Frequently Asked Questions
What is Old Growth Riverwood?
At Old Growth Riverwood, we harvest river-submerged wood locally from the Cape Fear River and recycle/reclaim wood from old barns, structures and old buildings locally, regionally and nationally [if our customers want us to recover wood for them and turn them into gorgeous custom products — preserving the history of the wood for generations to come]. All of our wood is processed, milled and recycled right here Wilmington, NC and we even recycle the wood shavings by donating them to horse farms! We are a small U.S. mom and pop and we are proud to brand our products as made in the U.S.A. We love what we do… we love our customers… and, we love our environment!
What is Riverwood?
Riverwood is harvested old growth forest logs that sank to the bottom of the river or it can refer to logs used in construction of river related structures such as piers and bridges. Old-growth timber has always been prized by builders and cabinetmakers for it’s deep color and unique antique look. These trees, prior to logging, usually grew close together and competed for sunshine and water, which contributed to their slow growth. That slow growth created closely spaced rings that gave the wood a tighter grain and made it strong and dense. Contrary to what one might expect, much of this submerged lumber does not rot due to low levels of oxygen which slow down decay. The cold, deep waters of the river are also a deterrent, and lying in a riverbed or at the bottom of a lake, the wood can attain an unusual patina, which in some cases may come from minerals or clay. There is a superior quality of old-growth Riverwood as compared to factory processed new wood and as a bonus, the material is environmentally sound, since it involves no cutting down of living trees.
Is the wood kiln dried?
All of our logs are kiln dried for stability and every log is graded and inspected to our high standards. Old Growth Riverwood is involved in the complete process from start to finish — from log recovery, to kiln drying, to milling, product construction, and if needed, installation and finishing of our products.
What types of products can you produce from riverwood?
We are capable of creating much more than wood flooring. Some other products we produce include, but are not limited to:
- Fine Paneling or Wainscoting
- Unique Ceilings
- Stair Treads and Risers
- Stair Posts and Hand Rails
- Crown or Baseboard Moldings
- Wood Siding
- Specialty Millwork for Cabinet Makers
- Custom Furniture
- and much more…
Whatever you can imagine, we can most likely produce.
Contact us today at 910.726.4077 to discuss your unique project or product specifications.
Do submerged logs rot?
Contrary to what you might expect, most submerged lumber does not rot, due to low levels of oxygen which slows decay. There is superior quality to Riverwood when compared to factory processed new wood and, as a bonus, the material is environmentally sound, since it involves no cutting down of living trees.
All of our logs are kiln dried for stability and every log is graded and inspected to our exacting standards. Old Growth Riverwood is part of the complete process from start to finish…from log recovery, to kiln drying, to milling, product construction, and if needed, installation and finishing of our products.
