Decks and overhead structures require posts, and posts require footings. To properly install footings, you need to consider soil, climate, slope, drainage, and more. Learn about these factors and more with our handy guide. Decks and overheads require load-bearing posts to support the framing, and each post must be set in a footing. Typically a footing is a hole dug into the ground, extending below the frost line and filled with concrete. Different building codes, climates, and soil conditions may allow for alternative footings—for example, piers set in concrete or tamped earth. Ultimately the type and dimensions of the footing you’ll need will depend on the height of the deck, the types of materials you plan to use, how deep the ground freezes, and the load-bearing capacity of the soil. This section introduces you to different footing considerations you’ll need to make when building a deck, including soil type, climate, materials, and more.

Loading a Deck

Footings must support two kinds of loads inherent in any structure—dead loads and live loads. The dead load of a deck is the weight of all its permanent elements—posts, beams, framing, decking, planters, stairs, and railings—before transient items (snow, furniture, and people) are put on it. Most building codes will require the construction of a deck to support a dead load of 10 pounds per square foot and a live load of 40 pounds per square foot. This means that footings, along with the other support elements, must be constructed to support a total weight of 50 pounds per square foot. All of the elements work together—the ledger carries a portion of the weight, which it transfers to the foundation of the house; beams carry the intermediate loads; and footings support the loads that are transferred to the perimeter.

Soil Consistencies

Soil consistencies vary and thus their ability to support a load. Loose soils have minimum load-bearing capacity and may require more or larger footings than heavy clay or compacted soils. Local codes take local soil conditions into account, so it’s important to contact the building department before you start planning your deck. You may find that local codes specify different spacings or construction methods than the ones shown in standard span tables.

Climate Considerations

In cold climates, the freezing and thawing of the soil causes it to expand and contract—sometimes dramatically. If the posts are improperly set, any movement of the soil will be transferred to the posts and the deck structure above them, shifting or cracking portions of the deck and causing severe structural damage. Regions have a different maximum level (called the frost line) at which the ground freezes during the winter. Local codes specify the depth of this line and how far below it you must dig to set your footings. In warm climates you maybe able to get by with a minimum footing—a concrete pad about 6 to 12 inches deep and 1 to 2 feet square. Even in some winter climates, codes will allow you to set posts in a tamped-earth footing.

Slopes and Codes

Posts set in sloping terrain call for special attention. Not only do you have to meet specifications of local codes for depth and construction, but also most codes require at least 7 feet of soil from the bottom of the footing horizontally to the surface.

Drainage Tips

Most localities require 3 to 6 inches of gravel in the bottom of the footing hole to allow water to drain away from the bottom of the post. Even if it’s not required, it’s a good idea.

Footing Materials

Precast concrete piers are available at your home center and may be used with or without footings, depending on local codes. They may be used without hardware, as shown here, to simplify construction of ground-level decks. When using a precast pier to support a post, install a post anchor in the center or purchase piers with the hardware already mounted. Home centers and material retailers carry prefab tubes that form the concrete in a footing. The tubes are made from a composite material that is strong but allows easy cutting to the proper depth. You can fill about three footings with four 90-pound bags of premix concrete. For larger projects mix your own with a power mixer or call in the ready-mix truck. Carry the concrete to the holes in a wheelbarrow. Before you dig footing holes, see if your home center has plastic forms that attach to the tube. They add strength and stability to the footing but require a wider hole than you would normally dig.   Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first-class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award-winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Along with flowers and sunshine, spring brings decluttering and deep cleaning. This year, give your arm a rest and let a power cleaner do the scrubbing. To help with spring cleaning, Dremel created the Versa power cleaner, a cordless scrub brush with multiple heads suited for a variety of surfaces. Power scrubbers work like the polishing tools you see at the dentist—when you turn one on, the scrubbing head spins fast for a high-powered clean that requires little work from you. This tool makes cleaning even easier thanks to its small scale (it fits in your hand like a softball) and a straightforward on-off button. Detachable cleaning accessories effortlessly secure to the tool with a hook-and-loop system, so you can quickly clean different surfaces as you work around a room. Four cleaning accessories come in the kit: The eraser pad will wipe away shoe scuffs and stovetop stains, while the non-scratch pad can buff your beloved copper pots. Use the heavy-duty pad for grill grates or outdoor furniture with rust, and there’s a bristle brush for high-power cleaning needs, like dirty grout or stuck-on grease.  The Dremel Versa can be used with your choice of cleaning solution, not included in the kit. With all four attachments, you can clean your entire oven, including the racks, interior walls (avoiding the coils), oven door, and stovetop. We tried it out and can attest—the bristle brush attachment removed crayon marks without any solvent like magic. We also love the bonus splash guard, which, when used with a cleaning solution or on a wet surface, prevents soap and water from splashing back at you. It’s also cordless, can be used indoors and out, and is waterproof. The Dremel Versa is available at The Home Depot and on Amazon for $49.97. A micro-USB adapter is included in the kit and fully charges the tool in just two hours. We can’t wait to use this on all the places we neglect to clean the most! Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first-class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award-winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Deep cleaning might be trendy now—thanks, Marie Kondo!—but spring cleaning has been around for generations. In recent years, however, scientists have tried to pinpoint the effect of cleaning on our mood. And it turns out, even the most daunting cleaning tasks can make us happier in the long run. Big cleaning companies like Mr. Clean and Clorox recently commissioned studies to learn more about the emotions connected with cleaning. A Mr. Clean study measured physiological responses like heart rate to cleaning. Researchers concluded that cleaning sparks a level of excitement and enthusiasm, almost like a mini adrenaline rush. All 62 participants agreed that cleaning gave them peace of mind, while 81 percent of participants agreed they felt accomplished and in control after a deep clean. Meanwhile, a Clorox study from last year found that a mere extra hour of cleaning per week can increase reported levels of happiness by 53 percent—a huge number. The study also found that maintaining a clean space is associated with all kinds of benefits: better sleep, increased productivity, and even better focus. It’s well reported that a cluttered home can inhibit productivity. A 2011 Princeton study, for example, found that visual clutter, like a messy home, can interfere with your ability to concentrate on productive tasks. Keeping an orderly house is even associated with healthy eating choices and generosity. Spring cleaning—whether it’s one big day of decluttering or a few extra minutes of cleaning time to your daily schedule—looks to be good not just for your house, but also for your mental well-being. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

Many people move to Arizona for our near-constant sunshine, and mild winters. These also make for perfect conditions for reptiles, which to the dismay of many homeowners, live in great numbers throughout the state. Where our neighborhoods meet the desert, an encounter with a snake every so often is just part of life. The valley is home to 6 unique species of rattlesnake, all of which pack a harmful, venomous bite. A bite, which if logic prevails, is almost always optional. Rattlesnakes are on the menu for many desert predators. They’re nervous, shy, and like most animals, will try to prevent their own death when it is threatened. Rattlesnakes do not chase, jump at, or come after perceived predators, regardless of the numerous, fictional tales we as Arizonans are sure to hear. The fact is; rattlesnakes encounters are almost always harmless if in nature, and optional in our yards. So what is the home owner to do, when a venomous visitor suddenly drops by one morning, coiled on the porch and going nowhere? The first thing to consider: nobody is in danger. The snake has been seen, and the only way anyone will be within range of a bite is if they put themselves there. Statistically, this is what many shovel-wielding husbands will do, becoming the single largest bite statistic, by far. A bite to the hand of a home hero can cost well over $100,000, cause incredible pain, and result in disfigurement and occasional death. Contacting a professional to remove the animal costs around $100, and is absolutely safe and humane. Taking one step back – why is the snake there? Isn’t there some way to keep them from being there in the first place? Fortunately there is. Here are a few tips to keep your yard as rattlesnake-free as possible:

• The desert is a hard place to live; make sure your yard isn’t an oasis. Rattlesnakes want food, water, and shelter. Deny those, and the yard is nothing interesting. Fix leaky hoses, keep the yard clean, and make sure all of the bushes are trimmed and free of dead plant material underneath.
• If you have a view fence or wall surrounding the property, complete the barricade. Door sweeps and wire fencing can be installed to keep animals out. It’s a relatively inexpensive Saturday project for the handy, or contact a snake removal company to install it for you.
• Forget the store-bought snake repellents and mothballs; they simply do not work. Many pest control companies will swear they do, but all research points to repellants being a smelly waste-of-money.

Dogs can be trained to avoid rattlesnakes by a number of businesses around the valley, and an inexpensive vaccine can be requested by most veterinarians. Keep dogs on a leash in desert areas, and have emergency information on-hand if you live near open, native desert. Despite the very high number of snakes that are found here, bites still make the front page when they occur. It is a relatively rare event with an extremely low fatality rate, which somehow still occupies a place in our culture as a major threat to be feared by every desert home owner. As citizens in this amazing Sonoran habitat, it is the responsibility of all of us to be peaceful, well-informed co-inhabitants with the desert wildlife. Rattlesnakes may be the thing of nightmares to many, but that is an optional fear that, like most fears, fades to nothing with a willingness to learn and a touch of understanding. In the valley, the most common places to run into a rattlesnake in your own yard are Cave Cree, Scottsdale, and other areas where there is a lot of development and contact with native areas.

Most Commonly Encountered Snakes in the Phoenix Area

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

VENOMOUS – Grey to tan in color, between 1’ and 4’ long. Easily identified by the distinct white and black banded tail, and rattle. Defensive in nature but easily avoided if encountered. Do not attempt to capture, kill, or otherwise interact with this snake.

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Sonoran Gophersnake

BENEFICIAL – Also commonly misidentified as a “bullsnake”. Tan, yellow, or orange in color, with dark brown blotches, between 1.5’ and 5’in length. Defensive if attacked, but non-venomous and will not bite unless attacked. A gophersnake is great free pest control.

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Desert Nightsnake

BENEFICIAL – Grey or dark brown with double rows of spots on the back, between 8” and 14” in length. Often confused with a baby rattlesnake due to elliptical eyes and triangular head. Absolutely harmless, this snake feeds on spiders and scorpions in the yard.

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Speckled Rattlesnake

VENOMOUS – Highly variable, this snake takes the coloration of rock where it is found; orange, brown, white, or light grey. It is small, between 1’ and 3’  in length. If seen, do not approach this snake for any reason.

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Longnosed Snake

BENEFICIAL – Often confused with the kingsnake, this snake is between 8” and 3’ long. It eats lizards and their eggs. They are absolutely harmless, and can reduce rattlesnake-attracting prey in a yard.

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Kingsnake

BENEFICIAL – Black and white banding from head to tail, and between 1’ and 4’ in length. Kingsnakes consider rattlesnakes a primary food source, and are great to have on a property. They may bite if picked up, but are otherwise completely harmless.

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Coachwhip

BENEFICIAL – Fast, slender, and between 1’ and 5’ in length. May be black, olive, or red in color. This snake eats rattlesnakes and other prey items and should be kept as-is if seen. They will bite if picked up, but move away quickly if seen and are difficult to capture. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.   Thank you Rattlesnake Solutions Phoenix: 480-237-9975  for this helpful information!

Okay, now here are the cold, hard numbers, along with specific plants:

Today’s choices in flooring are more varied than ever, running the gamut of styles, finishes and installation options. Product innovation is clearly blurring the lines between many flooring categories, and the raw materials used to create flooring types include gin bottles, corn sugar and the staves from old wine barrels. The winner in this underfoot mash-up is the consumer, who benefits from an astonishing array of choices that fit any lifestyle and budget.

Wood

Hardwood flooring is renowned for its natural beauty and durability. Its classic good looks harmonize with any architectural theme or interior design, and it’s an especially good choice to create visual room-to-room continuity for homes with open floor plans.

Hardwood flooring comes as strips 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches wide or planks 4 to 8 inches wide. Domestic species include oak, maple and black walnut. Regional varieties, such as pecan, chinquapin and mesquite, are not widely distributed but offer distinctive grain patterns.

The availability of exotic species of hardwoods varies with market conditions, and popular imported varieties include Brazilian cherry, purpleheart, and African pedauk. To make sure the wood flooring you buy is harvested from sustainable, managed forests, look for certification from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and the SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative).

Coatings for prefinished hardwood have benefited from technological advancements, and finishes may include additives such as ceramics, aluminum oxide, and acrylic monomers that produce incredibly tough surfaces.

Kitchen Flooring Trends

 Learn about flooring options from hardwoods to budget-friendly vinyl.

Solid wood must be nailed to a subfloor. An advantage of solid wood is that it can be refinished many times over its lifespan.

Hardwood costs $3 to $8 per square foot, and exotic varieties may be as high as $14 per square foot. Expect to pay $5 to $12 per square foot for professional installation.

Smith and Fong

Engineered wood flooring

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood features a top veneer of real wood backed by layers of cheaper plywood. This construction makes the flooring more stable and much less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity than solid wood.

Instead of plywood backing, some newer varieties have substrates made from recycled wood fiber mixed with stone dust to provide extreme dimensional stability. Engineered wood is a good choice for kitchens and basements, as well as for installation over in-floor heating systems.

Engineered wood can be nailed, glued or installed as a floating floor over a cushioned pad. More manufacturers are producing self-locking, or “clickable,” engineered wood flooring that installs without glue or nails. Clickable flooring comes as planks or parquet squares and makes a good DIY project. Prices are comparable to solid wood.

US Floors

Bamboo flooring

Bamboo

This increasingly popular flooring material is often thought of as wood, although it isn’t a hardwood but a grass. Bamboo strands are glued together to form solid strips or engineered planks, just like hardwood. Cost to purchase and install are comparable to wood products.

Grain patterns include flat, vertical and woven. Flat grains display the intermittent growth nodes characteristic of the grass; vertical grains pack the strands closely together to produce a fine-grained appearance. Woven types have sinewy patterns.

Bamboo is tough and durable. Because it comes from plants that are easy to grow and regenerate quickly, bamboo is considered a sustainable material and an environmentally friendly flooring choice. Nevertheless, most bamboo is imported from Asia, and environmentalists point to the energy required to transport bamboo to the U.S. as a factor to consider when selecting green flooring. Expect to pay $3 to $8 per square foot for bamboo flooring, and $7 to $12 per square foot installed.

Laminate

Pergo

Laminate flooring

Low-maintenance laminate flooring offers an enormous variety of styles, colors and patterns. It’s similar to engineered wood in that a top wear layer is backed by layers of plywood or compressed fiber backing that is extremely stable. The big difference is that the top layer is not real wood but a plastic coating applied over a photograph. The photo-realism technology that’s used produces look-alike finishes indistinguishable from real wood and other materials such as stone, ceramic tile, even stained concrete.Laminates comes as planks or tiles. Most are floating floor systems, meaning they can be installed directly over old existing flooring without glue or nails — no tear-out is necessary. Laminate is a popular DIY flooring, but it’s wise not to overestimate your skills — installing around corners and between door jambs takes patience and ingenuity.

Quality varies, and laminate flooring costs $1 to $7 per square foot. Installation adds $2 to $5 per square foot, depending on difficulty.

Armstrong

Linoleum flooring

Linoleum

Linoleum is made with renewable, biodegradable materials including linseed oil and cork. Mineral pigments are added to produce rich, vibrant colors. Linoleum produces no harmful vapors and is considered a top environmentally friendly flooring choice.

Linoleum comes as sheet goods designed for glue-down installation and as laminated planks and tiles that install as a floating floor system. Some manufacturers provide a protective coating that prevents staining and helps the product stand up to foot traffic. Linoleum without this coating should be refinished every two years.

Expect to pay $2 to $5 per square foot and $7 to $12 per square foot installed.

Cork flooring. Design by Linda Maglia

Cork

Cork comes from the bark of a tree. The bark is harvested every eight to 10 years and is a sustainable material, meaning the tree is not destroyed but is allowed to regenerate new bark that can be harvested repeatedly. Typically, cork-producing countries regulate production to ensure future harvests, so the impact on the environment is low.

Cork has a warm, natural appearance and is comfortable underfoot. It has unusual grain patterns featuring whirls and speckles. It comes in tiles or planks with a laminate construction — a top wear layer glued to a stable core material. Cork flooring is either glued down or installed as a floating floor. Cork flooring costs $2 to $6 per square foot; add $3 to $5 per square foot for installation.

Most cork flooring products are prefinished; however, they should be resealed every few years to renew the wear layer, guard against stains and seal out moisture. Polyurethane and wax are both good sealers for cork. Buy water-based polyurethane that’s nontoxic or has low volatile organic compound content.

Ceramic Tile

The many shapes, sizes, colors and textures of ceramic tile make it easy to create custom, one-of-a-kind patterns. Cost varies widely, and you’ll find tile priced anywhere from $1 to $100 per square foot. Complementary decorative trim pieces and mosaic inlays quickly raise the total price of a tile installation. Expect to pay experienced tile-setters $4 to $12 per square foot.

Ceramic tile is made from a mixture of clay and shale that is baked and hardened in a kiln. Dry pigments added to the mixture gives the tiles earthy tones that range from ocher to deep red. Be sure to purchase only tile that is rated for use on floors.

Ceramic flooring tile comes as one of four basic types:

• Glazed ceramic has a glasslike coating that is applied prior to firing. The coating gives the tile an unlimited variety of colors and textures and makes the material virtually maintenance-free.
• Quarry tile is unglazed ceramic tile. Colors come from pigments added to the clay mixture. Quarry tile has a slightly rough texture that provides better slip-resistance than glazed tile.
• Porcelain tile is fired at extremely high temperatures. The result is a tile that’s especially hard and durable. Porcelain tile is resistant to staining and is a good choice for exterior applications. It’s available either glazed or unglazed.
• Terracotta is an unglazed tile with earthy colors and rustic appearance. It is not as durable as other tiles and must be sealed periodically to prevent staining.

Some ceramic floor tiles come with an anti-slip finish that provides excellent traction even when wet. Choose tiles that meet the slip-resistance standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Mohawk

Carpet

Carpeting is one of the most versatile of all flooring options, featuring more colors and textures than any other type of flooring. When judging carpet quality, a simple rule of thumb is to ask about the density of the fibers used to make the carpet — the more fibers per square inch, the more durable the carpet.

Most carpeting is made by pulling the fibers through a woven backing; then additional layers of backing are glued on to provide strength and thickness. A carpet pad adds cushioning and helps prolong the life of the carpet. Indoor/outdoor carpeting withstands weather and usually is installed without a pad.

Some carpets use a rating system that indicates the product’s ability to withstand wear and tear. Found on the carpet label, the system is graduated from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best. A rating of 3 to 4 is considered normal.

Carpeting costs $2 to $12 per square foot. Add 50 cents to $2 per square foot for padding and installation, depending on the complexity of the job.

Wool carpeting is the standard of quality. It’s naturally durable and resistant to moisture and stains, and it’s considered to have the best feel against hands and bare feet. With the exception of wool, most carpets are made of synthetic fibers. Various types include the following:

• Nylon is exceptionally strong and resistant to wear. Make sure the carpet you buy is treated to reduce static electricity.
• Acrylic has physical properties that approximate wool. It resists wear, crushing and mildew, and it’s inhospitable for insects.
• Polyester produces bright colors and is highly resistant to moisture, but stains can be difficult to remove.
• Polypropylene olefin is used for indoor/outdoor carpeting. It’s extremely resistant to stains, moisture and mildew.

Stone

If you’re looking for a little touch of luxury, stone floor tile provides quality, at a premium price. You’ll pay from $2 to $100 per square foot for natural stone tiles made of granite, marble, limestone, slate and travertine. Installation adds $5 to $10 per square foot.

The ability of stone to resist moisture and staining depends on its hardness. Softer stones such as sandstone and limestone must be finished every few years with a stone sealer. Harder stones, such as granite and marble, should be sealed every four to five years.

Honed and polished stone tile can be slippery when wet, so choose stone that has a textured, skid-resistant surface for kitchens and master bath applications.

Armstrong

Vinyl

Vinyl tiles and sheet goods are called resilient flooring — they’re flexible and slightly soft underfoot. They’re tough, durable and virtually maintenance-free. Vinyl comes in an array of colors and patterns at relatively modest cost. Although you’ll pay as little as $1 per square foot, there are fewer style options among the less-expensive types.Vinyl products are backed with a layer of felt. Cushioned vinyl is backed with a thin layer of foam that offers an extra measure of comfort and safety. In general, a thicker vinyl surface means better quality and higher price. Thicker vinyl can have a textured surface that looks like real stone and wood.

Vinyl flooring has a wear layer on its upper surface that helps resist stains and scratches. The best vinyl products provide warranties on the wear layer of as much as 15 years, and you can expect good-quality vinyl to last 20 years.

Vinyl tiles and sheet goods cost $1 to $5 per square foot. Installation adds $1 to $2 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the project.

Unique Recycled Hardwood Floors

Reclaimed wood creates floors that are truly one-of-a-kind and Mother Nature-friendly.

Recycled cherry wood has been cut into end-grain blocks for use in their basement game room area. A chandelier hangs above a billards table next to bar stools. Two chairs, a table, and a TV are against a brick wall.

If you love the richness and warmth of wood floors but are concerned about depleting the environment, try reclaiming a bit of history to get those beautiful and truly unique floors without ravaging nature in the process. Using salvaged wood is the ultimate in recycling, and it’s a growing trend that’s not only eco-friendly but stylish, too.

Reclaimed wood was harvested anywhere from 100 to 300 years ago and was used to build railroad trestles, old barns, industrial warehouses and other structures. Wood salvaged from the demolition of these structures can have a new lease on life in your kitchen floor as well as its walls, ceilings, cabinets and countertops. Sustainability isn’t this wood’s only advantage; reclaimed wood is denser, more stable, adds instant history to your home and is the only source for such bygone species as heart pine and chestnut.

Reclaimed wood comes with plenty of history and character, which is what people value about reclaimed wood, says interior designer Elizabeth Schultz of DesignWorks in Bozeman, Mont. For one client’s kitchen, Elizabeth used reclaimed Douglas fir from an old railroad trestle that ran over the Great Salt Lake.

“The colors of the planks vary quite a bit,” says Elizabeth. “This is due to the effects of the salt in the air. Personally, I think this adds to its character. Part of the beauty of the trestle wood is its variation in color and that so many other wood tones such as cabinets, beams, furniture, etc. will easily blend or coordinate with it.”

Burnished Beauty

David Foky of Mountain Lumber of Ruckersville, Va., agrees with Elizabeth that the major draw of reclaimed wood is its looks. He cites its “wow” factor and calls reclaimed-wood floors “trophy floors,” because they’re so gorgeous.

“If reclaimed wood still had all these advantages but looked bad, no one would buy it,” David says.

They’re not just another pretty floor, however. There’s also the eco-factor, and then the storytelling element. Mountain Lumber gives you a printed history of your floor. So if you’re cooking atop planks from former Guinness beer barrels, you’ll know it.

And if you’ve fallen in love with heart-pine flooring, salvaged lumber is the only way you’ll have such beauty in your kitchen since the old-growth longleaf pine is no longer around in any quantity. The same is true for the beautiful American chestnut. Much of the reclaimed wood was originally harvested from the 1700s through the late 1800s, when the old-growth forests were exhausted. And that’s not a replaceable resource since old growth equals slow growth. It grew slowly due to larger trees above acting as a canopy and limiting sunlight and rainfall. That slowly grown wood is much denser and stronger than other wood, such as that from sustainable forests, which grows faster.

Reclaimed wood floors take center stage in this rustic-inspired kitchen with wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and a large island with pendant lighting.

In the 1970s, some hardy and enterprising people started realizing that some good wood was being thrown away. So they offered to cart it away from demolished structures such as mills and warehouses (and even scraping it from the bottom of Lake Michigan), saving wood destined for the dumpster and reusing it for building or renovating homes and businesses. The business has been growing every since, David says.

With numerous dealers to choose from, potential buyers should do their homework first. Reclaimed wood has often had more than one previous incarnation and it behooves the customer to know just what those past lives entailed. The quality of the wood, says David, depends on its source.

“We would never reclaim wood from a tannery, because all the toxic chemicals used in the process permeate that structure,” David says. “There should be a connection between the people bringing down the lumber and the people selling it to you.”

Those people should also kiln-dry their wood, heating it to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time, for two important reasons, says David.

“That wood could have been out in the rain for two years,” he notes. “And the other reason is to kill any bugs. The blight fungus that killed the American chestnut could still be in there. Run screaming from any dealer who doesn’t kiln-dry their wood.”

David stresses protecting your beautiful floor once it’s laid down, too. Moisture and grit are the two things he warns against, and a professional-grade polyurethane coating can take care of both worries.

And, since there are no industrywide standards on the grades of wood, you should select a company that publishes its grading system so you have on paper or in a computer file just what is promised.

The Reclaimed Wood Council is working on standards for the industry, but in the meantime, buyer beware — even better, be a researcher before buying.

Lumber Love

Bill and Betsy Peabody of Lake Sunapee, N.H., put reclaimed Douglas fir floors throughout most of their timber-frame house at their architect’s suggestion. Betsy says that they were sold by the color and richness of recycled wood, as well as its softer qualities.

“It’s easy on your legs,” she says. The Peabodys built the house not once, but twice. They were just starting to move in when the newly finished house burned to the ground.

The Peabodys, their son (who built the house) and the architects, O’Neil Pennoyer Architects, repeated the whole process again, reclaimed lumber and all, and moved in a year later. Barring any other such unfortunate incidents, their floors have perhaps as much as another 100 years of use — and beauty — in them, enough for several generations.

Resources

Duluth Timber Company www.duluthtimber.com

Mountain Lumber www.mountainlumber.com

Goodwin Heart Pine Company www.heartpine.com

Appalachian Woods www.appalachianwoods.com

Push Hard Lumber Company www.pushhardlumber.com

Pioneer Millworks www.pioneermillworks.com

The Woods Company www.thewoodscompany.com

Topping the list of most-wanted home items is a steam oven, which cooks food using steam and helps vegetables retain more nutrients. The recent push for healthy eating could be a major factor when choosing a home with a kitchen fit for your dietary needs.

• Steam oven
• Professional appliance
• Wine cellar
• Steam shower
• Pot filler
• Shed/Garage studio
• Heated floor
• Waterfall countertop
• Outdoor kitchen
• Prep sink

Interestingly, the high-end features on the list (steam ovens, professional appliances, wine cellars, garage studio, waterfall countertop, and prep sink) are most commonly sought out in Los Angeles. In a housing market known for skyrocketing prices, home buyers are willing to pay even more for premium features. “Having a steam oven, a heated floor, or other luxury features in the home is a signal that there is more than the home’s basic features at play,” said Skylar Olsen, director of economic research at Zillow, in a press release. “These homes are special.  They likely come with an elevated design sense and the extra touches valued by home shoppers who can afford the best.” Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.