Green Options

Craft-Art has a long standing commitment to forestry conservation and sustainable forestry practices. There are several organizations such as The Rainforest Alliance and The International Tropical Timber Organization that have made great strides in helping countries make the transition to sustainable timber harvesting. In addition, many Ecotourist organizations, such as The International Ecotourism Society, are directly involved with governments to promote multiple uses of the forestry resource.

Craft-Art current offers two ways to obtain our products that satisfy Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements.

• The use of Teragren Bamboo.
• Use of a wide variety of reclaimed wood species.

Teragren Bamboo

Manufactured in China, Teragren is a joint U.S./Chinese firm.  Following the estabished model, the factory is centered in the middle of a sustainably harvested bamboo forest.

Reclaimed Wood

In addition to the Antique Heart Pine tops we have always made, we are now offering several reclaimed wood species that are listed to the left.  The reclaimed species being offered at any given time are stocked at our facility, so lead times are the same as our regular wood species.

Craft-Art's reclaimed wood comes from barns, warehouses, textile mills and other commercial buildings. In addition we have obtained several species from recycled pickle and vinegar vats.

The look of reclaimed wood varies widely. It can appear heavily distressed which would include spike and nail holes, surface checking, and other signs that it has been previously used for up to 150 years. However, in some cases, the wood has been protected and when re-surfaced, it will not have a "used" look. We can, of course, distress wood that does not have a distressed look.

We will continue to publish currently available wood species along with photographs of representative samples and tops. However, as with all natural wood products (reclaimed or otherwise), there is no guarantee that any given countertop will look like any given sample or photograph. Our intention is provide enough information so that you can make an informed decision.

Samples of our reclaimed species are located in the Wood Species section. Below are examples of finished tops made from these unique and varied options.