What Is Reclaimed Lumber?
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Reclaimed lumber is timeworn wood that has withstood many years of stress and weathering, giving it a rustic appearance that new lumber is not able to offer. Although there is no consensus on how old the wood must be before it can be considered suitable for a reclaimed lumber project, the vast majority of reclaimed lumber was milled and installed over a hundred years ago. The lumber comes from old buildings, which are deconstructed very carefully so that as much material as possible is able to be re-used, as much as 50% can end up in the scrap pile regardless.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Specifically where is this reclaimed lumber coming from? As you may imagine, hundred year old buildings are a limited resource. In the pursuit of reclaimed lumber, some contractors and do-it-yourselfers have resorted to deconstructing Grandpa’s barn, while others have taken it a step further and gone after structures that possess some historical significance. Barns with history as far back as the Colonial period, for example, are popular targets. Buildings associated with long-standing organizations such as Jim Beam whiskey and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company have been torn down and used for reclaimed lumber. Ghost towns have vanished entirely to fuel consumers’ desire for reclaimed lumber. If it’s old and still standing, it’s probably a good candidate to be turned into reclaimed lumber someday.
HOW DO YOU ACQUIRE IT?
The rarity of reclaimed lumber has created a niche market for reclaimed lumber specialists to step in and serve as brokers for their customers. Since it is very difficult to keep consistent inventory of such a specialized product, reclaimed lumber companies frequently search for materials on an order by order basis. Which makes it unpredictable to know what will be in-stock or available in a relevant time frame upon request.
WE MAKE IT EASY
Because of our relationship with the mills that re-purpose this reclaimed lumber on a mass scale, we are able offer reclaimed lumber products with a consistent quality standard and predictable lead time for any of your reclaimed projects.
