I've had similar experiences, but honestly, salvage yards can still be worth it if you're careful. Last summer, I found some great reclaimed wood flooring—beautiful grain, perfect condition—but didn't realize until halfway through installation that the thickness varied slightly. Ended up spending hours planing and sanding to get it level. Lesson learned: always bring calipers or a tape measure and double-check dimensions before committing. If you're detail-oriented and prepared, salvage can save you a ton, but yeah...it definitely tests your patience.
I get what you're saying about salvage yards testing your patience...been there myself. A while back, I scored these gorgeous antique brass fixtures for a bathroom remodel. Thought I'd hit the jackpot until I realized the fittings were some weird outdated size. Ended up hunting down adapters online and waiting weeks for delivery. Still worth it in the end, but yeah, measuring and checking compatibility beforehand would've saved me a headache. Curious though, do you find reclaimed materials hold up as well long-term?
I've had pretty good luck with reclaimed materials overall, though it definitely depends on what you're using them for. Structural stuff—like beams or flooring—can actually be more stable if they're older, since the wood's had time to fully dry and settle. But fixtures and hardware can be trickier; sometimes the metals or finishes don't age evenly, and you might run into corrosion or wear issues down the line. Still, with a bit of extra prep and maintenance, reclaimed materials often hold their own surprisingly well.
I've found reclaimed structural wood can sometimes be a mixed bag. Sure, it's dry and stable, but I've run into hidden splits or old nail holes that weaken key spots. Usually fixable, but worth factoring in extra inspection time...
"Usually fixable, but worth factoring in extra inspection time..."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I recently worked on a loft renovation where we sourced reclaimed beams to save on costs and add character. Looked great at first glance—dry, solid, beautiful grain—but once we started cutting into them, we found hidden splits and even some old embedded hardware that dulled our blades pretty fast. Ended up spending more time (and money) than planned patching and reinforcing those weak spots.
Still, I'd say reclaimed wood can be worth it if you're prepared for the extra hassle. Just gotta factor in the extra labor and inspection time upfront so you don't get blindsided halfway through the project. Learned that one the hard way...
