Reclaimed barn wood beams make a great addition to any interior or exterior project. The old barn beams give a vintage wood look to any interior, whether they’re featured as ceiling beams with wide plank ceiling paneling for a fully rustic design or used as accents in a modern kitchen. Our rustic wood beams also have typical markings common for reclaimed barn wood, such as nail holes, saw marks, and mortise pockets, plus a natural patina created from years of exposure to the elements. And each beam is recycled from old growth timber, meaning it has worn-in durability. We offer a variety of hardwood beams obtained from turn-of-the-century structures. These include rough sawn beams, which have a refined rustic appeal and include teeth marks from the saw blade as the antique wood was first milled. Our reclaimed hand hewn barn beams retain the original axe marks left behind by the artisan who created them by hand, while the re-sawn wood beams provide a modern, clean face from our sawmill. Last but not least, the faux box beams provide the look and feel of solid wood beams while at the same time being much lighter, requiring less structural support for installation. Regardless of your choice, these antique wood beams can be used for various projects, including ceiling beams, fireplace mantels, and faux support beams. If you have any questions about our reclaimed barn wood beams, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Wood Beams FAQ
You have questions, we have the answers. Each barn wood beam project is unique and requires special attention to detail as well as in depth knowledge of everything from product specification to how it gets delivered. Let us help you navigate the choices and understand what to expect when it comes to realizing your vision.
To see the full FAQ section including questions about Elmwood as well as ordering and shipping questions click here.
What is kiln drying and why is it important for reclaimed wood beams?
Kiln drying is an important step in our process that stabilizes the reclaimed wood’s moisture content and eliminates any type of bug or mold that could otherwise be present in the reclaimed lumber. The end result is a clean, dry quality reclaimed timber that is ready for your project.
Are reclaimed wood beams structural? How much weight can solid beams hold?
While many of our reclaimed wood beams have held heavy structural loads for many years, we do not grade our beams for structural purposes. This is not to say that the reclaimed timber will not hold a structural load, we simply are not qualified to certify them for structural purposes. Most of our customers use the barn wood beams we provide for decorative use and those that do need them for structural uses may need a third party grader to certify them.
How to clean wood beams?
At Elmwood, we take extra steps to provide our customers with clean reclaimed barn beams that are suitable for interior use. First, the solid beams have all the metals removed and then get washed by hand with a pressure washer to remove any dirt and debris. The last step is a cycle in our kiln that will heat and dry the wood and eliminate any chance of mold and insects being present in the wood.
How to stain wood beams?
We recommend using a tinted wax to achieve darker color tones on our reclaimed wood beams. We hand sand each side to allow for a smooth application of tinted wax that is buffed in and results in a matte finish with a soft even luster.
Where to buy reclaimed wood beams?
We have a vast inventory of high quality reclaimed wood beams and we can custom cut, pack and ship them directly to your job site. This allows our clients to get exactly what they need to achieve the vision of their projects, no matter where they are located.
I need beams that are flat on one side to install as ceiling beams…
Our answer to this common need is simple, we can saw the beam on one side with our 50′ long beam saw. Sawing on one side will give the beam a square and flat side to mount to the ceiling while retaining the other 3 sides of the beam’s natural rustic character.
Will my solid reclaimed wood beams contain mortise pockets?
While there are a few reclaimed wood beams that are mortise free, it’s rare. Due to the construction methods used in early buildings mortise pockets were a structural part of the beams, connecting one beam to another to create a frame. To sum it up, the majority of our reclaimed wood beams will contain mortise pockets that add to the rustic look and authenticity.
What is a Faux Wood Beam?
We offer a hollow beam made from sections of reclaimed lumber. Elmwood offers this unique solution with a locking miter joint when projects require lightweight beams or need to wrap an existing structural beam. The faux beams are flat packed and assembled on site using our custom locking profile.
How far can wood beams span?
Our reclaimed faux box beams make the perfect choice when spanning long gaps. The beams are hollow inside and can be used to wrap glulam support beams or metal beams while creating the illusion of a reclaimed solid wood beam.
Is there a range of texture on reclaimed wood beams?
The texture on our rough sawn reclaimed beams ranges from original rustic to original planed smooth and can often be a mixture. Majority of the edges will have visible nail holes from the original use. Antique hand hewn beam texture can range from heavy to light hewing as this process was done by hand and dependent on the craftsman who originally made the beam over a century ago.
What wood species are available for reclaimed wood beams?
Reclaimed barn beams come from a variety of wood species, such as douglas fir, heart pine, white oak, and red oak. Due to the nature of the product, customers are not able to choose the wood species.