Reclaimed Barn Wood

What sets it apart from the wood from the hardware store.

If you follow reclaimed barn wood carpenters, woodworkers, and companies on Instagram,

there’s a good chance you’ve seen a photo like this one- the old growth wood contrasted with new growth wood. And, chances are, every time you’ve seen it, you’ve registered some amount of amazement. It is absolutely wild seeing the difference between gorgeous old growth wood and the new growth wood you can purchase from your local hardware store.

Old growth wood is more dense, stronger, burns slower, and is more resistant to bugs and insects. New growth wood was specifically on lumber farms that began popping up as resources in natural, old growth forests became more and more depleted. These lumber farms specifically grew fast-growing trees, like pine, to keep up with demand.

There is a specific reason we ramble on and on about the quality of reclaimed barn wood products- be it a home installation like an accent wall and support beam or a custom project like a table and benches. Not only does reclaimed barn wood contain stories and histories, it truly is a higher quality wood that results in a higher quality product. The tighter grain makes for denser wood. The more tightly packed the rings of a tree are, the more dense the timber will be. That density means there is less of a chance of splintering, splitting, and warping. Plus the wood itself is sturdier. Tighter wood grain comes specifically from old growth trees, such as oak, maple, and walnut. For instance, black walnut trees take approximately 30 years to grow and mature. Additionally, trees do not have heartwood (the dense, inner part of a tree trunk that yields the hardest timber) unless they are allowed to grow for at least 50 years.

So if you’ve ever wondered why we are able to use wood from hundred-year-old barns…. This is why. It is the reason we reclaim doors from these old barns and use them in houses and offices today. The wood is strong and dense and can be in excellent condition, making it the environmentally friendly option when starting a new woodworking project or dreaming up a home remodel or renovation.

If you didn’t know before, now you do- share it with your friends. Reclaimed barn wood (old growth wood) is higher quality and superior to the new growth wood available at most hardware stores. Reduce your impact by reusing barn wood. Elevate the quality of your project with high quality woods. And capture a piece of history with your custom wood furniture.