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From Boomsticks to Floors - Salvaging Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir, named after Scottish botanist David Douglas, is a native icon to the Great Northwest. Reaching over 150 feet in height and living well past 500 years, this massive tree was always prized for it's strength and beauty.
-THE HISTORY-

Decades ago during the industrial revolution, loggers commonly floated timber down rivers as a fairly inexpensive method of transporting lumber. They kept the floating lumber together by assembling it into large rafts and fastening the perimeters with premium hand-selected "boomstick" logs. As transportation evolved, this method was abandoned and so were the boomsticks who sunk to the depths of the currents or were left neglected at the riverbank.

Today, these historic logs are being rediscovered after many years of peaceful slumber in the cold oxygen-starved waters of Oregon rivers. The perfectly preserved old growth wood is brought back to life by being milled into beautiful new floors that are slightly marked with faint mineral stains for a look that resonates rich character as its rich history.

To read more about the Northwest's logging history and Oregon's most memorable timber-man, Simon Benson, please visit: www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/benson_simon_1851_1942_/

-THE FLOORS-

Like preserving antique furniture, we respect and celebrate this finite resource as well as our nation's history. These native logs are milled locally with exceptional quality and craftsmanship. So in the end, you get something that's much more than a floor--you experience the true beauty and unmatched character of salvaged wood and bring a piece of ageless history into your home or workplace.

Details: unfinished, mixed grain, 3/4" thick, tongue & groove, unmatched ends, 6' to 14' lengths.

Widths: 3-1/4", 5-1/4", 7-1/4", & 9".   

Finishes: Face planed (left), band sawn (center), and circle sawn (right). 

Pre-Finished Products

For those who need the job done faster or who'd like to do it themselves, we now offer the same beautiful salvaged fir floors prefinished.

Each plank is selected, prepared and finished by hand--resulting in a quality product that's local, green and beautiful.

Details:
-5-1/4" Wide
-3/4" Solid
-Tongue & Groove
-Micro-beveled edges
-Face planed or textured surfaces
-Tung Oil finish matte

Antique Look - Steel Cut Nails

Wide-plank pine was practically the only material used for floors by the early settlers. Wonder how they installed it? The common practice was face nailing the boards. Since most wood products will tend to shift after milling, this method kept floors secure and minimized any movement throughout the seasons.

As many seek to recreate that historic look today, face nailing floors with old-fashioned, square-headed cut nails has become very popular. Aside from stability benefits, cut nails give wide plank floors a beautiful rustic look which dates back to homes built hundreds of years ago.

Below are pictures of a face-nailed floor consisting of 7-1/4" and 9" wide random planks installed in a downtown Portland condo.