When I originally discussed using knotty pine in kitchens, there were comments expressing concern about the wood’s appropriateness in the relatively humid kitchen environment. When I was at the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show last week, I ran into this company, Union Church Millworks of Covington, Virginia. They had some really gorgeous woods on display including “vintage knotty pine,” so I asked Kim Bennett Powers, the sales and consulting manager on hand, the knotty knotty pine question.
His response, which was very illuminating: In the 1950s, we grew our pine trees bigger… the centers got very hard as the tree aged, and we were able to use this center — it was called “heart pine” — for cabinets and other applications where we wanted hard, dense wood. It still looked knotty. Today, we do not grow our pine trees as big, so the wood never never gets as hard. So, much of the 1950s knotty pine really is a particular sub-category called heart pine. Kim says that Union Church Millworks can still get you vintage heart pine for cabinets or panelling or even floors — it’s reclaimed from demolitions and the like. But it costs something like $12 a s.f. vs. $3/s.f. for plain old knotty pine. While we didn’t have a belaboured discussion about it, Kim thought that even considering the differences then vs. now, today’s knotty pine should do fine in a kitchen. That said, there are other wood species that have a knotty look but which are naturally harder.
One more thing: Woah, the woods they had on display for floors, paneling and cabinetry: Gorgeous!
JustJohnny says
Hello.
I’m not sure if this has been covered yet? Nor, have I the time to read everyone’s comments.
However, I would like to add my experience with Heart Pine.
We bought a Circa 1900 first home, dwelling. In a small town in N.E. Pa. In 1997.
The selling hook for, me after three lists of a frustring search was its 1950’s St. Charles kitchen with stainless steel countertop and imported Italian carerra glass tile. And the beautiful woodwork!
After hearing about house’s history? We are a few properties down from lumber yard andup from original feed mill all just across from creek and a rail line that supplied both businesses with a chute.
Both businesses were the first two in local area. This being said? We estimated our house to be one of first built and everything flooring is of heart pine.
I love the look of natural wood. After st ripping carpet? I noticed that only outside parameter of floor was ever finished and large area of inside was rough and grey. Oh no: its ruined I thought?
Turns out however, this was a common way of keeping an area rug from slipping without tape!
After sanding, I noticed that finished floor was much lighter and yellow where as unfinished had a dark red and brown to it.
But, once clear finish was started being applied? I literally had tears in my eyes if it’s beauty.
My point? I do have one I think but, stalling because I forgot! Actually, Heart Pine if left exposed? Naturally darken to a deep red with some lighter highlights plus even though a bit more time consuming? Working a down to a finer grit sandpaper, draws a swirly and richer finish to which I receive compliments on.
If I redo another’s floor that was never left exposed? The only way I can get only close to mine without a full staining is to pickle. But no where near my floors. OK I’m finished! 8+)
lynda says
Just Johnny, I understand what you mean about the color of the pine. We had ours pickled for quite a few years because I did not like the orange color of the pine. However, over the years it scratched and needed a total refinish. After much research, we put on Bona Traffic in satin finish. The floor looks nice. Since it is a water based finish, it does not leave the orange look on the pine. If you have enough energy, you can finish the pine with Waterlox. It is a tung oil based product. We have it on our maple counters. Biggest problem is that you cannot get bleach or even oxiclean type products on the finish, or it will take it off. You can reapply oil on the floor with just a little sanding every few years in the traffic areas. We could not find a contractor to do the work for us and we were not up to the job ourselves. Good luck!
Lynn WH says
We are refinishing our heart pine cabinets, but don’t have the original doors. Owner had refaced with a nasty laminate and design. Now we are stuck trying to get new doors made to match. But of course, you can’t easily buy heart of pine for cabinet doors. Any suggestions on complimentary wood for doors? Anyone else had this problem?
Rick S says
Lynn WH,
you might look for a woodworking shop locally to make doors and drawer fronts. The local place may be able to find and use the same type of wood as the rest of your cabinets, and still compete for god price. Have them measure to be safe.
rick
Cate B says
Hello – Does anyone have suggestions for treating heart pine floors to make them more durable. Is there are product that will serve to ‘harden’ or protect better than others?
Kathy Whitham says
SO glad to discover this blog today! I have recently become such a fan of the style I was born into in the 50’s! Had a painter come to give his opinion of my 1950’s ranch for potential resale – although I really want to keep it for now, It’s the house I grew up in and is now mine since my parents passed away. He totally dissed my pine cabinets in the kitchen-said i had to paint them – no one wants that but I wasn’t really feeling good about what he said. Reading this has given me renewed hope about keeping them now (they do need some fixing up due to scratches from the dog we used to have). I love reading all the ideas to fuel my creative imagination…
lynda says
Pam,
It is my daughter’s house. I helped them remodel with the internet. I do have heart pine floors in my house that I have had for 26 years. Their new/old house was built in 1940 and it was probably remodeled in the 60s. It is a modest cape in Burlingame, CA. I stumbled on your site when we were trying to figure out a direction for the remodel. We wanted it to look timesless, with a nod to the history of the house, and all the remodeling had to be budget friendly. The pine was bought from Craigslist as were many other items in the house. Your site truly has been very helpful for discovering just the right products–the NuTone fan for the kitchen, the tub in the bathroom and the American Universal tiles. Thanks!
pam kueber says
GORGEOUS!
lynda says
Reclaimed heart pine from a distillery in the south. Installed Jan. 2012.
Kids’ room:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Un9VvocSCA8/Tw-L1R3OadI/AAAAAAAARwA/yKbw8agRc9A/s1600/IMG_9560.JPG
and master bedroom:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RW_lZlyhybc/Tw-OHpntYCI/AAAAAAAARwc/PXwoevmUYLM/s1600/IMG_9566.JPG
pam kueber says
Beautiful! Is this your house, Lynda?
michelle says
We have a beach house that was built in late 1960’s or so that has pickled heart of pine paneling. Just wondering what it is worth? The paneling is in great shape. Please let me know if you have an idea of their worth.
Jerry Caplin says
If you like it, its worth alot. If you hate it, its of no value. You might find someone who could re-use it, but its not like a rate coin with a specific value!
Janice Black says
Very interesting. My 1950’s ranch house has knotty pine cabinets covering most of the kitchen walls. Not sure whether they are this “heart wood” or not . . . they are very hard and the only dents they have acquired down through the years are two very slight ones where cabinet door knobs (pulls might be the proper word?) apparently banged constantly against the face of the adjoining cabinet doors. So . . . I don’t think they are soft at all.
However, several of the cabinet doors have in fact warped, so that when they are completely closed, the lower corners stand out away from the cabinet face somewhat. I think this have been caused as much by stress from constantly pulling on the lower half of the doors to open them (since that is where the “pulls” are located) rather than from humidity. In fact, we are in semi-desert and don’t really have much humidity, even in the kitchens.
lynda davis says
We installed reclaimed heart pine 26 years ago in our family room and breakfast room. We bought the wood from a place in Charlottesville, VA. The floors have been refinished once. We do not have any dents in the floor. It is a very hard pine. We didn’t have pets, but we had 3 busy children and their friends use the space!
Meridtih says
Lynda…Thanks for sharing your experience. We are really hoping that this holds up as well as we expect it too! We have one 2 year old (with plans for more kiddos) and a large Labrador Retriever. Kids and pets sure can do a number on any floor, but with the weathering and character we hope it will blend right in!
Meridtih says
We are remodeling our 1963 ranch and have used reclaimed heart pine for our hardwood flooring. Sadly, the previous owners put in horrid beige tile throughout the entire house, so it is a lot of work to bust it out, but the pine flooring and grey-blue shag carpet that is going it should bring some more dignity to this great home!
Our pine flooring was originally installed in a 1890’s era brewery in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was salvaged when the structure was torn down and re-milled into 5/8 inch tongue and groove flooring. It has the original nail holes, saw marks, and markings from the brewing equipment. The cost wasn’t too much more than the standard red oak that is installed in Texas today (we paid $2.75 a square foot vs. $2.00 for new oak).
As far as hardness, in the samples we tested it didn’t seem to dent or scratch any more than the new oak samples. Wood isn’t bulletproof, but the old heart pine is nothing like the new stuff on the shelves today.
pam kueber says
Sounds AWESOME!!! Send me pics when you are ready for prime time, Meridith!
pam kueber says
Sounds awesome, Meridith — send pics when the project is done!