Beams & Timbers
Massive old-growth timbers with unrivaled strength and beauty. Structural and decorative beams sourced from century-old buildings.
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Our reclaimed beams and timbers are the crown jewels of our inventory. Harvested from old warehouses, industrial buildings, bridges, and barns, these massive pieces of old-growth timber offer structural performance and visual impact that modern lumber cannot match. Many of our beams were milled from trees that were already centuries old when they were first cut, making the wood in some of our stock 300 to 500 years old. Old-growth timber grew slowly under dense forest canopy, producing annual rings so tight — often 20 to 40 rings per inch — that the resulting wood is significantly denser, stronger, and more stable than any commercially available new timber.
Available Sizes
| Size | Typical Lengths | Weight per ft | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 | 8' - 16' | ~4 lbs | Posts, railings, furniture |
| 4x6 | 8' - 20' | ~6 lbs | Structural, pergolas |
| 4x8 | 10' - 24' | ~8 lbs | Headers, lintels |
| 4x12 | 10' - 24' | ~12 lbs | Ridge beams, structural |
| 6x6 | 8' - 24' | ~9 lbs | Posts, columns, timber frames |
| 6x8 | 10' - 30' | ~12 lbs | Structural beams, mantels |
| 6x12 | 12' - 30' | ~18 lbs | Major structural, decorative |
| 8x8 | 10' - 30' | ~16 lbs | Heavy structural, columns |
| 8x12 | 12' - 30' | ~24 lbs | Bridge timbers, heavy loads |
| 10x10+ | 12' - 40' | ~25+ lbs | Specialty structural |
Weight per linear foot is approximate and varies by species and moisture content. Douglas Fir at 15% MC weighs approximately 30 lbs/ft³. Always factor actual weight when planning crane picks, header installations, and floor-load calculations.
Species in Stock
Douglas Fir
Our most abundant beam species. Dense, strong, and beautifully grained. The workhorse of Pacific Northwest construction for over a century. Reclaimed Fir beams often show tight grain counts that exceed modern Fir by a wide margin, translating to meaningfully higher Modulus of Elasticity values.
White Oak
Extremely hard and rot-resistant. White Oak beams are prized for both structural and decorative applications. The tyloses in White Oak vessels make it water-tight, historically used for ship timbers and whiskey barrels. Stunning medullary ray patterns when quarter-sawn.
Heart Pine
Dense, resinous heartwood from old-growth Southern Yellow Pine. The deep amber color and extraordinarily tight grain (often 30+ rings per inch) make these beams remarkable structural and aesthetic elements. The high resin content makes Heart Pine nearly impervious to rot.
Redwood
Rare old-growth Redwood timbers occasionally available from Northern California barn and winery demolitions. Naturally rot-resistant with a rich, warm tone. Significantly lighter than Fir or Oak, making it favorable for overhead applications where dead load is a concern.
Structural vs. Decorative
Structural Beams
Load-bearing applications require beams that meet specific engineering criteria. We provide structural-grade reclaimed beams with engineering calculations and span tables. Every structural beam is inspected for checks, splits, and decay that could compromise load capacity. For jurisdictions requiring grade stamps, we work with licensed structural engineers to provide stamped calculations specific to your span and load conditions.
- ✓ Engineering reports available
- ✓ Meets IBC building code requirements
- ✓ Span table calculations provided
- ✓ Third-party grading on request
- ✓ Stamped engineering letters for permit packages
Decorative Beams
Non-structural decorative beams add warmth and character to any space. These beams showcase maximum patina, weathering, and character marks. We can supply them as full solid timbers or as hollow beam wraps for easy installation over existing framing. Hollow wraps typically consist of three-sided U-channel sections of 1.5" stock that slip over a hidden LVL carrier beam.
- ✓ Full solid or hollow wrap options
- ✓ Hand-hewn textures available
- ✓ Custom lengths and profiles
- ✓ Wire-brushed finish on request
- ✓ Faux corbel brackets to match
Reclaimed vs. New Beams: Side-by-Side Comparison
The performance and aesthetic differences between reclaimed old-growth beams and modern structural lumber are significant enough to affect both your design choices and your engineering calculations. This table summarizes the key distinctions our customers most often ask about.
| Property | Reclaimed Old-Growth | New Structural Lumber |
|---|---|---|
| Ring density (Douglas Fir) | 20–40 rings/inch | 4–8 rings/inch |
| Fb (bending strength) | Often 1,500–2,400 psi | Grade-stamped 1,200–1,800 psi |
| Dimensional stability | Fully stabilized over decades | Subject to shrinkage as it dries |
| Checking & cracking | Pre-existing, stable | Will develop new checks as it dries in place |
| Appearance | Rich patina, nail holes, saw marks | Uniform, pale, no character |
| Sustainability | No new harvest; embodied carbon reused | Requires new harvest even if FSC-certified |
| Lead time | In stock for common sizes | In stock; custom sizes 2–4 weeks |
| Cost (rough average) | Higher per BF; unique character | Lower per BF; commodity pricing |
| Structural documentation | Engineering letter required | Grade stamp meets code directly |
Project Examples
The following examples represent typical project types our customers execute with reclaimed beams. Each illustrates the scale, species selection, and application that make reclaimed timbers a distinct design choice.
Restaurant Interior — Exposed Ceiling Grid
A Silver Lake restaurant renovation called for an exposed timber ceiling over a 2,400 sq ft dining room. Reclaimed 6x8 secondary beams and 6x12 primary girders were installed over new steel hangers. The existing surface character — saw marks, bolt holes, and gray weathering — was left intact and sealed with a matte water-based finish to prevent dust shedding.
Residential Timber Frame Addition
A Pasadena homeowner adding a 600 sq ft ADU wanted the structure to read as a traditional timber frame. Heart Pine 8x8 posts and 8x12 ridge and collar beams were specified to match the warm amber tones of the existing 1920s Craftsman house interior. Structural engineering documentation was provided for the permit package.
Hotel Lobby Feature Wall
Quarter-sawn White Oak beams were used as horizontal shelf and feature elements across a 22-foot lobby feature wall in a boutique hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The medullary ray figure was a deliberate design choice to reference the hotel's Arts and Crafts interiors. Hollow U-channel wraps were custom-milled to 1.5" thickness for lightweight installation.
Winery Tasting Room
A Temecula winery sourced Redwood beams that had originally been milled in Northern California in the 1910s. The low density and natural tannins of Redwood created an appropriate material story for a wine environment. The beams were lightly sanded and finished with a UV-stable penetrating oil to halt further weathering.
Installation Tips & Weight Planning
Heavy timber installation requires planning that goes beyond standard framing. The following guidance addresses the most common issues our customers encounter when working with large reclaimed beams.
Account for actual weight, not nominal estimates
Reclaimed beams are often denser than new lumber of the same species and size. A nominal 6x12 Douglas Fir beam at 15% MC typically weighs between 18–22 lbs per linear foot. A 20-foot beam weighs 360–440 lbs — well beyond safe manual lifting. Plan for mechanical assistance: come-alongs, beam jacks, or a crane pick for longer or larger sections. Always calculate actual weight from dimensions × species density before scheduling an installation crew.
Pre-drill through-bolt holes before raising
Drilling large-diameter holes through a beam already in position is difficult and dangerous. Lay beams flat on sawhorses and pre-drill all through-bolt and lag-screw locations. Mark the drill layout from your connection drawings and confirm hole alignment with your metal connectors before the timber goes up. Use a right-angle drill guide to ensure square penetration.
Allow for checking in exposed locations
Even stabilized reclaimed beams may develop new surface checks as they respond to the HVAC environment of an interior space. This is normal and does not indicate structural failure in most cases. For clients concerned about the appearance, specify wider beams oriented with the heart facing down (tension face), or use a paste wax or end-grain sealer on cut ends to slow moisture exchange.
Use stainless or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners
The tannins in Oak and the resins in Heart Pine and Douglas Fir can react with standard zinc or uncoated steel fasteners, producing black staining around fastener locations. For exposed applications, use stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized connectors, hangers, and fasteners throughout. Electroplated ("bright") zinc fasteners are not adequate for this application.
Surface treatment choices
If you want to preserve the existing weathered surface of a reclaimed beam, clean with a stiff brush and a dilute oxalic acid wash to remove iron staining, then seal with a matte penetrating oil or water-based finish. If you want a more refined appearance, a light pass with a belt sander or drum sander opens the grain and removes surface contamination while preserving the tight-ring character of the old-growth wood underneath.
Quick Weight Reference Calculator
Use this formula to estimate beam weight before your installation: (Width" × Height" × Length' × Species Density) ÷ 144
Densities shown at approximately 15% moisture content. Kiln-dried stock will be 5–10% lighter.