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Submit a Site   Wisconsin Articles Timber Frame Construction - The Reclaimed Barn Timber frame construction has many different styles to keep in mind when designing the house or cabin you have always wanted. In this article I am only going to look at using lumber that is reclaimed from old farm structures built decades, even centuries, ago. This especially includes the great American barn. The lumber used in these buildings has stood the test of time and is dry and stable: perfect for a timber frame. When designing your home, the first consideration is whether you prefer a rustic feel or a more refined feel. If rustic is your style reclaiming lumber from an old barn is your first step. There are many businesses throughout the country that will do this for you. They will disassemble the barn and tag each timber to ensure an orderly raising of the barn later on. You may also know someone that knows of a barn no longer in use. Locating the lumber for your timber frame project will provide you with a hundred tales about your home that you will tell everyone that visits. If you are fortunate enough you will find a rustic, fully intact barn for your new timber frame. If you want to save some money or want to create your own timber frame design then reclaiming from multiple barns may be more your style. When these barns were built the farmer used whatever trees were nearby. Different areas of the country offer different salvage opportunities. For example, a barn from northern Wisconsin may be completely built of pine timbers, while a barn from southeast Ohio may have a frame built of chestnut and white oak. Beyond geographical differences in species, there are differences in the way the lumber ages and develops it's own unique character. Using various species can produce some very nice and interesting effects in your timber frame. Besides the appearance, it is usually necessary to reclaim several barns just to provide enough wood for your home or cabin. All parts of the barn can be incorporated. The siding is great for inside walls and ceilings. The beams can be resawn to make flooring or used as mantels. Just about any type of furniture can be created from the salvaged lumber and there are likely to be numerous farm artifacts that the creative person will find some use for. If using reclaimed barns for your timber frame check back for updated articles on this subject including links to barn wood sites and working through some of the challenges involved with these old barns. If you are looking for something more modern I will be addressing this as well. Above all keep dreaming of your timber frame home. >> Go back to Article page Home    About Us    Submit a Site    Link to Us    Contact Us    Disclaimer   Privacy Policy    Blog Information contained herein is deemed accurate and correct, but no warranty is implied or given. © Copyright GreatWisconsin.com, Inc., 2004. All rights reserved. GreatWisconsin.com covers related resource to Wisconsin such as traveling, shopping, business, news, financial, art, education, reat estate and more.