Why go reclaimed on your civil or marine project

The use of reclaimed timber is no new thing. Yet, reclaimed timber is transforming the civil and marine industries. Now even greater priority is being given to green building techniques and with this, wood with a past life is gaining a new purpose.

Here at EcoChoice, we supply FSC® certified Greenheart reclaimed wood. Below we take a closer look at the use of Greenheart wood in the civil and marine industries, and uncover the benefits of choosing reclaimed over other timber types.

Reasons to choose Greenheart wood

Greenheart wood is a tropical hardwood species renowned for its attractiveness and versatility. This timber variety is also known for its strength, durability, and longevity.

Its dense structure means that Greenheart is popularly used in applications where strength and durability are critical. With this in mind, Greenheart is often the number one choice for civil and marine projects, with boats, bridges, and decking – amongst other things crafted from this timber species. In addition, it’s naturally resistant to infestation which only adds to its suitability for outdoor projects and boat building.

Our reclaimed Greenheart wood can be FSC® recycled certified. The piles and planks supplied by our team are sourced from demolition sites such as old piers, marinas and pontoons. They are then graded and re-sawn before becoming available to you.

The benefits of using reclaimed timber

Reclaimed or recycled timber is one of the simplest ways to boost the sustainability of your project. By choosing Greenheart reclaimed wood that has been certified by the FSC®, you can do your bit to safeguard the valuable yet vulnerable ecosystems in the world’s forests.

Here Building Moxie explains more about the environmentally friendly advantages of using reclaimed timber:

“When you use reclaimed lumber, you decrease the demand for newly sourced lumber, which helps curb deforestation. If harvested responsibly, reclaimed wood is a renewable resource that reduces landfill waste as well as the use of environmental hazards to manufacture new products. For example, it’s better for the earth to install an engineered reclaimed wood floor than it is to install petroleum-based carpeting or linoleum.”

The rustic aesthetic of reclaimed wood adds character and charm to any application, with bolt holes and other quirks, and natural imperfections enhancing the beauty and originality of a project no-end.

How Greenheart is outliving its projects

As we mentioned, Greenheart reclaimed wood is used across several civil and marine projects. This timber variety is well known for standing the test of time, which means your project certainly won’t be its last.

The civil and marine timbers we supply such as Ekki and Greenheart are so incredibly dense and durable that they often outlive their projects. When a pier or marina is decommissioned, usually for development purposes, and demolition is needed, the bigger timber sections (such as piles and joists) can be saved. These sections are subsequently sent to reclamation yards where they are cleaned, re-sawn, repurposed and given a new lease of life. 

Moreover, Greenheart timbers can be used again as street furniture or funky ‘distressed’ shop fit-outs, as well as decking, timber cladding, and flooring.

Ready to go reclaimed on your civil or marine project? Find out more about our Greenheart reclaimed wood right here.