Much of the timber used to make a reclaimed wood deck comes from old-growth trees that were part of first-generation forests. It’s not uncommon to learn that a piece of reclaimed lumber came from a tree that was 100 years old (or older) before it was cut down. For this reason, reclaimed wood decking is often 40 points harder on the Janka scale of hardness than virgin wood. Old-growth wood generally is drier, has a straighter grain pattern and a greater density than virgin wood, as well, making reclaimed wood decks ultimately more durable.