• The sight of smooth, weathered old wood in faded colors makes you want to reach out and touch the surface, connecting to the agrarian past it represents.

• Now, you can surround yourself with that feeling, by adapting recycled barn wood. Whether you’re building a rustic cabin or renovating an edgy urban loft, the warmth of barnwood flooring or walls holds irresistible appeal.

• Maybe that’s why homeowners, builders, designers, and architects are joining the ranks of environmentalists in supporting this distinctive resource.

• Old barnwood and deteriorating 19th-20th century structures are often demolished. The aged wood is simply dumped, wasting a resource and expanding the valuable space blighted with landfill.

• U.S. timberland (that is, not protected) is increasingly exposed to nearby urban growth, while corporations that own forests—as much as 13% of U.S. timberland in 2001—have sold off much of it to individuals, leading to further development.1

• Using recycled barnwood for building breaks the cycle of waste, reclaiming a valued resource that has improved with age.

• Quality – hardwoods sourced over 50 years ago often came from first-growth forest. Tighter grain structure made them much more stable and beautiful than today’s harvested woods.

• Wood species – the greater variety of old hardwoods includes many that are difficult to source or rare today. Common ones include oak, beech, fir trees, and even rare redwood.

• Sizing – most woods were custom-sized for each building, often with larger dimensions than currently used. These can be resized to custom orders.

• Color gives recycled barnwood its character. Weathering in place for a hundred years, it achieves tones that can’t be reproduced, from soft grays to faded red, white, and brown.

• Hand-crafted materials reclaimed from barn siding or thicker barn beams create one-of-a-kind homes with unique dimensions. Industrial sources like old mills contribute large wood beams to the supply chain.

• Reclaimed barn doors are a popular resource with extra-large dimensions. Perfect as room dividers or doors, they often retain original, faded paint.

• Using reclaimed and recycled woods to build new homes or renovate contributes to environmental health in important ways. It:

• Cuts back on the volume of wood taken from farmed or virgin forests.

• Reduces amount of wood waste that builds up in landfills.

• Harvests wood from some of the 250,000 single-family homes annually that are otherwise burned or buried in landfill.3

• Are you lucky enough to own an aging barn? Your national treasure is ideal for a home, cabin, ski chalet, or lodge.

• Refurbish your porch, loft, or floor with aged wood that is custom sawed or hand-hewn. No other home will have the same look, color, or dimensions.

• Build a rustic bed frame using driftwood or salvaged beams.

• Add Old West flavor with a western style split rail fence around your yard.

• If you source bulk wood for remodeling, it should be denailed, trimmed, and quality control inspected.

• Check that the vendor offers certification or guarantee of no rot or insect damage.

• Locally sourced wood is best for achieving environmental benefit.2

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that about 70 million tons of wood waste are produced annually, of which 30 million tons could be reused.4

• Work with a reputable vendor that participates in the U.S. Green Building Council, or is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for following their guidelines.

• For commercial properties, look into applying for LEED ratings, by using reclaimed barnwood to hit levels of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

BARNSTORMERSWOOD builds finely crafted barn homes across the U.S., working with vintage 19th century barns. All projects are custom designed in consultation with

clients. We install in commercial and historic buildings and homes, keeping an extensive inventory of barnwood and vintage materials. Contact us at

www.barnstormerswood.com or call 309-368-7472 to discuss a project.

1. http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/library/brochures/docs/2012/ForestFacts_1952-2012_English.pdf

2. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/08/15/how-reclaimed-wood-brings-durable-weathered-beauty-indoors

3. http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/recycled-wood-green-sustainable-built-environment

4. http://www.nrdc.org/living/yardgarden/working-reclaimed-wood.asp