Reclaimed Lumber.......

Mills314

Hey guys, anyone here have any experience with reclaimed barn lumber?

I have a line on a great deal of it and am considering using it to build false beams for a coffered ceiling look.

The plan is to add crown molding to the false beams and set 4 x 4 drywall panels on the crown to act as a drop ceiling.

What kind of prep do I need to be prepared for? I am assuming that I will need to run them along a table saw to ensure square.......but aside from that, I have no clue.

Also, anyone have any other ideas about how reclaimed barn lumber can be used in the home? I think it will look great regardless of what I do with it.

Thanks!

oh'mike

I've used some to make clocks---I like to belt sand it until all paint is gone--then soak it with wipe on poly--The color will surprise you---often a red/black---

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kwikfishron

Reclaimed lumber can range from absolutely beautiful to absolute junk. Assuming what you have is not rotten, relatively straight and not twisted you certainty could use it to create your false beams.

Drywall cannot span 4’ unsupported. If you want to drop the ceiling then frame in ceiling, drywall that and then add the crown.

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Mills314

What if I put some backing on the drywall?

The plan was to add a backing to the crown as well, then secure the crown to the backing. Something like a grid pattern is what I am looking for.

I am going to look at the lumber tomorrow. I will be able to get more than enough so hopefully its in good shape.

Mills314

Actually I guess I could just secure 1/4" drywall to 1/4" plywood and be done with it.

Gymschu

Just check for and remove nails before running it through your planer.......I know you know that.......just thought I'd throw a reminder out there!

gma2rjc

I saw a show a few weeks ago where a couple of guys built a built-in bar in a living room, using old barn wood. They also made cabinet doors for the bar out of the same wood.

If you have enough left over, you could easily make picture frames.

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kwikfishron

If you’re going for the droopy saggy look then go for it.

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Mills314

Any suggestions on alternatives?

Needs to be removable.

mae-ling

Instead of drywall use 3/4" good one side plywood and paint it. Birch paints nicely.

cibula11

I would do this (or use 3/4" MDF), except it might get pricey depending on how much you have to do. Think about how a drop ceiling with ceiling tiles is made...they have the track the has a lip where the tile sits.....you could recreate that with wood, giving you access to the ceiling and making it removeable.

As far as using reclaimed lumber, the big things to consider are:

moisture: has the wood been outside or is it dried out (I picked up some 100 yr old doug. fir from a barn for a table, but it had been sitting outside in the rain for a couple of days...didn't do anything with it for about 3 weeks.

nails: if you are needing to rip or cut pieces, be sure to pull all nail first. I had something like 20 nails in one 8 ft piece and still cut through a couple by accident.

bugs: hopefully there are no termites or carpenter ants in them, but you might want to inspect this before you put them in your house.

Mills314

Thats kind of the idea I started with. Hence the crown molding, but your saying actually create a lip with the lumber itself.

I just don't want to get too crazy with this, it needs to be simple.......I am not looking for something out of a mansion, just a rustic bar accent look.

rusty baker

People who make items for craft fairs love barn wood. It brings a good price.

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cibula11

If the crown molding way gives you enough "removability" then go with that. I was just giving you an option I had considered when doing something similar.

Mills314

Thanks for the .02 in regards to the plan.

I may just end up doing a mock up of the potential patterns and then decide.

What I would really love to do is have the beams all running the same direction, and find a way to have removable panels that way, however that is going to be a tall order for certain sections as I need to find something that can be used as a paneling that is 14' in length. Thats where the grid pattern layout came from.