Reclaimed wood paneling has really become popular in recent years. We take pride in providing authentic, high-quality paneling to consumers across the world. But what goes into turning siding boards from a barn or warehouse or granary, for example, into beautiful wall and ceiling panel? Below we break down the process and what it means for your project.

Let’s start with the color of the wood. Some boards are brown, some are grey. Some are dark brown, some are lighter, some are really grey, almost black, some almost blue. Why is that? The answer isn’t entirely simple, but for our purposes here, we will just say that it depends on the species of the wood, and where the wood has spent its life. For example, an oak or poplar board installed on the outside of a structure will turn shades of grey or blue. But the backside of the board will remain brown. This is because rainwater, sunshine, wind/dust hitting the outside created a natural grey patina. However, let’s say it was a pine or hemlock board. The outside facing portion of the board will remain brown in some areas and may turn black in others. But the inside will remain a nice rich brown tone. The species of the wood ultimately dictates the color.

Another variable we have to consider is thickness. While many siding boards were ¾ or 1 inch thick and straight edged, others could be tongue and grooved or even beaded and may only be ½ inch thick or slightly over. Roofing board may be ¾ or 1 inch thick but can vary depending on what the underlying structure consisted of.

The process of turning the boards into a ready to install product goes something like this: Boards are carefully removed from the structure to create the largest yield possible. The boards are de-nailed and cut to square ends. The boards are then sorted by species/color and thickness. Depending on the condition and location the material will then be kiln dried. After a few weeks in the oven they are then sent through a saw multiple times to achieve standard widths. Next, ripped material is then sent through a horizontal bandsaw that allows us to essentially slice the boards to a desired thickness. We find that 3/8” thick allows for a simple installation and a durable overall product that showcases the true beauty of natural reclaimed wood paneling.