has been growing in popularity. Boston area homeowners and crafters have been looking for new sources of hardwood to reclaim. Shipping pallets have long been a popular source of hardwood for reclaimed wood projects. However, one aspect of shipping containers has gone underappreciated: shipping crates.

Shipping Crates

Many items, especially fruits and vegetables, need some airflow as they are shipped. That means they can’t be boxed up too tightly. Instead, they are often shipped in wooden crates. Depending on the jurisdiction and the type of food being shipped, the create might be considered contaminated after one use. So, in certain cases, the shipping crate can only move food once before it’s discarded. That means warehouses and distributors have dozens of shipping crates stacking up every day. Some of these crates are made of hardwood. Heavier items and items shipped from Europe are more likely to be shipped in hardwood. That wood can then be used to make incredible reclaimed wood floors.

Crate Wood Floors

Crate wood makes great reclaimed flooring for several reasons. For one, the wood is already in rectangles. If you pull the nails out, you could instantly start laying them as flooring without doing any cutting.

Typically, the wood of the create is largely unfinished; it is roughsawn because it’s purely utilitarian. Sometimes, the wood is stamped with a logo of the source company. Some homeowners using crates will flip them upside down to use them as flooring or they will sand off the company logos. Others like the authenticity of the logos and shipping stamps. That helps to create a rustic, industrial look for your floor.

Where to Find Crates

It might require you to be something of a detective to find great crates but they can be found. You should look at online classifieds. Many small business owners who receive wooden shipping crates will offer them for free or at a low price just so you will take them away. You should also look at liquor stores and grocery stores because wine is often shipped in wooden crates.

Look at motorcycle dealerships, especially ones that sell European motorcycles. They often receive motorcycle parts in wooden crates. Lastly, you should look at construction sites. They often have wooden crates but, more importantly, they often have connections with different sources of hardwood.

Once you gather enough wood, you’re ready to create a truly unique floor.

Ready to try something “outside the box”? Give Dan’s Custom Hardwood Flooring a call. We are the Boston hardwood flooring experts!