Barn Shadow Enterprises

More About Us

We fondly remember when we were kids, being raised in different parts of rural America, how lucky we were to have spent countless joyfilled hours exploring & playing in many an old magnificent barn. The memories still bring back a total sensory experience ... from the scent of new hay stacked high in the loft, to the sound of critters stirring in their sturdy stalls, from the sight of grain kernels scattered on the rugged time-worn threshing floor, to sunbeams dancing in rays streaming through cracks in the weathered roof. Little did we realize then that these aged structures were rapidly becoming part of America's vanishing rural landscape. Many barns that for generations symbolized our Forefathers' self-reliance, strength, and agrarian productivity have now become mere shadows of a bygone era.

As partners at Barn Shadow Enterprises we each have been engaged in either the forest products or wood manufacturing industry for much of our professional lives.

We understand and appreciate the important contribution harvested timber, in its many forms, has made to enhance our quality of living worldwide. We also acknowledge the documented instances of abuse of this renewable resource globally, and the potential environmental consequences that Mankind will ultimately share.

At Barn Shadow Enterprises we believe it makes common sense, as part of our stewardship responsibility, to contribute to conservation by promoting the reuse of salvageable wood, primarily from old barns that have outlived their usefulness. In 18th and 19th century America various species of old growth timber dominated our forestlands, and were often used in the construction of these barns.

Seasoned by tens of decades or more, some weathered by the elements, some scarred by insects or nails, these old wooden components today still exhibit dense growth rings associated with old growth trees as well as contain many unique characteristics imparted by early craftsmen and/or resulting from the natural aging process.

Barn Shadow Enterprises draws upon several field operations in the U.S. which selectively reclaim useable barn beams, timbers, siding, and other components from old barns. All these wood products are carefully surface denailed (see photo at left) before being prepared for shipment or remanufacturing. Antique wood products must meet our specification guidelines and our measurements always reflect net useable board footage or square footage. Custom kiln drying available.

Our Services

Unlike some wholesale businesses, it is not our intention to be all things to all people. We have a niche approach from reclamation to added value. Our preference is to provide quality in both our materials and our personal service to a limited clientel over the long haul at competitive prices rather than sacrifice our standards for the sake of large volume sales. We're establishing & nurturing one-on-one relationships with folks who work creatively with reclaimed old wood, who understand its intrinsic value, and who appreciate products made from "antique" wood.

Custom Resawing

Barn Shadow Enterprises resaws old barn beams into 4/4 (one inch) dimension boards or blanks which are ideal stock for the manufacture of flooring, furniture, casegoods, cabinetry, and so forth. On a custom request basis we can bandsaw different widths, lengths, thicknesses, and quartersaw. Our primary specie for resaw is Oak but we have access to American Chestnut & other hardwoods as well as Heart Pine, White Pine, Northern Yellow Pine & Eastern Hemlock. Custom kiln drying available.

Our standard specification guideline is followed explicitly by our resaw operation sawyers when producing 4/4 rough sawn blanks from denailed barn beams:

Blanks may be resawn from beamery and/or dimensional timber in White, Red, Black & Chestnut Oak species as well as American Chestnut (other species need to be approved in advance)
Minimum actual blank width allowed is 4.5"
Minimum actual blank length permitted is 3 feet (not to exceed 10% of any order)
Maximum blank length is 16 feet (75% or more of each order is to be in lengths of 5 feet & longer, unless requested or approved by us in advance.)
All blanks must have uniform thickness of 4/4 (one inch) unless requested otherwise
All blanks must be dry, solid, sound, reasonably straight, minimal twisting, minimal cupping, minimal crowning, minimal width/depth surface checking allowed (1/8" max width and depth after planing to 3/4" thickness), minimal face thru face checking, no face thru face splitting allowed which will affect structural integrity, minimal end checking, sound/tight knots allowed, no full surface rot allowed, bolt/peg/mortice holes allowed (unless requested otherwise in advance), nail holes allowed, evidence of slight worm/insect damage allowed, no paint allowed, no metal content allowed, all ends must be reasonably squared
Each blank must be measured & tallied, sorted by width class (< or > 7.5"), and by specie

After resawing all blanks are stored to retain their air dried condition;

Moisture content may vary from 8% to 15% depending on the source of the beams; blanks may be straight line ripped, edged and surfaced by custom request

Hand Hewn Beam Jacket / Siding Boards

Barn Shadow Enterprises custom produces 6/4 thick beam siding by resawing hand hewn barn beams (oak & pine) thus capturing the hand hewn face for use as exterior home siding, or for use as aesthetic interior wall siding.

We have two standard width categories : 6" to 8" wide, and > 8" to 14" wide. Lengths range from 6' minimum to 14' maximum.

We exercise the same specification guideline (see #6 above) regarding quality control. Our hand hewn siding blanks are primarily intended for use with chinking, but they may be straight line ripped for square-edge plank fit if desired.

Antique Character Grade Flooring

If you are searching for antique oak or chestnut in solid hardwood flooring, or heartpine, white pine, northern yellow pine, or hemlock in softwood flooring, we'd like you to consider Barn Shadow Enterprises as your custom supply source. Whether you are a re-seller of flooring, an architectural design firm, timber framer, interior designer or private homeowner, we can provide you with unfinished kiln dried 3/4" tongue & groove flooring in a mix of face widths, or by specific widths, at competitive prices.

Special Flooring Offer

For restorations send along a sample of your T&G flooring profile. We can produce square edge wide plank flooring to your specs upon request.

Our flooring stock is primarily derived from old barn beams using our 4/4 dimension blank resaw program which incorporates much of the intrinsic aged characteristics typically found in the beams themselves. Such characteristics may include dense growth ring pattern, sound tight knots, slight surface checks & mineral streaks, slight evidence of worm or insect scarring, slight end checks, (traces of morticing and peg or bolt holes up to one inch in diameter may be defected by request). T&G is standard matched unless requested otherwise. Quartersawn oak flooring may be custom requested. Unless otherwise specified (export orders for instance) all flooring stock is kiln dried to 6 - 8% moisture content. We will also custom manufacture antique flooring from reclaimed 4/4 Oak barnsiding.

Custom Hardwood Tables uniquely created from reclaimed antique barn timbers. If you're interested in carrying Barn Shadow's line of collectible tables, or want a quote for your own design, or want to order - Contact us.

Export Orders Barn Shadow Enterprises welcomes inquiries about our reclaimed wood products and our remanufacturing capabilities from members of the international community.

Being experienced in exporting we understand your potential concerns about long distance transactions. Barn Shadow Enterprises will deliver representative samples for your inspection prior to your placing a custom order with us. A detailed description of each product will accompany the samples. Your cost associated with shipping these samples must be pre-paid but will be deducted from the price of your initial order. Regardless of whether you, or your stateside representative, are able to witness the loading of your container, Barn Shadow Enterprises, as a matter of routine, will video-document your order being prepared, loaded, and sealed in its shipping container. Along with PHYTO certification and other required documents, you will have your copy of the video well in advance of receiving your cargo. We will do all that we can to ensure that your doing business with us is an affordable and efficient experience.

Match Maker Service

Bulletin Board: For those of you who are interested, feel free to take advantage of our bulletin board by posting your own notices online at our website. Your information will remain active for 30 days. To go to the bulletin board, click here. We hope this free service may assist you in:
List Your Business Services:: If you are a company or a professional that promotes the use of recycled or reclaimed wood as part of your services to retail clients, please request a free link to your URL or e-mail address, or snail mail address posting, which may be listed on our Resources Page. Potential customers visiting our website will want to contact you.

Trade Connection Home

Barn Shadow