Based in Connecticut, Old Wood Workshop is one of a small number of antique wood suppliers in the United States that offers quality antique flooring, wall board, lumber and other reclaimed materials ideal for restoration projects. While the salvaged wood and antique flooring market has shifted to offer much more re-sawn and engineered product to meet demand for the trendy look of reclaimed wood, only a few retailers offer authentic, original-surface antique flooring and other elements necessary for careful restoration projects.

In the early 1990s, Old Wood Workshop owner Thomas Campbell started salvaging local barns in northeastern Connecticut and made furniture from the reclaimed wood.  He transitioned into deconstructing period houses and found that the best reclaimed flooring came from the attics of these buildings, often the least damaged by time and use. Today, he specializes in original surface, wide plank antique flooring and historic reclaimed wood from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Campbell carefully removes the flooring or wall board and sells the wood in batches of boards that remain together from the original location. His customers appreciate knowing the provenance of the material.

According to Campbell, antique flooring is special for several reasons. “The first is a rich patina, which took hundreds of years to create, and subtle variations of color, such as shades of honey and amber in Pumpkin Pine Flooring (aka Eastern White Pine).  The texture and contour of the wide plank surface is due to foot wear or saw marks.  Many old floorboards are not the same width from end to end, which leads to a pleasing irregular pattern.  Some floors even have patches (wood, leather, tin) or the rare Roman numeral carved in the surface when the boards were originally made.  These features add character and warmth, which cannot be found in new or in re-sawn flooring. All these nuances create a unique, beautiful, and historic product ideal for restoration.”

The following articles featuring Old Wood Workshop offer more insight into the challenges and rewards of salvaged antique flooring:
CT Old House Online:
https://www.ctoldhouse.com/Old-Wood-Workshop-Floors.html

Traditional Building, June 2021: “Salvaging the Past: incorporating original antique flooring into a house project”
https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=54226&i=707644&p=24&pre=1&ver=html5

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Old Wood Workshop offers exceptional quality flooring for your historic renovation or building project. For almost 30 years, owner Thomas Campbell has provided quality period materials for homeowners as well as building contractors, designers and architects. He prides himself on outstanding customer service and honest, knowledgeable advice. Find more information visit www.OldWoodWorkshop.com or call Tom at 860-655-5259.