THE SUSTAINABILITY OF RECLAIMED WOOD

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• 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 youre
  building a rustic cabin or renovating an edgy
  urban loft, the warmth of barnwood flooring or
  walls holds irresistible appeal.
• Maybe thats why homeowners, builders, designers,
  and architects are joining the ranks of
  environmentalists in supporting this distinctive
  resource.

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• 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 forestsas much as
  13 of U.S. timberland in 2001have 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.

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• Quality hardwoods sourced over 50 years ago
  often came from first-growth forest. Tighter
  grain structure made them much more stable and
  beautiful than todays 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.

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• Color gives recycled barnwood its character.
  Weathering in place for a hundred years, it
  achieves tones that cant 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.

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• 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

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• 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.

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• 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

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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-rec
  laimed-wood-brings-durable-weathered-beauty-indoor
  s
• 3. http//www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business
  /recycled-wood-green-sustainable-built-environment
  
• 4. http//www.nrdc.org/living/yardgarden/working-r
  eclaimed-wood.asp