Old Growth Wood
a year ago
- #historic-preservation
- #wood-quality
- #sustainability
- Historic windows made from old growth wood last over 100 years, unlike new wood windows.
- Old growth wood has tight growth rings, making it more stable and durable than new growth wood.
- Virgin wood, harvested from first-cut forests, is superior due to slow growth and high heartwood content.
- New growth wood, often plantation-grown, has fewer growth rings and more sapwood, leading to quicker rot and warping.
- Finger-jointed wood was introduced in the 1970s to compensate for the poor quality of new growth wood.
- Old growth wood is generally knot-free, while new growth wood is riddled with defects.
- Restoring old windows is better than replacing them, as they are structurally superior and can last another century.