"Tobacco Wood" Flooring by Mike Windhom
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09. 5.05
Mike Windhom's unique wood comes from tobacco barns that have been abandoned since the 1970s due to changes in the drying and curing processes. Charcoal fires in the tobacco barns would burn at temperatures ranging from 100 to 180 degrees — the patina from the curing tobacco penetrated the wood as much as three-eighths of an inch. Hence, the color is all natural — no stains or dyes are used to provide the rich hues. The company dismantles the obsolete tobacco barns, ranging from 50 to 200 years old. Each barn is registered with the North Carolina tobacco industry. Buyers receive a photograph of the barn from which their wood came, to provide them with a little piece of history. :: Mike Windhom's Old Wood
Do the carpenters get a buzz?
Seriously John... I wonder how using this wood adds to the chemical load in one's house.
That's a real shame that they're tearing tobacco barns down. Tobacco barns are a unique part of the North Carolina landscape and history. They are dissappearing so rapidly that future generations won't even know what they are.
It's also worth noting that "abandoned" structure theft is an issue in rural areas. The popularity of reclaimed wood flooring, trim and panelling has lead to the unauthorized deconstruction of barns, workshops and probably tobacco houses too across the rural southeast. This is certainly an undesirable biproduct of making such home accents desirable.