Reclaimed, Faux finished and White Oak Timbers.

Ryan Wholesale has solid sources for reclaimed timber, but the quality of the reclaimed timber available today is not what it was even five years ago. In the same time period, prices have at least tripled for good quality reclaimed material, making faux finished timber an attractive alternative to true reclaimed.

• What does a reclaimed timber cost? Roughly $15.00 per board foot is a good rule of thumb for the cost of quality reclaimed timber. (a “board foot” is equal to a 1” thick by 12” wide by 12” long board – for example a 4x12 would have 4 board feet per lineal foot, or in this case a 4x12 reclaimed timber would cost $60.00 per lineal foot).  

If you want to purchase actual reclaimed timber, here are the things you should make sure your supplier is providing and adhering to.

• Check references – the supplier should have references available to give you confidence in your purchase. 
•  Heat Treating the timber for insect infestation 

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  this has become an important part of guaranteeing your timbers are free of pests. Pests such as borer beetle larvae can infect a timber any time the moisture content of the timber is optimal for the insect. Borer eggs can lay dormant in the timber for more than 30 years before hatching and eating their way out of the timber and into your home.
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  If the timber has been stored in an area where temperatures remain well below freezing for at least 30 consecutive days, heat treating is not as important, but still recommended.

Keep in mind that true reclaimed timber can have rotted areas that may not be visible to external inspections – no supplier will warrant this issue or whether the timber is free of pests unless they have performed the heat treating process.

Waste Factor

When getting your material list together, realize that true reclaimed timber will not be available in the exact sizes and lengths you may require, so some pieces you receive and purchase will be longer than you need. Also realize that there may be some pieces that you choose not to use due to color (patina) or surface appearance. Reclaimed timber suppliers do not warranty any of these issues, so in this case all additional costs will fall to the end user. It’s always best to factor in at least 40% extra cost / material to cover these potential additional costs when considering reclaimed timber.

Faux Finished Timbers

Faux finished (distressed) surfaced timber has become a better option for many people seeking a reclaimed appearance. This option will require a good painter to faux finish the timber to give it an old appearing patina and while this adds cost to the price of the finished product, it eliminates the risks of insect infestation, rotten timbers and monetary losses due to having to accept over-sized pieces.

White Oak Timbers

Ryan Wholesale sources high quality White Oak timbers in sizes up to 12” x 16” and 30’ long. Where the timber is sourced is an important factor in choosing your white oak timber supplier. We typically source our white oak timber from regions near the Appalachian Mountains – from Ohio to New York. White Oak Timber from this region tends to have less “mineral stain” (discoloration), and the trees grow in sizes that allow for larger, straighter pieces.

• Benefits of White Oak Timber

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  white color – this allows the timber to be stained virtually any color. Some timber species have inherent colors that don’t work well with white finishes.
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  Rot resistance – white oak has very good resistance to rot (see the USDA Forest Service Study on species longevity in our FAQ section).
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  Strength – white oak is a very strong species and can be used in structural applications

• Drawbacks of White Oak Timber

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  weight – white oak is very heavy and weighs about 3x what other structural species weigh (such as Douglas Fir)
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  stability – white oak timbers are not very stable, meaning they will split and twist over time as they dry (kiln drying of solid oak timbers is not available). This means that as the timbers dry in the structure over a period of years, they can still move and twist as they dry – it is almost impossible to control this movement, so expect this to occur over time.

Ryan Wholesale takes pride in offering only the finest reclaimed and faux finished timbers available. Call or email us for more information.