Reclaiming old barn wood is good for the environment and perfect for any space. Barn boards are being used more and more these days. No two boards are ever the same. The weathered quality adds a rustic feel. The wood has history, 
lots of character and lasts forever. It makes attractive accent pieces and can become useful furniture or wide-planked flooring, picture frames or interior shutters. Barn board looks right at home inside the house.
Barn boards do vary in colour. Add a touch of warmth to your floors by installing old barn boards on the space instead of traditional hardwood. Rough barn boards offer a weathered appearance. 
Many homes are enjoying feature walls where barn boards are being used vertically or hori
zontally.
I have a basement which I am presently working on and am very excited to have a feature wall in barn board. I have now sourced my board and am planning to also use a separate piece. A barn board door that will hold our TV and that will move across the wall by similar hardware that is shown. It gives the rustic and modern edge. 
Barn boards will require nails instead of adhesive to attach them to the wall, but the boards add both decor and a little additional insulation against winter or summer weather. I would suggest you only want to cover one wall or two of a room with barn boards. An entire room covered in barn board can appear too dark.
I have found that the price of barn board does vary. I have managed to source a great supplier in Barrie and have found his prices to be around $2/$3 per ft. Others I have found do charge $6/$7 per ft. It is so important to shop around. I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing different stores and locations to find the best wood for my project.
Barn boards can be used as is with just a little cleaning. Brushing and pressure washing works to clean 
the wood and then it can be allowed to dry before using. If you want to bring out more of the character of the wood while giving it a smoother surface, you can have it re-milled.
Re-milling removes the outer surface so that the original colour and grain appear again, except that much of the details of aging are still visible. Re-milled antique barnwood can be used to make beautiful furniture and flooring.
The wood has weathered nail holes, old fashioned saws, different weather conditions, cracks, and insect damage. This in my mind is what makes the wood so appealing 
because it carries the feeling of the past. I love these two examples of bedheads. They both make quite the statement.
Old barns are also sourced for their beautiful large beams and timbers that will be used in new construction. Often these are of durable hardwoods like oak, elm, maple, or chestnut. These anti
que beams are perfect as exposed beams in the construction of a new log home.
I am finding that most companies that sell old barn wood have already prepared the planks by removing nails and treating for insects in a kiln.
There are really two main kinds of boards, most old barns were sided in pine, these boards come in 12 inches widths, and are usu
ally 12 feet long or longer. Then there is fence boards which are mostly cedar and are 6 inches wide and vary in length from 6 to 8 feet long.
Weathered silver grey, faded red, green and white with normal weather wear, deep etching and colouring that only decades of sun, rain, and wind can produce. It cannot be duplicated. Gently distressed by nature, it produces a restful, rustic installation reminiscent of the old days. Some wonderful examples using barnboard with a huge impact.
If you have a future project and are considering using barn board please give me a call and I can help you with any sourcing needs.
I look forward to hearing from you…call (905) 808 2460 Please also check out my rustickdezigns.com for the items we have hand crafted from reclaimed Ontario barn board.
