What is the difference between antique and new flooring?
How do you judge the quality of antique flooring?

New wood flooring is homogenous and has little color variation, while antique flooring is very different. For example, antique flooring has no true grading system like new lumber since the wood's appearance is much more meaningful than its grade. Also, defects in new lumber such as checking, cracked knots, worm holes and "bug tracks" are what make antique lumber so unique and attractive. It is difficult to compare different "grades" of antique wood because the name does not represent the quality of wood like the name of new wood does. Although brochures and pictures may help display the quality and style of the wood, photos will rarely show the true color of a finished antique floor. Often times, slight errors in photographic lighting, developing, and color printing take their toll on the actual appearance of the wood.

There is no difference in installing antique and new plank flooring. However, there are some differences in the sanding and finishing. Some of the antique woods, such as distressed chestnut and pine should never see a coarse "cutting" grit of the sandpaper. Sanding off the beautiful patina will easily ruin antique floors.

Please Remember
Although the color, density and various other characteristics of antique lumber vary from piece to piece, this is part of its appeal. You should understand that the antique boards and beams are up to 250 years old, so they have obviously been subjected to various elements. Also, old barns were frequently made with lumber that contained various sub-species. Consequently, antique lumber is rarely all the same. If this does not satisfy your personal preference, staining is always an option. Antique wood expands and contracts more evenly over the heating and cooling seasons than a similar-size, new floor. A 10% waste is sufficient for most installations.

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