Reclaimed Heart Pine Slat Lumber Used On The Floor
Reclaimed wood slat walls are the ultimate multitaskers, with much to offer. Serving as great room dividers and wall accents, these installations enhance commercial and residential spaces both functionally and aesthetically.
 

Visual Impact:

Reclaimed wood slat walls or panels add texture, warmth, and general interest to a space. As accent or feature walls, they serve as focal points and can change the perceived proportions of a room.

Format and Material?

Wood slat walls are available in two basic formats: individual pieces of lumber or pre-assembled panels. If you've chosen reclaimed wood for your slat wall, your lumber will most likely be available as sticks that are installed on-site. Pre-assembled panels are generally made of conventional lumber and come with a backing of thick felt. Paneling slats are available as reclaimed or conventional solid wood pieces or veneered medium-density fiberboard.
 

Common Species?

Oak, Pine, and Cedar are among the most popular wood species used in slat wall construction. At Longleaf Lumber, our custom milling capability enables us to mill slat wall lumber in any species we currently have in-house. Our standard reclaimed wood species include oak, Heart Pine, white pine, and maple. Wood species is a primary component of specification, as this element heavily determines character and color. Tones can range from light maple to dark walnut, and if you have chosen reclaimed wood, the level of rusticity can vary.
 

Sizes and Spacing?

The visual impact of a slat wall is determined heavily by the size of individual pieces and the spacing between them. Slat walls can also physically separate spaces with a range of permeability or transparency. Most commonly, individual pieces are between 1″ and 2″ wide and between 1/2″ and 3/4″ deep. Standard spacing runs 1/4″ to 1″, with the overall objective being to expose more wood than wall to the room. If your lumber provider can mill custom orders, a slat wall can be completely customized by specifying larger or smaller pieces, or even a mix of sizes.
 

Can they be painted?

Although many projects are installed as unpainted wood in light to dark natural wood tones, painting and staining are also very popular options. Neutrals top the list of colors, but bold, fun colors are not to be overlooked. Best advice: Paint first, then install.
 

Vertical or Horizontal?

Slat walls do not have to be installed vertically: You can run them horizontally. Both are fantastic options. And no need to restrict yourself to walls: Slat lumber can be just as happy on the ceiling, or even on the floor.
 

Best design style?

Fortunately, there is no particular design aesthetic that is exclusively suited to reclaimed wood paneling. Because the color, character, and size of slat wall lumber can be customized, these installations work well with a wide variety of styles: from modern to industrial and farmhouse.

Where to use?

There are few restrictions when deciding if reclaimed wood should be utilized as a slat wall in a given space. Living rooms, bedrooms, home office, kitchens - they all work. And slat walls are not just for residential spaces. We have customers who have placed reclaimed wood slat paneling in their corporate hallways, cafeterias, and restaurants. Special thought and care should, however, be taken in spaces with high moisture, such as bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. Similarly, areas in contact with high heat, such as those near stoves and fireplaces, should be carefully assessed.
 

Durability?

Reclaimed wood slat walls, like solid wood paneling, are a very durable choice for wall covering. Lasting many years, they are well-suited to high-traffic areas. Slat walls have a potential advantage in terms of repairability, as single slat pieces may be more easily replaced if damaged. Wood in high-moisture areas should be finished and maintained to avoid warping or cracking.
 

Acoustic Benefits?

Wood slat walls are known to offer acoustic benefits. On their own, lumber pieces arranged in a slat wall design will diffuse some sound waves and reduce echo, but it is the felt backing or acoustic panels behind the lumber slats that provide the lion's share of the sound absorption benefit.
 

Installation?

Every installation will be unique. Your slat wall material may be individual pieces of lumber or pre-assembled panels. In either case, the reclaimed nature of the lumber will not impact installation. Installation of pre-assembled panels is described as a beginner-to-intermediate level project and will depend upon the brand chosen for your project. As with most things, following the manufacturer's instructions is advised.
 
If your slat wall material is coming to your job site as individual pieces, the carpentry skills required may be slightly more advanced. Both formats can be handled by DIYers or placed into the hands of a professional. Slat walls can be installed over a wide array of substrates and can tolerate imperfect surfaces. Please consult your designer, engineer, and/or builder to ensure that your specified material and installation method are best for your project.
 

Cleaning and Maintenance?

Reclaimed wood slat walls are best cleaned by dusting or vacuuming the surfaces. For deeper cleaning, a very damp cloth can usually be used as long as moisture is not left on the slats.
 
With so many ways to incorporate them, it can be hard to decide how and where to use them. Vertical or horizontal?  With spaces or not? Single or mixed species? And to make things even worse, this slat pattern also looks great on ceilings and floors! If you can't pick a favorite between so many captivating choices, maybe it's best to do them all, you know, just to be safe.

Slatwall Paneling Lumber Spotlight:
Wild Turkey Barrel Racks
This lumber was used in the Wild Turkey distillery to hold white oak barrels as the bourbon inside aged. It is available in a mix of hardwoods, including red oak and maple. After traveling to us from Kentucky, these pieces were re-milled with a bright surface and straight-line ripped to a uniform thickness. Perfect for a slat wall.
 
Thickness: 2-5/8″
Width: 2-5/8″
Lengths: 6′6″ to 14′ (most are 12′ or longer)
Reclaimed Mixed Hardwood Slat Lumber from Wild Turkey Barrel Racks
Or ask us about other options. Our Paneling page is a great place to explore more traditional format options.

Reclaimed Chestnut Slat Wall in New Hampshire Coffee House

Reclaimed Chestnut Wall Paneling at Portsmouth Coffee Bar


 
Photo credits and additional information:
• Naily Fir Wall Paneling in Private Home. Sullivan & Associates Architects. Nat Rae photographer.
• Mixed Species Wall Paneling at UPPABaby. Bergmeyer. Gustav Hoiland photographer.
• Spruce Wall Paneling at Hook & Line. Ruhl / Jahnes Architects. Drew Katz, Graffito SP photographer.
• Chestnut Wall Paneling at Coffee. TMS Architects. Rob Karosis photographer.
 
For more information about reclaimed wood, we encourage you to visit our blog, specifically our Benefits of Using Reclaimed Wood & Lumber post.