Reclaimed beams have a lot of romance attached to them. They’re typically salvaged from the roof and floor trusses of old agricultural or commercial buildings – and having been made from mature trees in the first place, they’ve often stood in place for over a century.
When you look at a reclaimed beam, or run your fingers along its rugged surface, you can’t help but wonder about the things it’s lived through over hundreds of years since that tree was a sapling. But it’s not just history and atmosphere that reclaimed beams bring to the table – they’re also one of the most versatile materials in traditional and contemporary interiors.
At WoodCo, we work with reclaimed beams every day. Some remain beams, but others are re-milled into entirely different products. In this blog, we’re exploring what’s possible with reclaimed beams, including five of their most popular and practical uses in architectural projects.
Ceiling beams
Many of our reclaimed beams are reused as beams in new projects, and for good reason. The sheer scale of most beams means they’re ideally suited to expansive applications such as ceiling beams and exposed roof trusses, where they bring instant character, texture and a sense of age that new timber simply can’t replicate.
It’s important to be clear, that reclaimed beams are very rarely used for structural purposes in modern architecture for various building code and practical reasons. Instead, they are used to create the effect of structural beams, by:
- Fixing slices of beams to an existing ceiling structure to create the illusion of exposed beams
- Using full beams to create non-structural roof trusses within a vaulted ceiling
- Using reclaimed ‘box beams’ – which are hollow beams – to conceal structural steels
Visually, the result is the same – to an untrained eye, faux structural beams look identical to load-bearing ones – but engineering challenges and often costs are mitigated by using old timbers in a decorative capacity.
Feature pillars and posts
Vertical support structures are a classic feature of heritage architecture. Before structural engineers and steel-framed buildings, they were essential for lending strength to large-span spaces. Today, their function is largely decorative, bringing visual interest to open-plan areas – but in restoration projects, vertical supports may also be load bearing.
As with ceiling beams and roof trusses, reclaimed beams are not suitable for structural use, but can be used in a variety of ways to disguise load-bearing steels, or create faux structural effects.
Mantel shelves and fire surrounds
One of the most popular re-milled uses for reclaimed beams is fireplace mantel shelves and fire surrounds, particularly in rustic and country-style properties.
These large-scale members lend themselves to large and imposing fireplaces, and can be used intact, or re-milled to retain original surface character and patina while reducing weight and depth.
Code requirements for reclaimed mantels are typically the same as for new timber – the main consideration to clearance to heat, as opposed to the material itself. Deeper mantels often require additional clearance, but fire retardant coatings are not usually required. As with any fireplace feature, final requirements can vary by appliance and local jurisdiction, so it’s always worth confirming details during design or installation - something we’re happy to help with if questions come up.
Door frames, lintels and apertures
Reclaimed beams can also be re-milled into door frames, lintels and architectural apertures – again, creating the illusion of an older or historic building structure. Typically, original beams are milled down into ‘beam facings’ – thin slices of the beam that retain the surface texture and character, while being light and slim enough to fix to a wall.
Using reclaimed timber around doors and openings helps tie beams, flooring, and furniture together into a cohesive design language, rather than isolated features.
Bespoke reclaimed elements
Beyond beams, pillars, and mantels, reclaimed timber can be transformed into a wide range of bespoke elements, including custom shelving, stair parts, wall cladding and even furniture such as oversized tables and benches.
Starting with a beam gives you access to high-quality, uniquely storied timber that simply isn’t available new. Re-milling allows that material to be used efficiently and creatively, often in places you hadn’t originally considered.
Choosing the right approach
Reclaimed beams offer a world of creative possibilities in modern and heritage architecture. We’ve salvaged beams from some of the country’s oldest and most historic buildings – such as the Crockett Building at the Texas Alamo – and many of these incredible pieces are safely stored here at WoodCo, just waiting for their moment to shine.
We can help you decide where and how to use beams in your next project – whether as solid beams, box beams, or re-milled components. Each approach has its place, and the right choice depends on the space, the structure, and the desired finish – get in touch to start a conversation.