Rustic wood ceiling by Whole Log Lumber
Barnwood ceiling by Stout Carpentry
Open beam ceiling by Vintage Timberworks
‘Naily grade’ wood by Whole Log Lumber
Recycled wood or reclaimed wood ceilings add warmth and character to a room. Each ceiling is unique, and the final result often looks better than new wood. Not only can you save a lot of money if you gather your own salvaged wood and build the ceiling yourself (which isn’t particularly difficult), no new trees have to be cut down. This means recycled wood ceilings are eco-friendly, especially when the wood is locally sourced. Reclaimed/recycled wood ceilings can last almost indefinitely and don’t have to be painted. Rustic wood ceilings are often made with old wood timbers (beams and joists) and planks of old recycled lumber. You can combine rustic wood planks with box beams for special effect.
A wide range of woods can be used – barnwood or barn boards, rough sawn pine, beetle kill pine, naily wood, unique hand-hewn antique woods, old growth wood (stronger and typically more beautiful and durable than new), remilled wood, knotty wood, pallet wood, beadboard, tongue and groove, recycled trim. You can mill almost any wood for ceilings if you have a bandsaw mill (blow downs, wood from tree trimmers, etc.). For more wood ideas, check out our blog post on Low Cost Wood for DIY Homebuilders.
Image source: Whole Log Lumber
Image source: Stout Carpentry
Image source: Vintage Timberworks
When I was 19 and vacationing in Colorado, I got a tour of a nice cabin made almost entirely of reclaimed wood. It was stunning visually and made a pretty big impression on me. I had no idea you could build a house almost for free with salvaged wood. They were successful business owners and could have easily afforded new wood, but they much preferred the rustic natural look. There really is no comparison. Thinking about it now, I realize this was one of those experiences that helped set me on the path to learning about sustainable building. And as a side note, think how much money the owners must have saved over the decades. It’s mind boggling. Are there any financial guru types who could punch this into a spreadsheet for a future blog post?
Recycled wood is wonderful if you can get it. I have found that generally speaking the older developed and affluent areas are the best resources. House remodels can be gold mines. Houses built before the 60s have old growth wood which is hard to come by today. The problem is that recycling old lumber in many areas especially in the west is almost none existent. Usually contractors when dismantling a building for remodel or replacement want to use the quickest and cheapest methods around. That means materials that might other wise be salvageable are destroyed. The best approach is to search older residential areas for remodels and talk to the general contractor. Let him know your interested in certain items and offer to purchase them. Many times the contractor will give you some for free and offer the other at a minimal price. It saves him disposal fees.
One problem with using recycled material is building codes. Structural lumber is graded and building departments can be picky about beams that do not have grade stamps. The same goes for bathroom fixtures and windows. Older windows do not meet energy requirements for new construction. Old toilets and faucets do not conserve water. There is also a lead hazard with some older faucets and painted materials.
Quality of wood issues. Houses built in the last 40 years used s4s green lumber. In the west it was usually Douglas Fir. For structural non exposed areas it is more then adequate. But it doesn’t take stains well and because it was used green, dried unevenly. The uneven drying causes cracks, splits and warping. Of concern too is the possibility of dry rot and mold. During the building boom of the late 60s and 70s, lumber would be shipped out to the job site so wet, that water would spurt from the lumber when driving a nail. We used to joke that if we stuck a 2×4 in the ground it would probably grow.