Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber

the origin story

Barn deconstruction and salvaging barnwood isn't necessarily something you just fall into.

There is a meme floating around on the internet that shows where some well-known businesses were started. And it is all pictures of garages.

And, if you think about it, most businesses start right in the home. So, like any great business, when Jim founded Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber back in 2009, it was in his garage (and the backyard). Jim made the transition from the corporate world to the reclaimed barnwood world and has never looked back.

What began as deconstructing barns in Michigan has turned into a multi-location operation that offers a huge variety of products and services.

The very first time Jim deconstructed a barn, he immediately realized that all of the lumber and beams and materials were so much more than the "waste" from a job site. He recognized the history that each of these barns held, as well as the potential of the lumber.

What's the Deal with Reclaimed Barnwood?

All of the lumber salvaged by Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber is of excellent quality. And it's primarily sourced from barns in Michigan and some of the surrounding states here in the midwest. But what exactly does 'excellent quality' actually mean?

Jim prides himself on only providing the best quality products. Some of his earliest customers came to him for reclaimed barnwood after having a less than ideal experience.

We're working with old, antique wood here. And it's wood that has been salvaged from barns, so that wood has been sitting outside in the elements for 100, 200, or more years. So, it's not just something that can be pulled down, immediately sold, and then installed in a customer's home.

So, even as the business has grown, Jim has stayed involved in the day-to-day operations so he can be certain his customers are leaving with premium reclaimed wood.

But that still doesn't answer the question... Why use reclaimed barnwood?

The wood used to build these 100 or 200 (or more) year old barns is old growth- making it more dense, stronger, and completely different than what we can find in the lumber asile today. There is another blog we wrote that dives into this a bit more because, let's be real, it is far too much to squeeze in here.

It's A Family Thing

Jim's interest in woodworking started long before he dreamed up Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber. He has been in the trades for over 20 years, so he started with a wealth of knowledge about reclaimed barnwood, woodworking, and carpentry in general.

But we can go back a little further than that. Jim's father was a skilled woodworker and carpenter. The pieces his father made are still living in his kids and grandkids home, long after he passed. His father's talent for woodworking was most definitely passed down to Jim- the attention to detail, natural skill, and the ability to craft things that are both beautiful and functional.

Plus, Jim and his brothers build the house in which Jim and his wife raised their kids. Jim is one of nine brothers, all of whom have worked in the construction industry. To say "it runs in the family" might be an understatement; it's been in the family since the late 1940's.

All of this- the experience in the trades, the family history- has been invaluable since Jim started his business over 13 years ago.

Tell Us More

It's true- the wood we repurpose from barn sites is drastically different from the new growth lumber you can buy at your local hardware store. We are talking exceptional quality hardwood like Chestnut, Oak, Pine, Poplar, Hemlock, Walnut, Fir, and Beech.

The materials and products Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber offers are more than perfect for carpenters, woodworkers, contractors, artists, and whatever DIY project you're working on.

But why reclaimed barn wood? How often do you walk into a store, looking for planks for a new project, and find beautiful, thick, oak planks available? I suppose it depends on which store you walk into, but typically, no. It is extremely difficult to find wood like that nowadays.

While there may not be a surplus of quality, good looking wood available, there definitely are a significant number of old barns. Especially here in Michigan, you can find them scattered all across the state. Many of them in various stages of disrepair.

And, as a carpenter himself, Jim has always been drawn to that type of wood- the wood you find in the flooring of old homes, as the walls and support beams in old barns. The wood that was used to build buildings, houses and barns over 100 or 200 (or more) years ago.

His decision to venture into the “reclaimed barn wood” industry was out of a desire to find these old barns, salvage the wood and repurpose it. Repurpose it for home installations of accent walls, hardwood flooring, countertops, mantles. For materials to craft tables, stools, bookshelves.

Now, more than 13 years after starting Michigan Reclaimed Barns & Lumber, Jim has reclaimed wood from thousands of barns. And much of that wood has already been repurposed in home remodeling projects, woodworking projects and new building projects.

Whether it is your first time visiting Michigan Reclaimed Barns & Lumber (or you’ve been a long-time customer), we welcome you to take part. With each plank, beam or artifact salvaged from each barn site, a piece of history comes with it.