People will go to great efforts to find reclaimed timber that can be used to make a style statement about their homes and properties. George Mabry is the homeowner. As soon as you step through his front door, your attention is immediately drawn to the teak stairs made of wood reclaimed at a Southeast Asia demolition site. The exterior's white stucco is accented with redwood siding, made from California olive oils barrels.
Reclaimed wood can make a renovation more difficult than just visiting a lumber yard. However, it's well worth the effort for its unique beauty.
There are four main reasons you should consider reclaimed wood.
Yes, that's right—your go-to destination for home improvement necessities does, in fact, carry reclaimed wood you can buy. You can check out some of their selection online, which includes disassembled pallets and crates, as well as lumber and panels from different dealers and brands.
Etsy really is a treasure trove of...well, everything. Reclaimed wood is definitely no exception. You can find reclaimed wood decor and furniture easily, but a quick search of the site for "reclaimed wood" will also lead you to shops that sell reclaimed lumber as well.
Much like Etsy, eBay has all the reclaimed wood you could ever need. A search for "reclaimed lumber" currently pulls up more than 1,000 results, so you definitely have options to choose from.
If you'd rather pick up your reclaimed wood locally, Craigslist is also an option. Just head to your area's Craigslist page, go to the "for sale" section, and filter by "materials"—you can search within there for reclaimed wood, lumber, and timber, and you're sure to find some gems. From there, you can reach out to people who've posted ads you're interested in and arrange to purchase them and pick them up.
Etsy is truly a treasure trove for...well, everything. Reclaimed wood is no exception. Reclaimed wood furniture and decor can be found easily on the internet. However, a quick search for "reclaimed timber" will bring up shops that also sell it.
eBay is a similar site to Etsy. It has everything you need for reclaimed wood. You have plenty of options when you search for "reclaimed lumber", with more than 1000 results currently.
Craigslist is another option if you prefer to pick up your reclaimed lumber locally. You can find great deals by visiting your local Craigslist page. Simply go to the "for Sale" section and filter by "materials". You can then reach out to other people posting ads that you are interested in, and arrange to buy them or pick them up.
Be patient once you have signed your contract. Kiln-drying isn't quick. For larger beams, the wood is heated at low temperatures. This process can take up to a year. The rarer the wood, the less likely it will be that it has been kiln dried and is ready for you to purchase.
The majority of trees that were harvested were between 100 and 400 years old. They grew slowly without the use of fertilizers, endured droughts, and survived floods. This resulted in wood with tighter grains and dense resins. Reclaimed wood is not only superior but also has been dried and cure naturally and has experienced many fluctuations in moisture, making it more stable than newly harvested lumber.
We offer reclaimed wood for homeowners, interior designers, architects, businesses, and everyone in between.
You can shop online for reclaimed wood from some dealers.
Plank & Mill, a company that specializes in reclaimed wood, is a great choice for anyone who's just starting out. They sell real reclaimed hardwood planks that have an adhesive peel-and stick backing. This allows you to easily install them in your home to create accent walls.
Another option to consider is architectural salvage yards. These businesses sell more than reclaimed timber. Instead of just selling reclaimed wood, they also sell hardware, stainedglass, lighting, and other materials. There are even furniture and decor you can buy made from reclaimed materials. Old House Online provides a listing of architectural salvage businesses in every state. Some to consider are:
Local shops, as well as a few dealers nationwide can be found via a telephone directory or Internet search (search under "reclaimed wood", "reclaimed timber" or "reclaimed lumber").
Be careful. There are many people out there who want to make a quick buck by selling salvaged wooden. Be suspicious of dealers who don't guarantee their products, who have prices that are unrealistic compared to other bids, and who lack of professionalism--like shoddy paperwork or improper billing.
Make sure you know upfront that the wood has been properly treated. Your dealer should agree for the wood to be scrubbed clean, and that you will use a metal detector as a way to detect hidden nails. The wood likely will be cut from a large beam, planed and--this is critical--kiln-dried.
We drill out the holes with a 5/8″ drill bit and fill the holes with 5/8″ dowell – this is the first step in the finishing process.
Yes, and we do almost every day. We ship out of Oklahoma City and ship anywhere in the USA and Canada. We put the cargo planks on a custom pallet built for that shipment and build crates for the Railcar planks.
30 – 40 yrs old