Our Vintage Wood & Forged Iron team treated this history with the respect it deserved. Over five days in early 2019, we carefully dismantled the barn so it could live on in future building projects. In addition to beautiful hickory, white oak, red oak, hemlock, and pine lumber, we were also able to reclaim several door hinges. The reclaimed wood was later reborn as hand-hewn mantels and decorative beams, flooring, wainscoting panels, and other architectural items. Some of the barn siding was also used for ceiling panels in a summer home in Vermont.

The post Old Barn Removal & Reclamation: Continuing a Tradition of Early American Craftsmanship appeared first on Vintage Wood and Forged Iron.

1. Sustainability

Wood is a naturally renewable building material, which makes it better for the environment than others. And building with reclaimed wood steps that up another notch! When you use reclaimed wood in your building projects, you decrease the demand for newly sourced lumber, which can help curb deforestation. Also, the use of reclaimed wood helps to reduce landfill waste as well as the carbon emissions and other environmental hazards produced by manufacturing new products.

2. Strength

Reclaimed wood that comes from old-growth trees — and most salvaged wood does — can be harder and sturdier than newly cut wood. Old-growth trees are usually stronger, longer, and wider than younger trees because they took decades, sometimes centuries, to mature. The more slowly a tree grows, the denser the wood fibers are. This ensures that your building or design project will remain sturdy for years to come.

3. Access to Exotics

Exotic wood is highly prized by architects and designers because of its beauty, rarity, and unique look. Unfortunately, because of overharvesting and the risk of extinction, it is illegal to cut down many exotic species of wood (such as rosewood and Spanish cedar) today.

Often the only way to use exotic woods in building and design projects is via reclamation and salvaging. In the past, many structures around the world were constructed from exotic wood due to its local availability and lower expense to harvest, so there is still a lot of rare, reclaimed wood out there waiting to be found.

4. Aesthetics

Reclaimed wood has a unique beauty that adds interesting texture, color, and warmth to any project. It pleases the eye and lifts the spirit without overwhelming a design. Used as flooring, a countertop, wall or ceiling panels, or even structurally, reclaimed wood makes a room feel lived-in and comfortable.

5. Uniqueness

The weathered, aged look of reclaimed lumber cannot be duplicated. This is what gives reclaimed wood its uniqueness and desirability. Each piece of reclaimed wood in your building comes with its own history and character that any newly harvested wood cannot match.

Find the Perfect Reclaimed Wood for Your Project

If you’re looking to use reclaimed or salvaged wood in your next building or design project, look no further than Vintage Wood & Forged Iron. We carry a wide array of timeless elements perfect for making your unique vision a reality. Whether you’re creating a modern farmhouse living room or just want to add natural elements to a home, we’re sure to have just what you need. Contact us today!

The post Why You Should Build with Reclaimed or Salvaged Wood appeared first on Vintage Wood and Forged Iron.

The dollar value of old barn wood cannot be understated. Reclaimed wood has a rich history, beautifully aged look, and outstanding durability and strength. Old metal hardware is sought after too. Using reclaimed wood and hardware in building, renovating, and decorating is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

But just how much your old barn is worth will depend on several factors.

Professional Barn Removal

As you can see, the answer to “How much is an old barn worth?” is “It depends.” A professional evaluation will give you a better idea. If taking down your old barn and shopping around its wood and hardware sounds like a lot of work, leave it to Vintage Wood & Forged Iron! Our barn removal and reclamation services give these time-tested materials new life. Our professional and fully insured crew will carefully dismantle your old barn, salvage and clean any viable barn wood and hardware, and haul everything else away. Contact us today for a quote.

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• You have access to types of wood that cannot be found anymore other than through reclamation (due to overharvesting, extreme weather, or blight).
• You can achieve a luxurious appearance that cannot be compared with new wood, as the coloring of wood becomes richer, deeper, and/or grayed with age.
• Each plank is totally unique. The floor comes with its own history and tells a story the moment you take your first step on it.

To learn all the reasons we love using reclaimed wood for flooring, see our blog post Reclaimed Wood Flooring: What You Should Know. But if you’ve already decided to use reclaimed wood, you may be wondering which wood species works best for flooring. We’ve got you covered there too.

Eight Popular Wood Species Used for Reclaimed Wood Flooring

To know which wood species will work best in your space, it’s important to understand the unique characteristics of some of the more common types of reclaimed wood.

1. Oak

Whether you choose white oak or red oak, oak is a great choice for flooring because it is very dense and resistant to moisture and rot. The fact that oak is used structurally in buildings, too, is a testament to its strength.

While both types of oak have a prominent, interesting grain, white oak’s grain pattern is less busy than red oak’s. White oak is lighter, with a light tan to white color, while red oak is darker, with pinkish to reddish undertones. In aged reclaimed wood, white oak planks turn darker, with beige to brownish or grayish hues, and red oak boards retain their reddish tone but vary from creamy to amber in color.

2. Chestnut

Wood from the American chestnut tree is straight and strong. It is also rot resistant, which made it popular as a building and flooring material for many generations. Unfortunately, the American chestnut was subject to a blight over a century ago and continues to suffer to this day. This means the only way to use American chestnut in your flooring project is to reclaim it from an older structure.

Reclaimed chestnut flooring is some of the nicest on the market. It has a straight grain and comes in varying shades, from rich light brown to darker cocoa.

3. Hemlock

Not to worry! The hemlock used for flooring is not poisonous. Poisonous hemlock is not a tree at all and looks more like a weedy shrub.

A hemlock tree is an evergreen that can grow quite tall. The wood has a lot of texture owing to its uneven, twisted grain, which adds a lot of unique visual interest to a floor. However, although hemlock is one of the hardest of the soft woods, it is still fairly soft, making it one of the least durable reclaimed wood flooring options.

4. Heart Pine

Genuine old-growth heart pine comes from the very core of a pine tree, specifically the slow-growing longleaf pine. At one point in American history, there were approximately 60 million acres of this tree, mostly found in the South. Now, fewer than 10,000 acres remain. Because of the longleaf pine’s previous mass availability, heart pine was one of the most common building materials in North America for a long time, so there are still tons of places to salvage this wood.

Heart pine has a tight grain and is very hard, which makes for very durable wood flooring. It also has a lovely reddish hue, as opposed to the wood from the rest of a longleaf pine, which is a yellowish white.

5. Yellow Pine

It is a misconception that yellow pine is a soft wood. It is surprisingly hardy and dense. Although yellow pine is most commonly for used in decking and dimensional building lumber, it can be equally at home used as interior flooring.

Yellow pine has an interesting grain that is usually interspersed with prominent knots, which brings a rustic elegance to floors. Because of its mass availability in the United States, it is typically easy to find and is a budget-friendly option too.

6. Hickory

Hickory is one of the hardest and most durable reclaimed wood flooring choices available. It is also one of the more water-resistant options and requires minimal maintenance. Hickory is a lighter-color wood. However, its grain varies from straight to swirled, and the colors in the grain vary from light to dark. These variations make for an interesting look overall and gives floors a slightly rustic feel.

7. Maple

Along with oak and hickory, maple is among the hardest wood species in North America. This makes it a popular option for flooring thanks to its durability. In its natural state, maple is light in color with a subtle grain. These attributes give it a more modern, streamlined feel than other species of wood flooring.

8. Walnut

While walnut is more commonly found in cabinetry and furniture, its rich, dark tones make for stunning flooring too. Walnut is not as hard as oak or hickory, so more scratches or dents may result from day-to-day use. However, those dark brown tones help to hide them! Walnut’s grain is relatively straight and uniform, providing an even look to flooring.

Need Help Finding Reclaimed Wood Flooring?

With so many quality reclaimed wood options to choose from, it really all comes down to which of the wood’s features and attributes are most important to you. If hardness and durability are a key factor for your floor, choose a harder wood like maple, oak, or hickory. If a particular color or grain style suits the space best, pick whichever wood species fits those criteria.

No matter which type of reclaimed wood you choose, wood flooring fills any space with warmth and beauty. For more information on how Vintage Wood & Forged Iron can help you choose the right reclaimed wood, contact us today!

The post Which Reclaimed Wood Type Is Best for Flooring? appeared first on Vintage Wood and Forged Iron.

Reclaimed Wood: The Perfect Material

Brand-new wood can get the job done, but it lacks the rich history, beauty, and character reclaimed wood brings to a project. Because it is naturally aged and weathered, reclaimed wood has a unique look that’s hard to replicate in new materials. Another reason to use reclaimed wood for your fireplace mantel is so you can repurpose rare wood species into a new, original piece for your room. Some of the more exotic and rare woods (such as hemlock and American chestnut) can be obtained only by sourcing vintage wood. When you choose reclaimed wood for your wood mantel, you create something that cannot be mass produced or duplicated anywhere!

Installation Steps

Installing wooden fireplace mantels can feel intimidating, but many homeowners are able to do it themselves. Here are the general steps:

1. 1. Determine the best height for your mantel. If your wood mantel is merely for decorative purposes, pick a height that fits the scale of your room and is pleasing to the eye. If your mantel is going to be paired with a working fireplace, make sure it is far enough above the firebox so it isn’t a fire hazard. This is usually at least 12 inches, but possibly higher depending on the depth of your mantel. Before calculating the height, refer to your fireplace manufacturer’s manual and/or consult with your local municipality on the proper codes.
   2. Determine the center of your fireplace, or focal area, and mark the center of your wooden mantel so it is centered and fits in the space properly.
   3. From these two measurements, hold a long level to the wall and draw a line so you can make sure your mantel, once installed, does not slant to one side.
   4. Here is where the fun really starts — mounting your fireplace mantel! Whether it is for a fireplace or not, it will be larger and heavier than just a reclaimed wood shelf. So, you want to make sure it is well anchored, not just to your wall, but to the support structure behind your wall.

Important: Use lags or heavy-duty screws to make sure your mantel is secure (as many as you can)! Use a hammer drill and bit to bore into the masonry first. If your wall is made of stone, brick, or other masonry, drill holes directly into the masonry at equal intervals along the level line you drew. Then, insert a masonry sleeve into each drilled hole and screw a lag into each masonry sleeve. If your backing is not made of stone or brick, locate the wall studs and drill lags directly into the studs.

For a mantel with decorative brackets:

1. Using brackets to hang your mantel is a great choice. With so many decorative options, this is a way to really showcase your style. Choose your style, and then choose brackets that are the appropriate size and weight to hold up your mantel. A general rule is that they should be about two-thirds of the mantel depth.
2. To install, follow directions 1-3 above, then mark where your brackets should go. Consider how far apart to place them to make sure they are evenly distributed under the mantel. Drill holes into the wall and use lags to secure the brackets to the wall. If you are installing your fireplace mantel into masonry, add masonry sleeves into the drilled holes before screwing in the lags.
3. Once you situate your wood mantel onto the brackets, screw the bracket into your mantel from underneath to secure it.

For a floating mantel:

1. A floating mantel is beautiful because of its simplicity. However, we still recommend using a bracket to hang your mantel. For this, you will want to use a floating mantel/shelf bracket. This device fits securely behind your mantel (although you will need to carve out a niche in the back) and will become invisible once installed.
2. To install, follow directions 1-3 above, then mark where your bracket, or brackets, should go (it will be one or two long brackets that are connected to the wall). Drill holes into the wall and use lags, or heavy-duty screws, to secure the bracket or brackets to the wall. If you are installing your fireplace mantel into masonry, add masonry sleeves into the drilled holes before screwing in the lags or screws.
3. Drill holes into the back of your mantel to match the diameter and positioning of the rods on the floating bracket you have secured into your wall. Then, slide the holes in the back of the mantel over the rods. You may need to push firmly and use a mallet to (carefully!) pound the mantel into place.

Please note: These are merely examples of how you might approach installing wooden fireplace mantels. If you are uncomfortable with any step in this process, we recommend you connect with a professional.

Wooden Fireplace Mantel Decorating

There are as many ways to decorate a wooden fireplace mantel as there are people in the world! To start, think of what must be on the mantel and how much space you have. If a television will be on your mantel, it will probably take up most of the space. You can then simply populate your fireplace mantel shelf with smaller accent items. If you have room on either side of your TV, add some taller items like candlesticks or photos. Negative space is important, too, so don’t overcrowd the surface.

If your mantel is purely decorative, you can use anything that fits. Mirrors, family photos, plants, flowers, candlesticks, or souvenirs are some good examples. Arrange them in a comforting, eye-catching way.

There really is no wrong way to decorate a fireplace mantel shelf. The best thing is to just use what you like to look at and what pleases you most. Since your mantel is the centerpiece of your room, you will see it every day, so make sure you include items that make you happy.

Where to Find Reclaimed Wood Mantels?

Materials for a reclaimed wood mantel or reclaimed wood shelf can be found almost anywhere. Make sure you source your reclaimed wood mantels from a reputable company that has a proven track record of selling high-quality products and kiln-drying them to remove moisture, stains, and bugs. At Vintage Wood and Forged Iron, we personally source reclaimed timber to ensure its quality and prepare the wood for its next use. We offer a large variety of wood at our lot in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and our wood stock continually changes. Contact Vintage Wood and Forged Iron; we’re sure to have what you’re looking for!

The post How to Install and Decorate a Wooden Fireplace Mantel appeared first on Vintage Wood and Forged Iron.

These beams have many uses too. They can be used for shelving, fireplace mantels, ceiling beams, and posts, both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the outside hand-hewn part is saved when cutting into a beam. These pieces are called “skins,” and they can be applied on interior or exterior walls to give the appearance of a log structure. They can also be used to wrap existing structural beams in a home or to make decorative box beams when the weight of a solid beam would be a concern.

Preparing a centuries-old hand-hewn beam for use in your home is hard work and best left to the experts. When you place an order for a hand-hewn beam with a shop like Vintage Wood and Forged Iron, your beam is first selected according to wood type and sizing and pulled from the lumberyard. It is then put into a dehumidification kiln. Heat and fans are used to properly dry the beam and to eliminate any larvae that may be living inside and could become active when brought inside. This process takes anywhere from one to two weeks depending on the size and moisture content of the hand-hewn beam.

Next, a hand-held nylon brush wheel is used to remove any dirt and loose wood. The result is a polished look that does not remove any of the original character. The beam is then cut to the proper size, and the cut ends (if they will be exposed) are singed with a torch to give them a weathered look.

During this process, you will often find mortise pockets, wooden pins, deep axe or hatchet cut marks, and remnants of joinery. One hand-hewn beam can have many of these features on one or all sides of it depending on the original use of the beam or where it was utilized in a structure. For example, if it was a center beam, there could be evidence of where several joists came out of it. These marks can be left open or rough filled with end grain wood. The intention is not to cover them up but to give the beam an authentic period look.

When your hand-hewn beam is prepared in this manner and cut to the proper size, you will still see the original marks that make it so desirable for use in your home. Most people prefer to leave their decorative beams unfinished like this, but fine-tuning them even more is also an option. The surface can be further smoothed out, and a finish can be added to turn your beam into a fireplace mantel or other accent with a more refined look. Your hand-hewn beam is then ready to be installed anywhere you want to add character to your home!

If you would love to add the look and feel of old-world hand-hewn beams to your home, contact the team at Vintage Wood and Forged Iron a call. We’re here to help make your dreams a reality!

The post How a Hand-Hewn Beam is Restored for Use in Your Home appeared first on Vintage Wood and Forged Iron.

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8 Township Drive  |  Paradise, PA 17562

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8 Township Drive  |  Paradise, PA 17562

M-F: 7:30 am - 4:30pm
S-S: Closed

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