What is reclaimed wood?

Reclaimed wood is lumber sourced from barns and old buildings that is then reused for other purposes such as furniture. The majority of reclaimed lumber originally came from old-growth forests. During the 1800s, American forests had large quantities of strong trees at record-breaking heights. Builders harvested them for many different types of structures that now lie abandoned and derelict. Today, the remains of these wooden buildings can be reclaimed to make furniture.

In our previous post, we talked about Ghostwood. We coined the term “Ghostwood” in the late nineties as a nod to the fact that our shop is in Jerome Arizona which is one of the more famous Ghost Towns in the west. In its heyday, Jerome was the World’s leading copper producer and had a population of over 15,000 people. By the mid-fifties, the mines were all but shut down and the population had almost entirely evacuated leaving behind a handful of hardy souls who scraped by in any manner they could.  In the late sixties and seventies, groups of young “hippies” had found Jerome which was an ideal spot to unplug from the World. The old Jeromans and the new hippies slowly revitalized the dying town into a tourist destination that is now World renowned.

Why do we use it?

Reclaimed wood is a sustainable, environmentally friendly option that has years of history behind it. At Western Heritage Furniture, we strive to preserve our natural resources. By making use of historical lumber, we eliminate the need to cut down additional trees. 

Compared to freshly cut wood, reclaimed wood is sturdier and often has a higher quality. Old-growth trees develop heartwood, which makes their lumber harder and more resistant to rotting. 

Reclaimed wood also makes great furniture because of its unique textures and colors. Lumber reclaimed from old barns and buildings that are 100 to 200 years old has marks and cracks that give it more personality and character. You can feel the experiences that the wood has been through in its grooves and talk about its history with your guests.

Reclaimed Wood Furniture in Arizona

When you buy reclaimed wood furniture from Western Heritage Furniture, you know that you’re getting a sustainable product that honors our country’s history. We grade and sort each piece of wood we use to ensure it meets our highest standards, is structurally sound and durable. We believe that the process of turning reclaimed wood into furniture is an art—our handcrafted furniture is bench made, which means that each piece is made by one craftsman. 

While this method may take longer than a production line, our furniture has the added value of craftsmanship and sustainability, with a story behind each piece. If you have questions about our reclaimed lumber, our friendly staff would love to share more information and help you select your next piece of furniture. Contact us at 800-616-1424 or send us a message today.

Photo by Cristina Gottardi

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