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Dark-colored, resistant to decay, and more stable than the more commonly found white or yellow sap wood; "Antique Heart Pine" or "Reclaimed Heart Pine" is generally considered to be the recycled timber from first generation southern pine trees, many of which have been salvaged from old factories, or even recovered from river bottoms. Described most accurately as the dormant center of a tree, the original material (referred to as "heartwood") is found surrounded by sapwood and can be distinguished by its deep reddish coloring. The value of the timber is most often determined by the shade of red the piece exudes. This particular wood is also of higher density making it harder than most sapwood and thus all the more valuable. Although lumber cut from the heartwood of any southern species can be considered hearts pines, grading rules strictly specify guidelines for determining the type of cut. To begin, any heart-faced wood must only be called as such when free from any and all sapwood on the face side. Likewise, heart, or all-hearts lumber must be deemed free from sapwood entirely. However, no ratio exists when defining heart pines lumber. Instead, a set of measurement guidelines were put in place by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau in order to allow buyer and seller to establish a price agreement in regard to the percentage of heartwood per unit. While there are known to be 10 species of southern pines in existence, it is the longleaf which is most commonly associated with that of ‘heart pine". The longleaf tends to bare a higher amount of the red wood as well as a selection of growth rings found to be tighter than that of its southern pines brethren. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the longleaf boasts a slower growth rate, the tree was not initially replanted as widely as many other pines that tend to grow at a faster pace. As a result, this beautiful timber may come into short supply; though efforts are being made to rectify the situation with hopes of increased availability. Recognized by various names including "old hearts" and "river pine", antique hearts pines have become an utter necessity for many consumers and designers alike who hope to capture a unique part of Americas history. And though it is certain the demand currently outweighs the supply, we can be sure that the creations built with this beautiful resource will not soon go to waste. With antique heart pine flooring, you can give your home a beautiful and rich looks with the unmatched quality and durability of the flooring. To know more about it, visit http://www.albanywoodworks.com
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