Reclaimed flooring needs more than a good story

What makes reclaimed wood flooring a dependable choice once it moves from an appealing sample to a whole floor? Its previous use can give the boards real character, but I’d want to know what’s documented about where the wood came from and what finishes or treatments may already be on it. How do suppliers or installers handle testing for coatings or contaminants when that history is unclear?

Sizing seems like another practical wrinkle: reclaimed boards may vary in thickness and width, which could affect the layout, fitting, and amount of material needed. How do you estimate waste and installation allowances without over-ordering? I’m curious how people weigh those uncertainties against new certified wood, where sourcing may be easier to document but the boards won’t have the same reuse story.