How to choose a reclaimed wood dining table: a buyer's guide to reclaimed elm

A good reclaimed wood dining table is solid timber all the way through, in a species the seller can name, at a length that seats your household with 90cm to spare on every side. After that it comes down to taste: the surface, the frame and the finish. This guide takes each in turn, using the five reclaimed elm tables we make in our Cumbrian workshop as the worked example, and ends with a checklist to use on any table you are considering.

What is a reclaimed wood dining table?

A reclaimed wood dining table is made from timber that has had a previous life, rather than from newly felled trees. "Reclaimed wood" on a listing can mean almost any species, so the first question to ask any seller is which wood it is. Species matters more than the label: it decides how hard the top is, how the grain looks and how it takes a finish.

The five tables in this guide are made from reclaimed elm: Blencathra, Grasmoor, Grisedale, Glenridding and Helvellyn. Each board carries the marks of its age, so no two tops are the same. If you would like the story of the timber itself, read why we love working with reclaimed elm.

Is elm a good wood for a dining table?

Yes, for most homes. Elm is a hardwood: denser and stronger than pine, which makes it a sound choice for a table that is used every day. It has a fine, tight, straight grain with small pin knots, so its character shows in the figure of the grain rather than in large knots.

The tops on these five designs are 45mm thick. That is solid timber all the way through, not a veneer over board, which is worth checking on any table described as "reclaimed wood".

What size reclaimed elm dining table do I need?

Our five reclaimed elm designs, Blencathra, Grasmoor, Grisedale, Glenridding and Helvellyn, come in six set lengths (150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300cm) and two widths (88cm or 110cm). They cannot be made narrower than 88cm. If you need a size that is not shown on the product page, ask us on live chat and we will tell you whether a custom cut is possible.

Work out the size from two numbers: how many people you need to seat, and how much room you have.

Seats. The size guide on our product pages allows 50cm of table edge for each standard dining chair, or 65cm for wide chairs, carvers and armchairs, along both long sides. From 180cm long it adds one chair at each end.

Room. Allow 90cm between the table and the wall or other furniture on every side, so chairs can be pulled out and people can walk behind them. That means the room needs to be the table size plus 180cm in each direction.

Seat counts follow the formula on our product pages; the 150cm table has no end seats. Our product listings quote the wide-chair figures. The finished height of these five elm tables is 75.5cm (71cm frame plus the 45mm top), so check your chairs' seat height against it.

Getting it in. The top arrives as a single piece, with the legs delivered separately, so measure your doorways, hallways and any turn on the stairs against the length and width of the top as well as the room.

What we suggest: if the table seats your household comfortably at the standard figure, and you only reach the wide-chair figure with carvers at the ends, you have the right length. If your room is tight, the 88cm width gives back 22cm of floor without losing a seat.

Can a reclaimed wood dining table extend?

Some can. Each of our five elm designs can take optional leaves at the short ends; the product page shows the sizes. Each leaf has box-section steel arms that slide into receivers under the table and are then bolted in place.

An extending table suits a household of four that hosts ten a few times a year. If you seat ten or more every week, buy the length you need.

Rustic Weathered or Modern Planed: which elm surface?

Each of the five designs comes in a choice of two surfaces, and it is the decision that changes the look most.

• Rustic Weathered keeps the original texture of the reclaimed board. The wax settles into the natural relief, which gives a two-tone finish. Choose it if you want the table to look and feel its age.
• Modern Planed is smoothed to an even surface, so the tight elm grain reads as pattern alone. Choose it for a cleaner, more contemporary look, or if you prefer a smooth top under plates and elbows.

Both are finished by hand in your choice of seven Fiddes wax colours: Clear Wax, Lime Wax, Antique Oak, Forest Brown, Rugger Brown, Jacobean and Grey Wash. A clear matt hard wax oil can be added on top for extra protection against spills and heat. The same wax looks different on each surface, which is why we suggest seeing the timber before you order (more on samples below).

Which leg design suits a reclaimed elm table?

The tops on these five designs sit on steel frames welded by hand in our Cumbrian workshop from 80 x 40mm mild steel box section with a 3mm wall. The five designs differ in shape, which changes the look of the room.

A few things to weigh up:

• X-frame and V-frame frames are the boldest shapes and give the table a strong industrial outline.
• Trapezoid and square frames are quieter and more architectural; they suit a Modern Planed top in a contemporary kitchen.
• Spider legs gather the frame towards the middle of the table.
• Benches. Elm benches come in the same six lengths as the tables, 40cm wide, in the same timber and surfaces. Grasmoor pairs with the Glenridding bench; there is no V-frame bench.

How do you look after a reclaimed elm dining table?

Day-to-day care is simple, and it is the same whichever surface you choose.

• Wipe the table with a warm, damp cloth. Avoid chemical or abrasive cleaners.
• Wipe up spills promptly rather than leaving them to sit.
• Put a mat, coaster or cloth under hot dishes and mugs.
• If the table stands in strong direct sunlight, the hard wax oil upgrade adds UV protection.
• For colour touch-ups, our Fiddes Wax Care Pack comes in each of the seven finishes.

Our care guide has the full routine.

Reclaimed timber is not meant to look new. Marks from the board's earlier life are part of the table, and everyday use adds to them over time. If you want a smoother, more even surface, choose Modern Planed.

What should you check before buying any reclaimed wood dining table?

Use this checklist on any table you are considering, ours included.

1. The species. "Reclaimed wood" alone does not tell you how hard the top is. Ask which wood it is. On the five designs in this guide, it is elm, a hardwood.
2. Solid or veneer, and the thickness. Ask for the top thickness in millimetres. On the five designs in this guide, it is solid elm, 45mm.
3. Seats and room. Check the seat count against your chairs, and allow 90cm all round.
4. The way in. Ask whether the top arrives in one piece, and measure the route to the room.
5. The frame. Ask what the legs are made of, how they are joined and how they fix to the top. On these five designs the frames are hand-welded steel box section, fixed to the underside of the top.
6. Guarantee and delivery. Each of these five tables is made to order in our Cumbrian workshop; the current lead time is on each product page. They carry a 25 year manufacturing guarantee and a 2 year timber warranty, and delivery is free to the UK mainland, except a few hard-to-reach postcodes listed on our delivery information page.
7. Whether you can see the timber first.

Can I see reclaimed elm before I order a table?

Yes. Photographs cannot show how a wax sits on an old board, so we send timber samples for £2 a set. There is a set for each elm surface, and each shows all seven wax finishes on the real timber. Order a dining table within 60 days, quote your sample order number, and we refund the £2. The refund applies to dining table orders only.

Choose your reclaimed elm dining table

Once you know your length, width, surface and frame, choose a design from the table above and build your table on its product page, where the price shows for every size. For our wider range of reclaimed elm tables, browse the reclaimed elm dining tables collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is reclaimed wood good for a dining table? Yes, if it is a hard, solid timber and the top is properly finished. Ask which species it is and how thick the top is. The five elm designs in this guide are solid elm, a hardwood, with 45mm tops.

Is elm a hardwood? Yes. Elm is a hardwood, denser and stronger than pine, which is a softwood.

How many people does a 180cm reclaimed elm table seat? Eight with standard dining chairs (three along each side and one at each end), or six with wide chairs or carvers (two along each side and one at each end), using the size guide on our product pages.

Can I order a reclaimed elm table in a custom size? Our five reclaimed elm designs come in set sizes: 150 to 300cm long, 88 or 110cm wide. If you need a size that is not shown, ask us on live chat and we will tell you whether a custom cut is possible.

What is the difference between Rustic Weathered and Modern Planed elm? Rustic Weathered keeps the original texture of the reclaimed board, so the wax gives a two-tone finish. Modern Planed is smoothed to an even surface for a cleaner look.

Can I get samples of reclaimed elm? Yes. Sample sets cost £2 and show all seven wax finishes on the real timber. We refund the £2 if you order a dining table within 60 days and quote your sample order number.