Everything you need to know.
LOUISIANA
SINKER CYPRESS
Why Sinker Cypress?
One of the primary wood species we use is sinker cypress. It’s incredibly durable, historically significant, repurposed, and displays a wide variety of colors. Tight growth rings (approximately 35-70 growth rings per inch) set it apart from today's wood, and such quality is no longer available in today’s growing forest. The tight grain pattern makes the wood much more durable and aesthetically pleasing than typical cypress grown in today’s commercial forests. It's also resistant to insects and decay.
What is Sinker Cypress?
Louisiana Sinker Cypress boasts a rich history and a captivating backstory that makes it unlike any other wood. Also known as Dead Head cypress, Old Growth cypress, Swamp cypress, Marsh cypress, River recovered cypress, Heart cypress, Reclaimed cypress, Antique cypress or Deadhead cypress, Sinker cypress is a cypress log that was submerged in swamps, rivers, and bayous in the Southeastern United States. During the timber harvest from 1880-1920, the logs were axe-cut or fallen from virgin forests. At the time of harvest, the trees were between 150-1500 years old. Once collected, the logs were hitched to oxen and taken to the rivers for further transport, where they were chained together to make a raft. As the logs floated down the river, many became caught in a log jam, and waterlogged. Subsequently, they sank; hence the name “sinker” cypress. It is believed as many as 20% of the logs harvested were lost in transport. Hundreds of years later the timber was rediscovered when underwater salvage loggers began reclaiming them by hand from the murky depths of the swamps.
Louisiana Cypress Logging on Pirogue: Sinker Cypress History
History of Sinker Cypress?
In Southern Louisiana, cypress wood is deeply intertwined with the region's cultural identity. Cypress represents our heritage. There is something inherently alluring about preserving relics from a different time period. It’s truly a rare piece of history, soaked in tradition. The history surrounding sinker cypress is a buried national treasure, making it even more desirable. Its historic value and recovery process only add to its rare beauty. Every piece of wood comes with a story, and by investing in reclaimed Louisiana sinker cypress, that story lives on.
Sustainability of Louisiana Sinker Cypress
Sinker Cypress offers an environmentally friendly option for all your projects or applications. We only use salvaged lumber, never harming any living trees. Reclaimed, old growth lumber is the most sought-after. As its origins imply, Sinker cypress is reclaimed from the waters of Louisiana. Louisiana Sinker Cypress logs stand apart from conventional lumber sources that frequently involve clear-cutting forests. Instead, these logs are antique saw logs left abandoned in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, offering a reclaimed alternative with a unique history. This implies that the trees are sourced from locations that have been previously impacted by human activities, rather than being taken from untouched forests.
Old-growth Cypress Logging with Cross-Cut Saw
Giant Old-growth Louisiana Cypress Tree
Cypress Log Being Transported
Do you think the axels are rated for this?
Cypress Log Raft
Raising a Sinker Log
Extremely Rare Bookmatched Sinker Cypress Burl
Sinker Cypress Table-Stunning Colors and Tight Grain
Madisonville Museum: History of Logging in Louisiana
How does Sinker Cypress get its unique colors?
Sinker Cypress is recognized for its stunning array of grain patterns, ranging from golden browns and patina golds to grays and olive-greens to even mauves and seafoam greens, all influenced by its specific location on the riverbed where it settled. The minerals in the water where the logs rested play a large part in the final color of the wood. Differing factors such as pH, silt content, water movement, salinity, length of time under water, and type of environment the tree originated all contribute to the ultimate color of the wood. If the log fell in a sandy location, it led to the development of lighter tones, while sinking into a muddy river bottom resulted in a darker, more olive-green hue. Over the century and a half that the logs have been submerged, they have taken on the tannins and minerals from their resting places.
What makes Sinker Cypress so durable?
Because sinker cypress is old-growth wood, the lumber is harder, denser, and more durable than newer-growth Cypress. The trees left untouched continue to mature slowly as they receive limited sunlight and face competition from nearby trees. The slow pace of growth results in the development of densely packed growth rings, making it more compact and durable.
Wood changes in size with variations in moisture levels. It enlarges in wet conditions and contracts in dry environments. These fluctuations in wood dimensions can result in joint separations, finish chipping, and other concerns. However, unlike newer wood, old growth timber is more stable due to its dense arrangement of growth rings.
These trees can live for hundreds of years, with some reaching over 3,000 years old. We once found a log still standing 40 feet underground where the Mississippi River flowed over 2,000 years ago. Upon carbon dating, it was determined the tree stopped growing 1,280 years ago, making it about 2,500 years old.
Its 150-year underwater preservation process makes it one of the most rot- and insect-resistant woods in the world. Cypressene, an oil naturally found in sinker cypress, preserves the heart wood in the water as organisms eat away at the bark. Even after harvesting, the cypressene continues to protect the wood from the wet, humid conditions of the swamps, rotting, and pests.
What role does Sinker Cypress play in Interior Design?
Sinker Cypress is the elite choice for furniture making, fine art, and interior design. The wood's distinct grain pattern and vibrant color make it perfect for decorative furnishings like accent walls, tables, mantels, beams, and countertops.
Each one of our pieces is unique, simply because each slab of wood we use has its own history and story to tell. Our furniture is a beautiful sentiment to the timeless quality that sinker cypress offers. Its versatility extends to a wide range of purposes, including furniture crafting and flooring. Sinker Cypress can also be utilized for both interior and exterior siding and soffit applications. The durability and aesthetic appeal make it suitable for a wide range of uses. Such unique arrays of colors and tight grain make beautiful works of art.