What is antique wood?
【古材の定義】 Definition of antique wood
建築基準法が施工された昭和25年以前の民家や、築50年以上の伝統工法による民家において建材として使用された木材を「古材」といいます。
Wood used as building materials in houses built before 1950, when the Building Standards Act was enacted, or in houses built using traditional methods that are over 50 years old, is called “antique wood.”
昔の日本では、家の建つ土地で採れる木が、梁や柱といった構造材に使用されてきました。樹齢を経た松やヒノキなどの古材は、強度、耐震性、調湿力などに優れた素材です。
In the past in Japan, trees harvested from the land on which a house was built were used for structural materials such as beams and posts. Old wood such as aged pine and cypress trees is a material with excellent strength, earthquake resistance, and moisture-regulating properties.
また釘を使わず木組みをする伝統構法により、傷の少ない姿のまま残された古材特有の、時を経た風合いや、職人の手を通した加工の跡は、新材にはない魅力です。
Furthermore, thanks to the traditional construction method of joining wood without using nails, the antique wood has been left with few scratches, giving it the time-worn texture and traces of processing by craftsmen’s hands that new wood does not have.
【古材の活用】 Utilizing antique wood
古民家の解体や改修時に取り出された「古材」は千差万別。そのままでは活用可能なものとはいえません。古材に適正な価値を見出し、使える建材として整えていくことが、古材倉庫の目的です。ここでは古材を古材倉庫に納めるまでのプロセスの一例をご紹介します。
The “antique wood” extracted during the demolition and renovation of old houses varies greatly. It cannot be said that it can be used as it is. The purpose of the antique wood warehouse is to find the appropriate value in the antique wood and prepare it as a usable building material. Here we will introduce an example of the process until the antique wood is stored in the antique wood warehouse.
The process from demolition to reuse of old houses
Old house → Demolition → Processing and sales → Construction → To a new home
①古材の見極め
1. Identifying antique materials
解体前、古材が建物に付随する状態で、古材の鑑定＝見極めを行います。木の種類、強度、劣化の度合い、虫害等の状況を入念に確認します。（当社は古民家鑑定士の資格を保有しています。）
Before demolition, we will appraise the old wood while it is still attached to the building. We will carefully check the type of wood, its strength, the degree of deterioration, and the condition of insect damage, etc. (We are qualified old house appraisers.)
②古材の品質調査
2. Quality survey of antique wood
安心して古材をご利用いただくために、古材のスペック調査を徹底して行います。特に、含水率やヤング係数（強度の指標）など、古材のクオリティに関わるデータを採取し、一本一本、個別の識別番号で管理し、PL法（製造物責任法）に基づく保証を付与します。
To ensure that you can use old lumber with peace of mind, we thoroughly investigate the specifications of old lumber. In particular, we collect data related to the quality of the lumber, such as its moisture content and Young’s modulus (an index of strength), manage each piece with an individual identification number, and provide a guarantee based on the Product Liability Act (PL Act).
③古材のお清め
3. Purification of antique wood
長い年月、人の暮らしを守ってきた古材は神聖なものです。当社では場合により古材への感謝の気持ちも込めて、お祓い・お清めを実施します。
Antique wood that has protected people’s lives for many years is sacred. In some cases, we will perform purification and exorcism to express our gratitude to the antique wood.
古材倉庫 