Architects and designers have creatively developed visual schemes that take advantage of reclaimed materials’ unique, aged character not found in new lumber products. Reclaimed lumber can be found in a broad spectrum of products including flooring, wall cladding, counter and table tops, and a limitless array of furniture and fixtures. The interesting visual character in reclaimed lumber is diverse, and mother nature has a major role in creating the features designers find irresistible. From weathered, painted siding to old-growth, hand-hewn beams, to the staining of wood barrel staves which once pickled cucumbers are just some of the new recipes for creative restaurant interiors.

The process starts with the deconstruction of an old wood-frame structure. Building components like flooring, beams, posts, and siding are all highly desirable reclaim elements. The salvaged materials are then scanned for metal content and then put through the painstaking process of removing the metallic fasteners and architectural hardware. The next step is kiln drying to reduce the moisture content to an acceptable range for commercial millwork and rid the material of any unwanted residents who have called this material their home.

Reclaimed lumber is not for the faint of heart. It often comes at two to three times the cost of new material because of its surge in popularity. With increased demand comes increased prices. The process yields a product that carries a high cost driven by the significant labor required to produce it. In addition, a buyer can’t always know for sure what chemicals the reclaimed wood might carry or even be certain of its species.

Over the past two years, Yoder Lumber’s millwork division has worked to develop a new material capable of answering the demand for the reclaimed lumber look. Yoder has developed circular sawn and brushed milling techniques along with custom stain and finish options that can be modified to any desired look. Now under its new banner, Yoder Lumber’s Architectural Wood Solutions Division can deliver new materials, consistent in availability, specification, and finish to meet a great number of reclaimed lumber requirements at a competitive price.