![]() |
![]() |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It has been a busy start to 2012 for the demolition industry, and accordingly the best recyclers
(us) are becoming well stocked in all sizes of old board salvaged from
20th century houses and schools. Demolition of a classroom wing at West Dandenong Primary School delivered 300m2 of
83 x 19mm and 108 x 19mm hardwood boards in an unpolished scuffed surface.
About 100m2 of grey weathered and
age-patinated Tasmanian Oak was salvaged from a community hall in Kingsville and would suit retail or hospitality venues trading on a
time-worn look.
For the nostalgic among you who remember swimming laps of the outdoor pool with present and past state pollies at Hawthorn Leisure Centre, we have salvaged 100m2 of
60 x 25mm Victorian Ash floorboards featuring a limed finish and faded quadrangle lines salvaged from the squash courts. The
60s-era leisure centre is being demolished and a new one built on the same site.
From Wandin Primary School in the Dandenong hills we rescued a
75 x 19mm Blackbutt from annihilation by excavator - a full 120m2
- it's in beautiful condition but there's only one of these.
One of the more unusual reclaimed floors is a
150 x 22mm Celerytop Pine floor from a between-wars house in Bentleigh.
Celerytop Pine hails from Tasmania - not always a large tree - though large 1.0m diameter trees have been found in the far southwest. It is a dense, more durable timber than other softwoods in a similar board size and has a glossy
plum-caramel hue to the freshly-exposed grain. It was a brittle lift - and there is only 30m2 of it
- but much more interesting in colour and texture than your average reclaimed pine floorboard.
Still in stock from 2011 is a modest-sized houselot (68m2) of Tasmanian Blackwood - and it surprises me that it remains unsold. We normally have to keep it on the quiet when limited stocks of a rare and beautiful timber are available, as some of our regulars will feel they missed out. Here's your chance
- a dark rich timber with chocolate tones and bright white-gold sapwood flares.
Tasmanian Oak 133mm, 108mm, 89mm and more ... Houselots of 40-50m2 only - but many in stock.
Is anything as golden as Kiwi
Kauri? Oh yeah - Huon Pine. Even more rare.
Gymnasium floor with coloured stripes.
Small pack of 36m2
- salmon red with some golden sapwood edges.
Fabulous narrow boards that suit 50s fitouts. If you once thought a cream brick veneer dwelling was unfashionable, think again.
Ancient Blackbutt - no, that's me just having fun with the hyperbole our media thrives upon.
It's a beautiful board
- but I don't know that the mid-20th century really qualifies as ancient -
even if the tree was 100 years old at the time.
Recycled Messmate I see this as a serious contender in retro refits along with narrow reclaimed oak.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||