Value of old barn lumber

[fest3er]

Does anyone know the value of old barn lumber? My uncle's got a barn he is prepared to let rot and collapse. But I think the lumber in it should be worth *something* to someone.

Fest3er

 

[Shovelhead]

Send Norm Abram an E-Mail.

"New Yankee Workshop" at http://www.newyankee.com/

Maybe he'll use it to build something on the show.

 

[lmills]

Occasionally you will come across a person looking for the extra wide barn lumber. The kind that you can't buy unless you have it special milled. You might be able to sell that for a decent price if they really want it. I have seen an add in our local paper for a company that will tear down and haul away your old barn, if they get the lumber. Obviously they must be selling it. I just don't know what it would be worth.

 

[LSMITH]

If you can't find any takers on the lumber you can talk to your local volunteer firefighters. Most relish the chance to burn a building down and can get it done safely, sometimes they will clean up any mess that is left over as well. They burn in return for live training opportunities, not cause they are some sort of closet pyromaniacs (or so they say ).

 

[WDaniels]

fest3er,

I just read an article in a magazine last week that stated old barn or outside building lumber that is aged is in demand for special projects by different carpenters. Don't know how to get a hold of those who want it though. In any case, it doesn't cost to let the building stand until you can find someone who wants it. Just a thought.

WD

 

[Fireman Dave]

Originally posted by LSMITH

They burn in return for live training opportunities, not cause they are some sort of closet pyromaniacs (or so they say ).

Speak for yourself, Howard.

 

[Will24]

There is a guy in a local industrial park around here that makes a living just off of old timber from barns, not sure on a value, but there is definitely some!

 

[ACoyle]

Why not put it up on e-Bay? That should tell you the value. I would expect that it is worth something. I have seen it used in interior decorating. It might be worth you taking it down and storing or processing it.



http://www.sticktrade.com/board/?topic=topic12



http://www.englishcottagegardens.com/article.html



http://userdata.acd.net/ciolek.david/articles/latimes.htm



http://www.dancingrabbit.org/newsletter/Newsletter797_Barn.html



Just a few I did a google search (www.google.com) with the phrase "Who wants old barn lumber".



Andy

 

[Champane Flight]

Once upon a time.

Back in the days of poor, a friend and I were tearing down old barns for the lumber. This is back in the seventies, it was going for $2. 50 to $4. 00 a board foot. It was real popular in those days and we had no problem finding buyers for the 1x s . The heavy stuff sold a little harder. I don't know what the market is like now. Check some of the contrators at new home sites in your area. We got to be known and they would call us. We finally ran out of old barns in the area and had to start traveling, too much overhead.



It was hard work, but fun in a way. We used to find old newspapers, lamps, and other interesting/profitable items in some of the old barns.

 

[Kernel]

I would say keep the beems and as much of the frame as possible. Most barns were/are used for storing hay and straw and holes in the roof and the such were constantly fixed to keep the hay from getting damp, getting moldy, and starting fires, so the inner most lumber alot of times is rot free. Back home people would disassemble barns and put them back up somewhere else with new barn siding. You just can't find that kind of quality lumber anymore. We will save that discussion for later.





Scott

 

[Fireman]

It's worth $$$$

Old lumber is still in demand, and if you don't want to disassemble the barn and clean the lumber there are people that will buy the barn and disassemble it themselves. You may have to get crafty to find these folks, but they are out there.



Fireman

 

[Shovelhead]

Results of a Yahoo search for "Old Barn Lumber"



http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?p="old+barn+lumber"

 

[fbaurley]

Old weathered siding, is worth way more, than new lumber. If it still as a red paint hint to it it seems to be in more demand. I have seen people,advertise it for up to $2. 50 a board foot, but it then I have seen large piles of it burnt. It just depends if you can find a buyer.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

6 years ago we built a 26,000 square foot , $21,500,000. 00 dream mansion on 72 acres in brewster Ny, and the great room within the main living area there was an old post and beam barn frame reconstructed within the great room itself. The beams and lumber (Along with labor ... . a man by the name Richard Babcott HAND TOOLED it all together for a totaled $280,000)





With that in mind ... ... ..... PLENTY

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

BTW heres a photo from the great room off an affiliate's site!

http://www.rumford.com/Runamuck.html

 

[Morphious]

I've torn down old barns in the past for thier lumber and tin roofs... . god I mis getting to build things with lumber that is exactly 2" x 4" and 2" x 6" and 4" x 6"..... none of this minimalist warped crap the lumber companies produce now.



Morph.

 

[dflack]

"value" of barn lumber

I have a hobby business selling timber. I used to deal in recycled lumber but the problem is quality and quantity. People willing to pay $$ want quality, specific dimensions, and enough to have a "matching" project. Disassembling and restoring a timberframe is MORE expensive than building new -- even if the lumber is nearly free! Its a ton of work to be in this business. Unless you have the ability to tear down the barn and salvage, grade and market what is not twisted, rotted, unappealing or ungradeable, let someone else do it. Even better if you can find someone in your area to inspect, evaluate and/or buy the barn for this purpose. Please note: this is VERY VERY DANGEROUS work.

I got into this business because I'm a "woodaholic"; you are welcome to email me at -- email address removed -- and if you have some pictures and dimensions of the structure I'd be happy to provide the "armchair advice" **do you know what species of lumber the timbers are?

 

[Kernel]

Dangerous is right, if the lumber ain't any count, hook a dozer up to it pull it down and make fire wood out of it. Just make sure you got a long enough cable and an easy exit .





Scott