TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I hear you on the headaches with reclaimed stuff. I once tried using old bricks from a demolished school for a walkway—looked cool, but half of them crumbled or didn’t line up right. Ended up patching with new ones anyway. These days, I’ll still use salvage for accents, but for anything that needs to last, I stick with new. Sometimes the “story” just isn’t worth the hassle.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I’ve run into the same thing with reclaimed wood—sometimes it’s a gem, but other times you spend hours sanding, treating, and trying to get boards to match up. I love the character it brings, but for cabinets or anything that needs to function daily, I usually go new too. Still, I’ll sneak in some salvaged pieces for shelving or trim when I can. It’s a balancing act between budget and sanity...
It’s a balancing act between budget and sanity...
That about sums it up. I tried building a mudroom bench with old barn wood once—looked great in theory, but I spent two days fighting cupped boards and splinters before caving and buying fresh lumber for the main frame. Salvaged stuff is awesome for accent walls or small bits, but yeah, for anything that gets daily use, I’ve learned to pick my battles. Sometimes the “character” just means more headaches.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
Barn wood has its charm, but man, it can be a pain. I’ve had clients swear by “reclaimed” until we’re three hours deep into sanding and cursing at warped planks. Sometimes you just gotta weigh the rustic look against your own sanity... and knuckles. For benches and anything that’s gonna get sat on or kicked daily, I’ll take straight, new boards every time. Character’s great—until it bites back.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
Man, I hear you on the barn wood. Had a job last year where we spent more time fighting cupped boards than actually building the table. Looked great in the end, but my sander’s still mad at me. Sometimes “rustic” just means more Advil...
