What to Look for when Buying Reclaimed Lumber

Reclaimed lumber is an excellent building material, but you need to know what you are getting. Ask your lumber company where the wood was salvaged from, and how it was selected. The Lumber Baron wants you to be an informed customer, and we will happily take you through every step of the identification and selection process. For example, keep these key points in mind:

·        Buy from a knowledgeable company.

·        Lumber dimensions in the early 1900’s are different than those used today.

·        Inspect reclaimed material before purchasing.

Age and Environment Indicators

One of the things which sets reclaimed lumber apart is the effects of time and exposure. Reclaimed lumber from a winery tank is going to look differently than lumber from an old barn. Beams used on old bridges have tell-tale signs of exposure to water, and saltwater exposure looks different than freshwater. If you are dealing with a lumber company that does not know the history of their reclaimed lumber, talk to another company, because that history is almost as important as the type of wood.

Continuous Grain Patterns

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and other regions provided a steady stream of large timbers. Lumber with large dimensions was cut from a single tree, and the continuous wood grain is clearly visible. Heartwood is material cut from the interior of a tree and milled without joining. It also has a dense ring structure which is often an indication of the strength and durability of the lumber.

Unique Historical Signals

Many times, reclaimed lumber will include visual clues to determine its previous use. These historical signals may be many things, including weathered nail or bolt holes, coloration related to weather, fluids, or specific climates, or even saw or milling marks. Occasionally, the ends of timbers will include brands burned into wood by the original mill where it was processed.

Whether you are looking at reclaimed redwood cut from California’s old growth forests, or reclaimed Ipe cut during expansion projects in South America, each piece of material has its own story to tell. At The Lumber Baron, we take pride in the wood we sell, and much of our reclaimed lumber is hand-selected to make sure that only the best material is ever offered to our customers. Unlike large hardware stores, we specialize in high quality new and old growth wood, right down to providing on-site milling to meet customer specifications. We invite you to visit our lumber yard today, and we will show you first hand what to look for.