Hand Hewn
Going Green Using Reclaimed Antique Barns
Reclaiming wood from old barns, mills, warehouses, tobacco sheds, fences, etc. continues to be an important trend in “going green”. There are many advantages to recycling antique wood. The rich texture and beauty of hand hewn, time-worn material has an authentic patina that can only be achieved from natural weathering. Interior barn boards will be a very desirable warm honey-colored brown, whereas exterior wood has a soft silver grey color.
The ‘look’ of the barn wood is very important. Character shows in the form of old nail holes, cracks, ‘checked’ grain and color. Another advantage of reclaimed wood is its strength and durability. The American spirit somehow shows through those old wood planks and beams. Hard-working hands fashioned each piece using handmade tools and many hours of labor.
Using recycled barn wood has another benefit in that expansion and contraction from humidity and temperature change has already taken place. It has been ‘hardened off’ so to speak. New green wood has yet to undergo that long process. Old floor planks are treasures in this day and age. Because the expansion-contraction amount is minimal, the material lends itself well to radiant heating system applications.
Antique lumber is prized by architects, craftsmen and builders of many types of construction projects. Long before modern building techniques took over, the land was cleared by man and horse. Barns and homes were built using hand tools and long hard hours of labor. Beams were hand-hewn with axes and then squared off using an adze. The adze was used for smoothing rough-cut lumber surfaces as well. Old tool marks can still be seen in the antique wood.
Each side of an old barn shows different characteristics. The north and west sides will be more weathered by rain, snow and winds. The east side would have been exposed to only morning sun, and shade the rest of the day, while the south side would have been washed by the light and heat of the sun.
Vintage timbers represented the wood that was growing on the land where the original building was constructed. Those trees included white, black, red, willow, pin and scarlet oak, long leaf yellow pine, elm, chestnut, cherry, walnut, hickory, maple, poplar and beech. Old chestnut wood is particularly coveted because of the 1904 chestnut blight. Long leaf yellow pine was the most abundant tree used in construction a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. These woods are only obtainable in large quantities now by reclaiming antique wood buildings.
The size of the beams and planks was determined by the strength of the men and horses that had to move those boards and beams. Today old barns are for sale on the internet from an average of $300 on up, depending on the size of the building and the species of wood. Price is also determined by whether cleanup after dismantling is desired.
At the time of this writing, old barn boards on average cost $1.50 to $5.00 and up per square foot, again depending on the size of the lumber. Another factor in price is the quantity desired and the thickness. Barn wood can typically range from ½” to 1″ thick. Widths measure between 6″ to 12″ or more.
Today there are many items being made from reclaimed barn wood. They include wood flooring, wood paneling, and ceiling planks. Tables, chairs, benches, cabinets, shelves, picture frames, bird houses and bird feeders are all made from vintage barn boards.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a ‘green’ building rating system. It requires projects to earn a certain number of credits to become certified. Using reclaimed wood can earn credits towards LEED project certification.
The high demand and popularity of barn wood has made it harder and harder to find. It’s not always a simple process to identify the species of wood that was used. Given its age, determining the origin is sometimes only achieved by cutting open the piece of wood. Reclaimed wood is more expensive than new wood because of the cost of dismantling. Additionally, nails must be removed as well as embedded metal such as pieces of old cut off nails. The wood then needs to be sorted. These are all labor-intensive tasks.
There is also the question of what type of stains or paints or other compounds were used on the wood surfaces over the years. Lead paint in particular poses a problem with reclaimed wood used in interior applications.
Antique barn wood represents the hard-working history of America. Its innate warmth, beauty and durability has been achieved through natural weathering and aging. Using this wood for new projects that are environmentally friendly keeps the old barns alive. Otherwise they will fall to ruin and be eventually absorbed into the ground on which they were originally built. That seems like a terrible waste of a rich, yet humble heritage. I applaud those who are breathing life back into our vintage American barns, and “going green” in the process!
About the Author
Connie Smith is the expert author and owner of http://www.rusticbarnwoodbirdhouses.com
where you will find many unique wooden bird houses and bird feeders made from reclaimed barn wood.
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Vintage Muir Woods Bridge Hand Hewn Redwood Tree 5-54 $0.99 |
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8″ EWP log siding smooth or hand hewn look $1.15 |
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8″ HAND-HEWN TONGUE AND GROOVE LOG SIDING WHOLESALE $1.30 |
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The Broken Bridge couples river hand hewn wood undivided back Valentines Series $2.10 |
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Primitive Hand-Hewn Long Wooden Ladle / Spoon – Nice! $2.99 |
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Hand-Hewn: The Art of Building Your Own Cabin $3.45 |
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Family up a Ladder-Cool Photo-Farm Family-Hand Hewn Log Cabin 1910 RPPC Postcard $7.50 |
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Antique Hand Hewn Wood Lard Press Country Primitive Decor Farm Tools $7.99 |
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Hand Hewn by Dry Branch Fire Squad —MINT CD $7.99 |
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Hand Hewn Duck Bowl (1989) $8.95 |
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ANTIQUE PRE-1900′S HAND HEWN PRIMITIVE WOODEN WINE PRESS IN GOOD CONDITION NR! $9.99 |
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HAND HEWN STRING BAND folk revival CD bluegrass OH 2004 $9.99 |
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Old Primitive Wooden Dough Bowl, Antique Hand Hewn 1800s Country Trencher $10.45 |
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1 pc RECLAIMED OAK BARN LUMBER WOOD [ hand hewn block] $11.00 |
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Hand-Hewn: The Art of Building Your Own Cabin by William C. Leitch (1976,… $12.95 |
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USA GEORGIA POSTCARD ATHENS COVERED BRIDGE OCONEE RIVER HAND HEWN TIMBER 18565 $13.60 |
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AMISH MILLED {ANTIQUE} HAND HEWN BEAMS MANTEL FIREPLACE $14.00 |
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HAND HEWN STRING BAND Good Folk Revival CD bluegrass OH $14.99 |
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1 pc RECLAIMED OAK BARN LUMBER WOOD [ hand hewn block] $15.00 |
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Hand-Hewn In Old Vermont by Ruth M. Rasey Simpson (SIGNED) $15.00 |
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Antique Gravy Ladle hand hewn, Brass/Copper/Silver? purchased 1975 in Kansas $15.99 |
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Authentic Hand Hewn Antique 1800s Ox Team Yoke Converted Coat Rack Western Decor $19.99 |
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Roughly Hewn Hand Made Polished Coconut Wood Buttons – 2.8cm Round Disc 100 pcs $20.59 |
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Roughly Hewn Hand Made Young Coconut Wood Buttons 1.5cm – Flower Design – 200pcs $21.67 |
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Roughly Hewn Hand Made Polished Coconut Wood Buttons – 2cm – Elephant Art 100pcs $21.67 |
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Old Primitive Wooden Dough Bowl, Antique Hand Hewn & Carved Trencher 1800s N/R ! $22.45 |
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ANTIQUE PRIMITIVE HAND HEWN BEAUTIFUL PIG OAK CUTTING BOARD! ONE OF A KIND!!!!! $22.95 |
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VINTAGE HERB UTENSIL MASHER CRUSHER HAND HEWN SOLID WOOD WELL USED $23.44 |
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Roughly Hewn Hand Made Thai Teak Wood Buttons – Round Bulb – 1.8cm – 200 pcs $23.52 |
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ANTIQUE WOOD PRIMITIVE BOWL~Large HAND HEWN TRENCHER DOUGH SERVING WOODEN WARE $24.99 |
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Craftmade Doorbell Chime Box Hand-Hewn Oak Design Unfinished wood ch2401-UO $26.95 |
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Vintage child’s rocking chair, hand-hewn wood, leather seat, unusual, very neat $28.49 |
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Antique Hand Hewn Riveted Wood w/Forged Blade Chopper $28.95 |
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Vintage Handmade Hand Hewn Tole Ware Mexico Hand Painted Florals Wood $29.95 |
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Tobacco Sticks, Vintage Early 1900′s Hand Hewn, Set of 3 for Canes or Crafts $29.95 |
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Antique Wood & Hand Hewn Iron Double Pulley Block Hook steam punk $29.99 |
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Vintage Butter Paddle, Hand Hewn Small Shovel, Wooden Mold, Hand Hewn Heart $30.00 |
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Ceiling Beams From Reclaimed Hand-Hewn Barn Beams $30.00 |
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RECLAIMED HAND HEWN BEAMS $34.93 |
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243 Antique rustic log display shelf, 1800′s Knotty Pine, old growth, hand hewn $35.00 |
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294 Antique rustic log shelf, 1800′s Ironwood & Pine, hand hewn, old $35.00 |
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292 Antique rustic log shelf, 1800′s Maple & Cedar, hand hewn, old $35.00 |
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291 Antique rustic log shelf, 1800′s Maple & Cedar, hand hewn, old $35.00 |
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162 Antique hand hewn rustic log shelf, 26″ x 5″ x 5″ Oak & Ash reclaimed 1800′s $37.50 |
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Antique Primitive Hand Hewn Cobblers Wood Shoe Form $39.61 |
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BEAM MANTLE – HAND HEWN OAK – 6 1/2″ X 10″ X 41 1/2″ – UN-FINISHED $40.00 |
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346 hand hewn barn beam rustic log shelf, 1800′s Pine wormwood 39.5″ wide OOAK $42.50 |
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372 reclaimed vintage hand hewn Pine shelf, rustic, unique, old growth, 24″ wide $45.00 |
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182 hand hewn barn beam rustic display shelf, 1800′s, distressed primitive decor $45.00 |
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185 hand hewn barn beam rustic log shelf, 1800′s Ash, primitive reclaimed decor $45.00 |
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#4304 – OLD GROWTH RESAWN HAND HEWN WHITE OAK BARN BEAM–61″ $46.31 |
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ANTIQUE HAND HEWN WOODEN SPOON FROM AFGHANISTAN $47.50 |
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HAND-HEWN ARTISAN PIN w STAGGERED RECTANGLES $48.00 |
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330 Antique rustic log shelf, 1800′s , hand hewn Ash & Pine, reclaimed primitive $50.00 |
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206 hand hewn rustic log display shelf, 1800′s Pine, distressed reclaimed $60.00 |
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283 Barn beam rustic log shelf, 1800′s Pine hand hewn distressed unique $67.50 |
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HAND MADE INDIVIDUALLY WHITTLED ROUGH HEWN PINE CHESS SET 32 PC WITH CLOTH BOARD $70.00 |
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Reclaimed Hand Hewn 1800′s Large 12″ x 8.5″ Barn Beam by the Foot $75.00 |
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VERY Early Iowa Barn Timber Framing Gouge-Hand Forged/Hand Hewn Handle Auger $78.39 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $79.20 |
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Rustic Realistic Hand-Hewn Seed Birdfeeder Home or Garden Decor Functional $79.95 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $79.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $79.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $79.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $79.99 |
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Vintage Hand Hewn Barnwood Beam Block $79.99 |
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264 set of two shelves, 1800′s Knotty Pine, saw cut and hand hewn wormwood $90.00 |
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Goldeneye Drake Vintage Hand Hewn Working Decoy Maker Unkown Bottom Signed CTP $95.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $95.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $95.99 |
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18th Century Primitive Wood Cow Bell Hand Hewn Original $99.00 |
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HAND HEWN CEDAR RAIL RAILING BEST PRICE ON EBAY $99.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $99.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $99.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $99.99 |
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Hand Hewn Hard Wood Wooden Storage Box w/ Ornate Carvings of Dragons Dovetail $100.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $103.99 |
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Chippendale Cabriole Legs Estate Vintage Child’s Chair Mahogany Hand Hewn Talon $105.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $108.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $108.00 |
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Antique Hand Hewn White Pine Mantel – CHARACTER (6) $125.00 |
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Hand Hewn 8′ Section,Cedar Log Rustic Deck Railing $127.00 |
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Hand Hewn 8′ Section,Cedar Rustic Log Deck Railing $131.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $140.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough / Fruit Bowl Trencher $140.00 |
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387 Hand hewn Basswood fireplace mantel / shelf, 7.5″ deep x 82″ wide, 1800′s $145.00 |
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390 Hand hewn Basswood fireplace mantel / shelf, 7.5″ deep x 82″ wide, 1800′s $145.00 |
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OLD PRIMITIVE WOODEN DOUGH BOWL Antique Hand Hewn Trencher 1800′s $145.00 |
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Hand Hewn 8′ Section(42″),Cedar Rustic Log Deck Railing $149.00 |
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Amish Hand Hewn Barn OLD OAK Wood Slab 3″x6″x49″ ONLY $150 AWSOME $150.00 |
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reclaimed hand hewn oak barn beam fireplace mantel mantle shelf A $157.50 |
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Hand Hewn 8′ Section(42″),Cedar Log Rustic Deck Railing $158.00 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough Bowl Trencher $159.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough Bowl Trencher $159.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough Bowl Trencher $159.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough Bowl Trencher $159.99 |
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LARGE Primitive OLD Hand HEWN Wooden Dough Bowl Trencher $159.99 |
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72″ Custom Hand Hewn Rustic Fireplace Mantel $169.00 |
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Conventional Height 1 Rung Ladderback Side Chair with Hand Hewn Edges & $172.72 |
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100 + Years Old Barn Beams House Logs Hand Hewn VA $175.00 |
