Consider Using Barn Wood
By Katie Shaffer

Reclaimed lumber is not a new idea in building, but it's definitely a trend that is gaining momentum in Truckee. Salvaged barn wood is widely used in homes that are currently being built in Lahontan. Now local building contractors in other Truckee subdivisions are starting to realize that reclaimed lumber is not a feature that only the high-end builder can include. Imagine your new home finished with wide plank, reclaimed hard wood flooring, or cabinets built out of re-milled lumber pulled from a 100 year old barn. Another way to use barn wood in a new home is to install hand hewn beams which appear to be supporting the ceiling, but which are actually skinned beams wrapped around the structural beams. Installing a barn wood mantle, using re-sawn barn wood for cabinets, or using barn wood as exterior siding are other ways you might choose to incorporate the rustic look into the building of your new home. Why would you consider using old wood in a new home?
Because old barn wood, which is seasoned and cured by time and nature, is truly worthy of restoration. When you incorporate antique hardwood flooring or hewn beams into a new home, it¹s something you can feel good about because you are recycling nature¹s resources for future generations to enjoy. The old growth forests which were used to build barns between about 1850 and 1920, and some of the large hardwood trees that were cut down back then, don't exist in nature anymore. For the builder of a brand new home, or for restoration and renovation enthusiasts, our reclaimed lumber creates a wonderful, aged look. In addition to our existing inventory, we have a number of barns in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania and Ohio, waiting in the wings to come down. Browse through any Pottery Barn or Sundance catalog, and you¹ll notice weathered, distressed furniture. You may also notice barn wood used as interior trim that frames a window, or a great looking fireplace mantle made out of rustic barn wood.
Plan to stop by the Barnwood Brokers exhibit in the hallway during the Truckee Home & Building Show, and check out our many samples of hard wood flooring. We have ready-made samples of hickory, eastern white pine, beech, red oak, cherry, and gum flooring which will make incredible looking floors in someone¹s home locally! We also have several pieces of rustic furniture on display created from our inventory of gray barn wood siding that is washed with a faint coat of red, lead-free paint. This gray siding, made from old growth poplar, may inspire you to envision the possibility of rustic looking cabinets created for your mountain home. We also have pictures which showcase what local builders are doing with our reclaimed barn wood. Catch the barn wood fever, and come check it out!

John Shaffer, Dave Baker, and Ron Decker, owners of Barnwood Brokers, will be on hand to answer your questions at the Truckee Home & Building Show, on Saturday and Sunday, over Memorial Day weekend at the Truckee High School. Or visit their website at www.barnwoodbrokers.com Call them at (530) 582-8551 for more information.