Today, wooden pallets have become a highlight in homes because of the numerous ideas and tricks that can help homeowners transform them into appealing items. But what are pallets? Your pallets are a horizontal platform attached to a bottom deck and a superstructure. It is designed to be lifted and moved by material-handling equipment such as conveyors and lift trucks. 

It can also be placed in transport vehicles and storage systems. Likewise, it provides the base for transporting, handling, storing, and assembling products and materials. Lastly, it protects the products on it. You can look for sugar maple trees for sale in Ontario to find the right species for your needs!

Learn How You Can Recycle Old or Damaged Pallets

• Assess the Damage

In determining if pallet repair and management is the right option, assess the damage. Often, the structural damage to the pallet can be serious that the only option should be recycling. If you have determined that the damage is simply missing parts, loose parts, or minor splintering, then you can repair it and continue using it.

• Remove Damaged Parts

If the pallet has protruding parts, such as splintered wood or nails, you should get rid of them first before the repair. Both can cause problems like injuries. With protruding nails, remove them with a nail remover such as a hammer or pry bar. With protruding splinters, remove them wearing gloves and sand down the surface after it has been pulled off the main body. If the damage is rotting wood, remove all the damaged pieces including nails.

• Replace Damaged Materials

If the problem is only minor, you may not have to replace the entire board. If removing the splintered part did not affect the structural integrity of the board, just sand it down. However, if you need to remove the entire board, replace it with a new and properly measured one. You do not want a pallet with missing boards. 

On top of replacing the missing and removed materials, sand the entire pallet down to get rid of old snags or splinters that may have formed over time. It will increase product safety for yourself and anyone else who might use the material later on.

• Check Alignment

You always want to make sure that all pieces are evenly spaced and properly aligned. Misaligned pieces of a pallet can result in pallet structure failure, potential damage, and reduced structural integrity. If one board has been shifted from alignment, remove them and the nails, and re-attach them back into their proper place.

• Recycling the Wood Pallet

Once the material has arrived at the processing facility, everything is recycled, managed, and separated depending on their highest marketability and end-use. Wood pallets can be recycled and broken down with metal, paper, plastic, or wood, depending on their material type. One of the most common uses are as boiler fuel, turned into lawn mulch, composted, chipped, and dismantled for scrap wood.

• Use it for DIY Projects

On top of burning them so that you can enjoy a simple backyard outdoor fire, your wood pallets also have other uses. Today, it can include stacking them two levels high and placing soft pillows on top to make a cozy, wood pallet corner sofa. Your wood pallet sofa that has a lot of storage space for magazines, books, and other personal belongings is also a popular option!

What You Can Do with Your Old Wood Pallets

You do not have to throw out your old and damaged wood pallets. Here are a few ideas you can use if you want to recycle your old and damaged wood pallets:

• Jewelry holder

Imagine this, you are in a hurry. You do not have the time to pick a chic outfit, so you just pick a simple one instead. However, it still lacks something. You need a few accessories, but you cannot find one. You need something where you can place all your accessories. This is the reason you should turn your old and damaged wood pallet into a jewelry holder to store your bracelets, earrings, or necklaces in clear view. A simple wooden box can indirectly improve your outfit for the day.

• Cooler

You want to enjoy a simple dinner party, but do not have the right storage space for your beverages to be kept cold. Whether you are attending or hosting a dinner party, a wood pallet cooler keeps your drinks cool, and the outdoor décor even cooler, with a metal storage space for your empty bottles.

• Barn door

Thinking of giving your property a rustic makeover? Or dividing a room into two for more serenity and privacy? Make it happen with a wood pallet barn door that meets your taste.

• Towel shelf

Just because your bathroom is located inside the house, that does not mean the accessories have to be dull and unappealing. Feast your eyes on some cheap wood pallet towel rack that hangs two bath towels and stores all your needed bathroom essentials.

If you’re unsure about the origins of the pallet, make sure they undergo treatment so bugs like fleas and termites don’t hitch a ride and find their way into your home space.

Overall, wood pallets are likely to be a huge part of your life. Maintaining them is important. Hence, if you find yourself owning damaged or worn pallets, repair them immediately! If not, call a supplier who can do that for you!