Attachments_2014915The reasons century old barns are taken down vary, sometimes the land owner needs to repurpose the site for another kind of structure, depending on what the land is being used for presently. Often barns that were built over a hundred years ago were definitely built to last but over the years especially ones that are left empty and unused for many years can deteriorate and become dangerous and unsafe, and these structures are not able to be saved and need to come down before someone is hurt or injured.
Recently Shane and his crew took down a barn that was built around the 1870’s but this barn is not being just taken down it was meticulously tagged and logged so that the structure can be loaded onto trailers and be shipped to Waco, Texas.
Upon arrival it will be laid out and the process of reassembly will begin, each log will be put back together somewhat like a puzzle and this particular structure will then be used as someone’s home. What a wonderful journey for a structure built hundreds of years ago to not meet its end but continue its journey and become a family home.
S & J Barn Demolition not only repurposed century old wooden structures but they also use them to repair parts of a building that may have rotted away over the years can be taken out and replaced making it again useful and strong.
Old wood rookie
Summer has arrived….
Hello Antique Wood Aficionado’s,
With the nice weather finally arriving in Ontario, Shane and his crew have been busy travelling to some remote locations and working on some very interesting Century old Buildings.
Some of the areas they have been working in over the past month are The Ottawa Valley where they repurposed a century old log cabin, and the area of Bancroft including Barry’s Bay, Killaloe and Pembroke.
These areas are rich with Century Old Barns and log cabins, the craftsmanship that went into these buildings is fascinating to see, a hand hewn beam is a thing of beauty in itself.
Shane has been doing this so long, when he is in an area dismantling barns he can recognize certain people’s workmanship in the barns that they helped build.
Last week while in Pembroke, the crew started disassembling a turn of the century log home (pictures attached) it is being tagged for reassembly so it can be repurposed.
I have been wondering lately what it is about barns that have captured so many hearts.
Artists paint them, photographers shoot them, and craftsmen rebuild them.
I think it’s their image that represents a much simpler time and way of life, a time when neighbours were friends as close as family and everyone helped their neighbour whether it was harvesting crops making jam or raising a barn, life was just that simple.
Old Wood Rookie
Old Wood Rookie
Hello Antique Lumber Aficionados!
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is “OLD WOOD Rookie” and I am a mother of three young children with a background in office management and childcare. My passions are baking and learning new things.
Wondering what that has to do with Antique Lumber? Not a thing, it’s all new to me, and so begins my first blog and your invitation to join me weekly in my inauguration to all things barn and old wood.
Like most people, when I see a piece of furniture built from salvaged barn boards or a mantel made out of a barn beam, I am always captivated by its raw beauty.
Every time I drive by an old barn standing in a field, my mind wonders to think how long it’s been there? was it built by hand – or “hand-hewn” as they are referred to? , is it still functioning as a barn?
And while I appreciate the character and history of an old barn -none of this prepared me for the journey I am taking with Julie & Shane Asselin and Canadian Antique Lumber.
I was awe struck the first time I watched a video a barn being dropped (please visit the PROCESS page of our website to watch for yourself!!) , how with the push of one beam the entire building collapses to the ground in a split second, it’s truly amazing. Then piece by piece, the wood is salvaged and loaded onto trailers – ready to start a new journey and be enjoyed in a new purpose.
Over the next few months I am going to keep you updated on the current events of Canadian Antique Lumber; where we are working and all the interesting barns, pioneer log cabins and old buildings we are salvaging.
I welcome you to please feel free to add your comments and pictures of barns you see in your travels and maybe even the ones you grew up working in. Or like myself, your great memories as a kid playing in your cousin’s barn loft and jumping into the bales of hay.
I am happy to have you join me on this new and exciting adventure in the world of antique wood and beautiful old barns.
I look forward to hearing and seeing your “barn” stories and photos.
(please send them to canadianantiquelumber@rogers.com)
Thank you for taking the time to join us,
Old Wood Rookie
Antique Lumber is Everywhere!
Raving about and recommending the use of beautiful reclaimed antique lumber is easy. Antique lumber enhances every setting. It is incredibly versatile, authentic, and adapts perfectly to all projects. The product speaks for itself. But as many voices add credence to any saying, here is also what others have to say!
Over the past few months, (which originally started germinating last year) when we first began the lengthy process of compiling photos and info for our “New and Improved – BRING ANTIQUE LUMBER TO THE MASSES WHO DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON !!” web site, I have been perusing and sticking little green page markers to every decorating, house and home magazine and catalogue which found its way into my mail-box. So many so, I might add, that I dispatch my daughter daily to the retrieve the post with a back-pack, so as not to strain her little frame !
Green stickers “festoon” the edges or every book! Antique Lumber is everywhere ! here are a few links to articles that I particularly like. Some are from a few months back, because as I mentioned – this has been a long time in the creating.
Without further ado I am standing up in my office chair cheering and clapping (an incredibly stupid and dangerous move as it is on castors) for the amazing job builder Cole Leibel of Big East Construction and designer Kristylynn Banman of KL Interior Design did on a home in Innisfil, Ontario, as featured Our Homes Fall 2011. The use of reclaimed grey barn board on the ceiling looks amazing and complements the stone walls, furnishing, windows and rustic fireplace mantle perfectly. I applaud that designer was not overly fussy with keeping the grey board on the ceiling perfectly matching. Each piece of board lends character to the space rather then blending into each other. (And in the reclaimed barn wood world having a monotone look with grey board is hard to achieve as normally only one side of the barn matches within itself, each of the four sides differ due to sun and wind exposure.) The home incorporated lots of texture and natural elements. A neutral palette creates a very relaxed but polished look. A perfect blend of modern and rustic. Just wish they would have used true authentic reclaimed barn beams as accents on the ceiling and not boxed beams with board.
Links:http://www.ourhomesmagazine.com/barrie/issue/?ID=153
http://bigeastconstruction.com
http://klinteriordesign
Next, in contrast to the home in Innsifil is a beautifully raw and rustic 1830’s home in New York’s Catskill Mountains owned by Torontonians Ray Camano and Don Howell, as featured in Canadian House & Home October 2012.
The decorating of this house looks like it was collected over decades of choosing just the right pieces, that while they do not match individually come together to create a vision of welcome, and rustic charm.
{Looks however can be incredibly deceiving…and hallelujah for that!! Imagine what the school yard duty teacher would think if she knew what I really had on underneath my long winter coat and high clunky boots when I drop off my girls in the morning. A visual hint – picture the t-shirt that you eventually discard to dust your furniture with… my nightgown has seen better days.}
It is therefore interesting to learn in the article that the semblance of a heirloom filled utilitarian home is just that, a well planned decorating scheme illusion – in actuality every single detail was carefully selected and planned. That underneath the unassuming cabin charm is a fully equipped modern day home. Rather then bringing the new to the old – they carefully decorated to the most minute detail and kept the historic charm. Kitchen cabinets are built from reclaimed barn brown board and the floors are authentic wherever was possible.
Links:http://magazinescanada.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416234943&o=int&prev=si
In both of these homes antique lumber works and works well. It lends itself in style, charm and allure to both a very modern and contemporary home and shines thru to its roots in a historic 1830’s cabin!