Domo Arigato, Reclaimed Barn Wood

When you think of sushi, reclaimed midwestern barn wood isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. Yet that’s what the architects at restaurant design-heavyweight, Shea, Inc. thought of when asked by the Masu Sushi and Robata restaurant to build their sushi bar.

Masu, located at 330 East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, is a sushi and robata grill concept that combines traditional Japanese cuisine and hospitality in a hip, modern environment. Interestingly enough, part of that modern environment comes from antique white oak that was reclaimed from a barn built in the 1850s. 

Corey Fromm of Fromm’s Inc. Custom Woodworking & Cabinetry Services was hired to create a sushi bar from rustic, reclaimed lumber. He purchased the beautiful antique white oak from Manomin Resawn Timbers and used it to create a sushi bar top that enhances the playful, high-energy environment. The restaurant features veteran sushi chefs, a Japanese coal-fired robata grill and a full bar with specialty drinks and an extensive Sake list. 


Masu’s energetic and lighthearted atmosphere, including the reclaimed antique white oak bar surface, encourages friendly interaction among chefs, customers and staff and makes Masu the place for dining, drinking and fun in Northeast Minneapolis.


You can see other bar tops and custom furniture made from reclaimed wood at Manomin’s website.

The Pros and Cons of Reclaimed Wood Flooring vs Laminate

Antique wood flooring.

The look of new wood flooring and laminate can be fairly similar, but reclaimed wood has a unique character that comes from its age and past uses. 


Reclaimed wood flooring is made from reclaimed lumber that has been rescued from old buildings and recycled, refined, resawn and refinished for use as flooring, furniture and other home and commercial building uses. The original trees were cut down years ago, making reclaimed wood a green-friendly flooring option.


Laminate wood flooring is designed to imitate hardwood flooring. It is constructed of a high-density fiberboard substrate layer, a pattern layer that is a high-resolution picture of a hardwood-flooring surface and, on top, a plastic-type, melamine wear layer. In other words, with reclaimed hardwood flooring you are walking on an actual piece of wood, whereas with laminate, you are walking on a picture of hardwood underneath a wear layer.

Decorative laminate.

Some people refer to laminate flooring as “Pergo” flooring, but Pergo is actually a brand name of one of the first companies to introduce laminate to the U.S. In reality, there are hundreds of laminate floor brands. Plastic laminate floors are extremely durable, considered by some to be impervious to stains, dents and fading, however they cannot be refinished or recoated once they are scratched or worn. Ten- to 25-year residential warranties against staining, wearing and fading are typical depending on the brand. Laminates also handle temperature and humidity shifts with little problem. One concern with laminates is that there are limited colors/patterns to choose from and pattern repeats are part of the look of a laminate floor. 

Reclaimed wood comes from interesting
places, including old barns.

People often like the character and look of reclaimed wood flooring because it has a story to it — coming from an old barn, warehouse or home. Many feel it warms up a home. There’s distress in the boards with saw marks, nail holes, wormholes and dents that when sanded and varnished create an art-like effect and a rich, deep patina. So while new wood floors are nice, people are often concerned with developing scratches, dents and uneven fading from traffic and light that’s not really a concern with reclaimed wood floors where people are specifically looking for that kind of comfortable character. 


Another advantage is that reclaimed wood has been dried naturally over 100+ years verses kiln-dried new wood that is forced to dry. This makes reclaimed wood more stable. Also, newly logged wood is not as dense as old growth, making the reclaimed wood that comes from old growth stronger, harder and more durable. 

Vacuuming a wood floor.

Both laminate and real wood floors are easy to care for, requiring a vacuum, a dry mop and a damp mop or towel for more difficult stains. You will need to dry your damp-mopped floors with clean rags to avoid excess moisture and water damage. This also gives you a streak-free floor. For real wood floors, it is recommended that you apply wax to waxed floors annually. Polyurethane real wood floors will need a buff and coat every five years or so, depending on how the floor is maintained. 


It’s true that reclaimed and new wood floors are often more expensive than laminates, but they can also add re-sale value to your home should you ever decide to sell it. Plus, real wood floors can last much longer with sanding-refinishing to renew the look. Laminate flooring cannot be refinished. If a section is damaged, it must be pulled out and a new section installed — or if the entire floor is in need of a new finish, you will have to install a completely new floor.

The sound of heels on a
wooden floor.

Another area where the two differ is how they sound and feel underfoot. Laminate floors either have a hollow sound or have a thick pad underneath, which produces a dull sound and makes it feel spongy and floating. Reclaimed wood floors provide a sturdier, firmer feel and solid resonance.


After considering these pros and cons, we recommend you take a look at some real-life examples. We’d be happy to have you visit us at our Manomin showroom. You’ll find that we offer a variety of gorgeous reclaimed wood flooring, including Douglas fir, yellow pine, white pine, hickory, salty fir, black walnut, oak and elm. 

Best Kept Secret #1: Manomin Resawn Timbers

According to Bill Lunn, KSTP Channel 5 Eyewitness News Anchor, Manomin Resawn Timbers is the “Best Kept Secret #1.” He even talked about it on “Twin Cities Live” the other night. You’ll want to watch the video, but following is a transcript of what Bill Lunn had to say.

We are in Hugo [MN] at Manomin Resawn Timbers. This place IS a secret because it’s kind of off the beaten path. I am a big do-it-yourselfer. I love home projects. I’m working on a mudroom right now in my house, but I also want to put in new floors. And they have some really cool old stuff here. They reclaim a lot of wood from old barns and old buildings like granaries, so I really have been dying to check this out. So come on, let’s go inside and take a look. I’m kind of looking for something extra special, and that’s why I came here to Manomin Resawn Timber, because they’ve got some really unusual wood. They’ve got Douglas fir and walnut, and I’m really interested in some kind of vintage old wood. A lot of places are just a showroom. They get their stuff from a variety of different manufacturers around the country. Here at Manomin, they do it all themselves. Check it out; this is a massive warehouse and shop. The idea of working with tools, working with saws and drills and a hammer is very cathartic to me. I can’t make my mind up right now, but I’ll bring my wife back and she’ll make my mind up for me.


Now isn’t it about time that you learn the secret and come visit us at our Manomin showroom? You’ll find us at 15152 Freeland Avenue, Hugo, MN. We offer a variety of gorgeous reclaimed wood flooring, including Douglas fir, yellow pine, white pine, hickory, salty fir, black walnut, oak and elm. 


Learn more about Manomin by following us on Twitter: @manomintimbers.

We're Booth #263 at the St. Paul Home and Patio Show

     Come see us this Thursday through Sunday at the St. Paul Home and Patio Show booth #263. They say the show is so BIG it may take more than one day to see it all!
     Whether you're building a new home or sprucing up the one you have, there's something for everyone. There are hundreds of exhibits and featured displays covering 3 floors of the River Centre complex. And of course we’ll be at booth #263 to talk to you about reclaimed wood flooring and furniture.
    From Kitchens to Baths, Porches to Landscaping, Interior Designs and Exterior Remodeling, it’s all at the show. Including free daily workshops and seminars on Cooking, Home Improvements, Gardens and Landscaping.


WHERE:
Saint Paul RiverCentre


WHEN:
Show hours are
Thursday, February 17 -- 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, February 18 -- 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 19 -- 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, February 20 -- 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.


HOW MUCH:
Adults: $9
Youth 6-12: $2.50
Under 5: free
Save $2 on an Adult Pass!


Get ideas. Get inspired. Celebrate spring!

Come See Us at the Minneapolis Lake Home and Cabin Show!

The Lake Home and Cabin Show is earlier this year! They moved it from April to February so that more of you can join us before the spring weather has you headed off to a cabin or lake house. After all, we Minnesotans love our lake homes and cabins! 


Now in its 7th year, the Lake Home and Cabin Show is a special three-day event featuring products, services, how-to seminars and activities covering virtually every aspect of lake home and cabin ownership and the lake and cabin lifestyle. 


It’s a truly unique and engaging show for those that:
1) already own lake homes or cabins
2) want to own one soon
3) want to decorate their existing home in a Northwood’s décor


Along with seeing us, your friends from Manomin, you’ll see
• Rustic and Specialty Furniture & Furnishings
• Architects, Builders & Remodelers
• Real Estate & Finance
• Sporting Gear, Outdoor Equipment & Marine
• Landscaping & Lakeshore Maintenance
• Custom Products, Accessories & Publications
• How-To Seminars & Demonstrations


WHERE:
Minneapolis Convention Center


WHEN:
Friday, February 11 -- 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 12 -- 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 13 -- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.


HOW MUCH:
Adults: $10
Youth 5-15: $4
Under 5: free
SAVE $2! Just fill out a survey and download a coupon.




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Hope to see you there!

Installing a Reclaimed Wood Floor

This casual setting works well with a Douglas
fir rustic rough-sawn reclaimed wood floor. 

Each home's distinctive design character as well as lifestyle factors, like kids, traffic patterns and whether the space will be casual or formal, need to be integrated into the design, layout and installation of your antique flooring. To ensure your satisfaction, we recommend hiring a professional installer for your reclaimed wood floor.

Television shows can make DIY look simple, or make you feel guilty for not doing it yourself, but a professional installer will make sure the job is done right the first time. Following are some high-level tips for you and your installer.

Start with the right expectations. Your reclaimed flooring will have open knots, star-checked knots, checking as well as nail and bolt holes. These marks, holes and knots help give your reclaimed wood floor its character and beauty. But there are decisions that need to be made when selecting which boards to install:
• Size — This floor is a random-width floor and should be installed in a non-repeating pattern.
• Character — Place boards with varying degrees of character and color. Spread out the naily boards and character boards so they are not all grouped together in one area.
• Ratio — You may choose to cut out or keep in knots and character marks based on your personal preference. If you decide you want fewer character marks, your installer will need to calculate for more waste.

The back of the boards need to be set with a construction adhesive, and every knot on all boards over 5-inches wide should be dotted. We suggest using PL-400 adhesive.

Square-edge Installation
With a square-edge installation, the layout should end on a joist. Manomin recommends a 32-inch nail pattern with alternating rows so it doesn't look like a deck with visible repeated nailing pattern. Rack (lay out) three rows at a time and randomly stagger boards by shade, while staggering the board ends by 16 inches between adjacent rows (to ensure the board ends on a joist, which is typically 16 inches on center). Wedge boards with triangular scrap pieces that have been screwed to the subfloor. After you have completed installation, set all the nails just slightly below the surface so they do not become shiny when sanding the antique floor.

We strongly recommend that the ends of the boards be predrilled prior to nailing.

Tongue-and-groove Installation
Tongue-and-groove flooring may be installed like a traditional T&G floor, but must be glued to the subfloor (any boards over 5-inches wide). PL-400 is a good construction adhesive.

Fill open knots, star-check knots, nail and bolt holes as desired with wood filler. You may want to use epoxy on areas that have a dip or a chunk of wood missing. Another option for filling knots is fiberglass resin, which can be found at most hardware stores. But mix it up in small batches, because it hardens quickly. Add color (knot-brown powder putty works great) so the resin is brown and not greenish. Then pour the mixture into open areas. It dries quickly, does not shrink and will sand like wood.

Speaking of Sanding
Over wood can be hand planed. In fact, you can add to the effect of the antique flooring by leaving some planer marks on the wood.

Smooth planed floors are generally drum sanded. For a more distressed look, sand with a buffer instead of a drum sander, and use 60-, 80- and then 100-grit sand paper.

For original weathered-face floors, apply more sanding for a lighter-looking floor and less sanding for a darker floor. Again, buff using 60-, 80- and then 100-grit sand paper.

Recommended Finishes
Waterlox — Two coats of sealer and two coats of matte topcoat.
Rubio Monocoat (not recommended for rough floors) — Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Oil-based sanding sealer and poly in a satin finish — On planed smooth reclaimed wood floors, use one coat of sealer or stain and a minimum of two coats of poly. Original-face floors will require a minimum of three to four coats of poly. You may also need to epoxy or resin any rough or open spots between coats of poly.

Manomin Resawn Timbers has a variety of antique flooring to choose from: Douglas-fir, yellow pine, white pine, hickory, end-grain tile, salty fir, black walnut, oak and elm — but the customization doesn't end there. For an extra special statement, you can ask your installer to incorporate borders and patterns to offset the floor. From herringbone to diamond or any pattern you can imagine, it can be custom designed. Custom stains and finishes will add an additional dimension to your custom floor. Manomin also offers beautiful railings and stair treads, risers, skirt boards and antique timbers to complement your reclaimed wood floors.

All Those Leaves Aren’t from Softwood Trees

Softwoods come from coniferous trees — needle-bearing trees from the order Pinales known as evergreens, or gymnosperms. Rather than losing their leaves all at one time, they tend to shed their leaves, called needles, throughout the year. Thus, these trees are not creating the beautiful fall colors, nor the yet-to-be-raked yards buried in leaves.
 
Softwood-producing trees include yellow pine, white pine, spruce, cedar, fir, larch, Douglas fir, hemlock, cypress, redwood and yew. There are softwood coniferous forests scattered throughout the world.

The terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are mostly used to describe types of wood used in construction and furniture making. While these terms suggest that physical density determines which is which, that is not true. Both groups have a large variation in actual wood hardness, with the range in hardwood density similar to the range in softwoods. Some hardwoods, like balsa, are softer than most softwoods, while yew is an example of a hard softwood. Likewise, Douglas fir is one of the strongest woods, and it is a softwood. A tree’s lifecycle is actually most important in differentiating between hardwoods and softwoods.

Most things constructed of wood today are made from softwood, and softwoods are the primary wood used in framing wooden homes and buildings. Softwood is less expensive to use. It grows faster than hardwood and, since it can be replenished more quickly, it is thought to be a more environmentally friendly option. Of course, reclaimed softwoods are an even “greener” solution.

Manomin Reswawn Timbers offers reclaimed wood flooring in softwood as well as hardwoods like cherry, black walnut, oak and elm.