Using Reclaimed Wood in Home Construction

Frugal Yankees have been doing it formint condition reflect a workmanship unequalled in
centuries-cannibalizing old buildings and incorporatingtoday's machine-tooled era, while every piece of
the material into new ones. Wood from old barnsfine hardwood salvaged from an old building
has been used to build new barns; doors andmeans one less piece needs to be harvested
windows have been taken out of demolishedfrom old-growth forests.
homes and recycled. Even once luxurious resortContractors are finding that incorporating salvaged
hotels in upstate New Hampshire and other Newwood and other building materials into the homes
England states, long closed, have been torn down,they construct is actually a good business move;
the material finding its way into residential homesmany environmentally conscious prospective
all over the Northeast.homeowners who decide to build rather than buy
What is different is that now architects anda home look for help from professionals willing to
interior designers are purposely incorporatingconsider working recycled materials into their
vintage building materials into their plans. Barnplans.
boards become wide plank flooring, intricatelyWith awareness about environmental concerns
carved mantels add a focal point in the rooms ofand possible solutions rising among the public, the
new homes, and architecturally interesting crownuse of building materials recycled from demolished
molding and windows are recycled into newstructures will continue to be an accepted, and
construction.possibly preferred, practice for a long time into
The practice makes sense both aesthetically andthe future.
environmentally. Traditional architectural details in