How Much Can You Sell Old Barn Wood For?

Lofty Ambitions: How Much Is an Old Barn Worth?

There are few things as picturesque as the weathered facade of a classic American wood barn standing on a grassy hillside. And, if the stories are to be believed, the hard-won, weathered patina of genuine barn wood can fetch lucky owners or sharp-eyed reclaimers a pretty price too.

The truth is rather more prosaic. High-quality barn wood harvested from the U.S. original virgin forests can indeed fetch high prices at auction. However, for every top-earning lumber lot that goes under the hammer, there are a dozen or more that turn out to be rotten, infested with insects, or made up from odd mixes of poor-quality woods like cottonwood or redwood.

So how much is barn wood really worth?

A single lot of top-grade East Coast old-growth barnwood, nicely weathered and properly graded, can occasionally sell at auction for $20,000 or more. That’s most certainly the top end of the range. Most barn wood, even when well salvaged and cleaned, will sell for considerably less.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the range, there are plenty of romantic-looking barns collapsing in fields all over America, because the farmer simply cannot pay anyone to take the low-quality or damaged wood away.

That’s a gap big enough to drive several wagons through. And, that means if you are hoping to make money off a handy pile of barn wood you have your eye on, you better know your stuff. Sure, there’s some gold out there in the fields, but if you’re hoping to stumble upon an undiscovered “barn find”, you need to work very hard or get very lucky — and in most cases both.

The Whole Barn Truth

Let’s take a look at some of the factors that people who know wood are looking at when they do need to assess the value of old barn wood.

Standing Timber

Perhaps the most important thing to know about barn wood is whether it is still part of a barn. High-quality barn wood is worth more if it is still standing. This allows the owner or a purchaser to have the option to preserve the original building if it is historic, and also provides a secure provenance for the wood if it is going to be salvaged.

In other words, being able to prove that a lot of barn wood was indeed once part of a barn is potentially very valuable.

Finding barn wood in place is also valuable because it allows professional reclaimers to salvage the wood properly. That means removing the wood with care to prevent splintering or other damage and preserving the full length and integrity of elements like original sawn floorboards and beams.

Species

While it takes decades of experience to be able to identify weathered wood on sight, you should look for long, close-packed arched grains and relatively few knots, typically of the yellow or white pines that were treasured by early settlers for their hardness and durability.

These solid old-growth woods weather evenly and without rotting, even in the harshest climates. Look for a silvery weathered pattern, rather than blackened or dark brown wood that has simply dried out and may be irretrievably damaged. Also, look for stable woods that have resisted warping or deep cracking despite exposure to heat and dampness.

The very best barn woods are made from the rock-solid heartwood of large, old-growth pines. This is the wood at the base and center of the trunk that grows slowly throughout the life of the tree, rather than the faster-growing concentric layers of sapwood which grow rapidly during the warm summer months and slowly during the winters.

Size

What is the largest size of lumber available in a lot and how does this compare to the typical size of wood in the collection? Thicker, wider boards are more likely to have been sawn from huge old-growth trees at a time when such trees were common. These larger pieces of lumber will command a better price, especially if they are in good condition and there are a lot of them.

Keep an eye out for thick, broad floorboards hand-sawn from huge old-growth trees. Floorboards become progressively thinner over time as the largest trees are harvested. Also, look for the distinctive circular swirls caused by early steam-powered sawmills and (if you’re very lucky) beams or posts with the distinctive scalloped patterns of hand-held tools.

Lot Size

If a barn is no longer standing then there needs to be enough wood in a load of barn wood to convincingly have comprised a barn. If a lot seems too small, it’s worth asking what happened to the rest of the barn, and why the seller felt it was necessary to split the lot.

From a use point of view, it’s also important that there is a reasonable amount of wood in the same lot for it to be sufficient to complete another project. Odd lots of barn wood are unlikely to be of high and consistent quality, and questions must be asked about its provenance.

Condition

Next, what is the actual condition of the wood? Is it indeed high-quality wood, attractively weathered wood or just dried out poor-quality wood that has simply been outdoors for far too long? Is it painted or whitewashed? Is it likely to be infested now or has been infested in the past by termites or wood-boring beetles?

It’s vital to assess whether the wood has been damaged during salvage and whether it has been thoroughly cleaned of nails, screws, staples, and other metal fasteners and fittings.

It’s also important to know how wood has been handled once it has been salvaged. Reputable reclaimers like E.T. Moore pride themselves on their ability to treat and store these valuable woods properly. This typically includes storage in dry conditions with even humidity and kiln drying to eliminate organisms like bacteria from animal feces, as well as wood-boring insects.

When you buy wood from less scrupulous sellers, there’s no guarantee that the wood has not been stored in damp conditions, washed, or infested with insects or bacteria.

Lot Size

More prosaically, if a barn is no longer standing then there needs to be enough wood in a load of barn wood to convincingly have comprised a barn. If a lot seems too small, it’s worth asking what happened to the rest of the barn, and why the seller felt it was necessary to split the lot.

From a use point of view, it’s also important that there is a reasonable amount of wood in the same lot for it to be sufficient to complete another project. Odd lots of barn wood are unlikely to be of a high and consistent quality, and questions must be asked about its provenance.

Grading

The true mark of professionally reclaimed wood is in consistent and high-quality grading. Grading is the confidence you have that the sample of wood you are shown is the same as that throughout the lot as a whole. Experienced, reputable wood suppliers have taken years to earn the trust of the market that they supply consistently graded, usable wood.

Consistent grading allows you to buy the wood you need for a project with the confidence that you will have enough lumber of a particular type to complete your project. Good grading is also only possible when the wood is responsibly reclaimed from standing barn structures to ensure the maximum yield of good, reusable lumber.

Among other things, grading will tell you something about the length of the wood, its finished surfaces, and the number of beam pockets it has.

Where to Sell Your Barn Wood

There are several ways to sell old barn wood, each with its advantages and disadvantages:

Specialty Reclaimed Wood Companies: Companies that treat, clean, refurbish, and grade wood are always on the lookout for good quality wood. Reputable companies will be more picky about the wood they buy but will pay well for good, provenanced wood.

Online Marketplaces: Many sellers prefer the convenience of platforms like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace to reach local buyers. With no restrictions on the type or amount of wood you can sell, it’s up to you and the seller to agree on a price, with little recourse if you get it wrong.

Architectural Salvage Stores: These specialist stores buy limited amounts of barn wood to sell to designers, architects, and homeowners who are looking for unique, historic-looking materials for individual projects.

Local woodworkers and DIYers:strong> You can sell wood directly to local craftsmen looking for reclaimed wood for their projects. Be careful of frittering away what could be a valuable lot of wood by selling it piecemeal to users who only need a few pieces of lumber.

Consignment: The easiest and perhaps riskiest way to dispose of what could be valuable wood is to leave it on consignment at an antique or consignment store. If the right buyer ever turns up, they’ll likely want to pay far less than what you’re asking.

How to Get Started on Selling Barn Wood

Buying and selling barn wood is hard work, and you need to have a good understanding of the product and market to make money. However, it can be a rewarding activity if you have an interest in helping to preserve a unique resource and a valuable part of America’s heritage.

Most barn wood resellers get started by scouring their area for disused barns, then offer to remove wood for a fee to the owner. This can work if you’re lucky enough to find valuable wood.

However, by taking down the barn yourself, you’re not only risking injury or contact with harmful materials. Unless you do your homework you risk destroying a valuable and possibly protected property. Remember that barn wood is most valuable if it can be reclaimed professionally from its original site.

If you own a potentially valuable barn, you’re best off approaching a reputable wood reclaiming company yourself. If you find a farmer with a standing barn that looks promising, you might do your best to negotiate with a company that can do the salvage for you safely and professionally.

Barn Wood Frequently Asked Questions

We answer your common questions about reclaiming and selling barn wood.

How Much are Barn Timbers Worth?

The value of barn timbers varies greatly depending on species, condition, size, and other factors. However, wood in a building that is standing is generally more valuable than lumber in a loose lot because it can be properly provenanced and responsibly reclaimed. Once-valuable beams that have been damaged during removal are sometimes only good for board stock.

Why is Barn Wood Valuable?

Simply put, barn wood is valuable because of the distinctive patina wood developed over 100 years of weathering. This is particularly true of wood from large old-growth trees from the original forests of the eastern U.S. from which the earliest barns were built, which is of much higher quality than wood from modern commercial plantations.

In addition, the cost of recovering, cleaning, and resawing this wood is also much higher than using modern, commercial-grade lumber for the same applications.

Are Old Barns Worth Restoring?

It depends. Does the barn provide functional use as an agricultural building, or does it have exceptional aesthetic appeal or have another reason for saving it for posterity?

Assuming it has at least one of these qualities, there are two approaches to restoration: maintaining the building so it can continue to function as a barn or transforming it into something new. This can be expensive, but building a similar structure using modern building techniques can cost 2-3 times more.

E.T. Moore: Your Responsible Barn Wood Experts

Whether you’re looking for an experienced salvage partner to help you maximize returns on a reclamation project on your land or a buyer who understands the value of quality, responsibly recovered barnwoods, E.T. Moore has you covered.

As one of the leading suppliers of authentic reclaimed woods, we bring unmatched knowledge and experience to our quest to preserve and celebrate this unique piece of America’s heritage.

We are always looking to buy quality wood from responsible reclaimers with well-provenanced stock to boost our deep on-hand inventory, and to assist owners with responsible stewardship of standing structures. Contact us today to discuss how we can work together to preserve this irreplaceable resource!

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