Frequently Asked
Questions
Everything you need to know about reclaimed lumber, our products, services, sustainability practices, and how to order. Can't find your answer? Contact us directly.
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General
What is reclaimed lumber?
Reclaimed lumber is wood that has been salvaged from existing structures at the end of their useful life — factories, barns, warehouses, bridges, residential buildings, and industrial facilities. Rather than being sent to a landfill, the timber is carefully removed, de-nailed, inspected, and processed for reuse in new construction, renovation, furniture, and design projects. Reclaimed wood often includes species and grain qualities that are no longer available from commercial harvesting, such as old-growth heart pine and American chestnut.
Is reclaimed lumber safe to use in my home?
Yes, when properly sourced and processed. All reclaimed lumber at Philadelphia Lumber Co. is inspected for chemical contamination (lead paint, CCA treatment, creosote), active insect infestation, and structural rot before entering our inventory. Wood that has been chemically treated is separated and clearly labeled — it is not sold for interior residential use. Our standard processing includes de-nailing, metal detection, moisture testing, and species identification. If you have specific safety concerns (for example, a home with small children), ask us about our testing and sourcing protocols for any given lot.
What species of reclaimed wood do you carry?
Our most common species include heart pine (longleaf yellow pine), white oak, red oak, Douglas fir, American chestnut (limited availability), hemlock, poplar, and mixed barn-wood softwoods. Availability varies based on current demolition and salvage projects. We recommend calling ahead or visiting the yard if you need a specific species, and we can often source uncommon species through our salvage network within 2 to 4 weeks.
Products
How is reclaimed lumber graded?
We use a grading system adapted from National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) rules, tailored for the unique characteristics of salvaged material. Our grades are: Select (clean faces, minimal defects — ideal for fine furniture and visible architectural features), #1 (tight knots and minor character marks — excellent for flooring and paneling), #2 (sound knots, some checking and patina — great for accent walls and shelving), #3/Economy (maximum character with larger knots and surface wear — suitable for agricultural, industrial, or artistic use). Every piece is hand-graded by experienced staff and tagged with its grade before it enters inventory.
Do you sell new lumber as well?
Yes. We carry FSC-certified, sustainably sourced new dimensional lumber, plywood, and engineered wood for projects that require virgin material or code-compliant, grade-stamped framing. Our new lumber inventory is sourced exclusively from suppliers who practice responsible forestry management. Many customers use a hybrid approach: reclaimed wood for visible, high-character elements and new lumber for hidden framing and structural members.
Can you mill reclaimed lumber to custom dimensions?
Absolutely. Our milling facility offers re-sawing, planing (S2S and S4S), tongue-and-groove profiling, shiplap profiling, and custom molding profiles. We can also kiln-dry reclaimed stock to your target moisture content (typically 6–8% for interior applications). Turnaround for custom milling is generally 3 to 10 business days depending on species, volume, and kiln requirements. Contact us with your specifications for a milling quote.
What dimensions are available?
Reclaimed lumber comes in a wide range of dimensions depending on the source structure. Common sizes include 2x4 through 2x12 framing stock, 1x boards in various widths (4" to 12"+), heavy timbers (4x4 through 12x12 and larger), and flooring strips (typically 3/4" thick by 3" to 8" wide). Because reclaimed material is salvaged rather than manufactured, exact dimensions may vary slightly from piece to piece. Our sizing guide page provides detailed nominal vs. actual dimension charts.
Services
Do you offer delivery?
Yes. We deliver throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area, southern New Jersey, northern Delaware, and the broader tri-state region. We operate flatbed trucks, box trucks, and can arrange LTL freight for longer-distance shipments. Local deliveries (within 30 miles of our yard) can often be scheduled within 2 to 3 business days. Delivery charges are based on distance, load size, and vehicle type — we provide a delivery quote along with your material quote.
Do you offer demolition and salvage services?
Yes. Our demolition and salvage crew specializes in the careful deconstruction of structures to maximize timber recovery. Unlike traditional demolition (which uses heavy equipment and sends material to landfills), our process is methodical and hand-driven. We remove timbers, joists, flooring, siding, and architectural elements intact for processing at our yard. If you have a building scheduled for demolition, contact us for a salvage assessment — we may be able to offset your demolition costs by purchasing the timber.
Can I visit the lumber yard in person?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Seeing and touching reclaimed lumber in person is the best way to evaluate quality, color, and character. Our yard at 13200 Townsend Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154 is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. No appointment is necessary, but if you have a large or specific order, calling ahead allows us to have relevant inventory staged and ready for your review.
Sustainability
How does buying reclaimed lumber help the environment?
Reclaimed lumber provides multiple environmental benefits: it diverts construction and demolition waste from landfills (we maintain a 98% diversion rate), prevents methane emissions from decomposing wood in landfills, reduces demand for virgin timber harvesting (preserving forests and biodiversity), keeps embodied carbon locked in the wood for another generation of use, and eliminates the energy-intensive processes of harvesting, kiln drying, and long-distance transport associated with new lumber. On average, every 1,000 board feet of reclaimed lumber we sell avoids approximately 1.5 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions compared to newly harvested material.
Can reclaimed lumber help my project earn LEED certification?
Yes. Reclaimed lumber can contribute to multiple LEED v4 credit categories, including MR Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction (up to 5 points), MR Credit: Sourcing of Raw Materials (up to 2 points), and MR Credit: Construction & Demolition Waste Management (up to 2 points). We provide chain-of-custody documentation, waste diversion reports, and species certification letters to support your LEED submission. Our green consulting team can review your project specifications and identify all applicable credit opportunities — this service is complimentary for orders over 1,000 board feet.
Is your new lumber sustainably sourced?
Yes. All new lumber in our inventory is sourced from FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) suppliers who practice sustainable forestry management. This includes selective harvesting rather than clear-cutting, mandatory replanting programs, habitat preservation corridors, and third-party auditing. We can provide FSC chain-of-custody documentation for any new lumber order.
Ordering
Is there a minimum order?
There is no minimum order for yard pickup. You are welcome to buy a single board or a full truckload. For delivery orders, we have a minimum of 200 board feet (or $250, whichever is greater) to cover the cost of truck dispatch. Custom milling orders have a minimum of 100 board feet to justify machine setup time. If your order falls below these thresholds, you are always welcome to pick up at the yard at no minimum.
How do I request a quote?
You can request a quote by filling out the form on any page of our website, calling us during business hours, emailing info@philadelphia-lumber.com, or visiting the yard in person. For the fastest response, include the species, grade, approximate dimensions, quantity (in board feet or linear feet), desired processing level (rough, planed, milled to profile), and your project timeline. We respond to all quote requests within one business day.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, check, all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), and ACH bank transfers. Commercial accounts with established credit may qualify for net-30 payment terms. We do not currently offer financing, but we can work with your lender or general contractor on documentation for construction draws.
Can I return reclaimed lumber?
We accept returns of uncut, unaltered material within 14 days of purchase with original receipt. A 15% restocking fee applies. Custom-milled material (profiled, re-sawn to non-standard dimensions, or kiln-dried to order) is non-returnable because it has been processed to your specifications. We strongly recommend visiting the yard or requesting samples before placing large orders to ensure the material meets your expectations.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is happy to answer any questions not covered here. Reach out by phone, email, or stop by the yard during business hours. We respond to all inquiries within one business day.
Additional Technical & Logistics Questions
These additional questions cover technical specifications, pricing details, logistics, and sustainability topics that our customers frequently ask about.
What moisture content should I expect for kiln-dried reclaimed lumber?
Our standard kiln-drying target is 6-8% moisture content for interior applications, which is the equilibrium moisture content for heated indoor spaces in the Mid-Atlantic climate zone (Zone 4A). For exterior applications, we dry to 10-12% MC. Every kiln load is verified with pin-type moisture meters, and we can provide MC documentation on request. If your project has specific MC requirements (for example, radiant-heated floors may call for 5-6% MC), we can adjust our kiln schedule to hit your target within +/- 0.5%.
How do I calculate how many board feet I need for a project?
Board footage = (thickness in inches x width in inches x length in feet) / 12. For flooring and wall paneling, a simpler approach is to calculate the square footage of your installation area and multiply by a conversion factor: for 3/4-inch material, multiply by 1.0 (1 square foot = approximately 1 board foot). Then add a waste factor: 15% for Select grade, 20% for #1 grade, and 25% for #2 or Economy grade. Our team can calculate your order for you if you provide room dimensions or a floor plan.
Can reclaimed lumber be used for structural applications?
Yes, but with important caveats. Reclaimed lumber cannot carry a valid grade stamp because it has been previously used and may have been modified. For structural applications (beams, joists, load-bearing posts), we recommend having the specific pieces evaluated by a licensed structural engineer who can assign allowable loads based on species, condition, cross-section, and span. We provide species identification, dimensions, and condition notes to support the engineer's assessment. Many of our reclaimed beams are significantly stronger than modern equivalents due to their old-growth density.
What is the difference between S2S and S4S milling?
S2S (Surfaced Two Sides) means the board is planed smooth on both flat faces (top and bottom), leaving the edges rough or waney. This is the standard for flooring blanks, wide planks for paneling, and stock that will be ripped to width later. S4S (Surfaced Four Sides) means all four faces are planed smooth and edges are jointed parallel. S4S is ready to use as-is for trim, shelving, furniture components, and any application requiring precise dimensions on all faces.
Do you offer volume discounts on large orders?
Yes. We offer tiered volume discounts on material costs: 5% off for orders of 500+ board feet, 10% for 1,000+ BF, 15% for 2,500+ BF, and custom pricing for orders exceeding 5,000 BF. Volume discounts apply to material costs only — milling, kiln drying, and delivery are priced separately. Contractor accounts with regular monthly ordering may qualify for standing discount pricing regardless of individual order size.
How far in advance should I order reclaimed lumber?
For in-stock species at standard grades, we can typically fulfill orders within 3-5 business days for rough stock and 7-14 business days for processed (kiln-dried, milled) material. For large orders (over 2,000 BF), rare species (American chestnut, wormy chestnut), or custom profiles, we recommend allowing 3-4 weeks lead time. If your project has a fixed installation date, contact us at least 4 weeks ahead so we can confirm availability and schedule processing without rushing.
Can you match an existing wood sample from my home?
In most cases, yes. Bring us a sample piece (even a small off-cut or removed section) and our graders can identify the species, approximate age, and grain characteristics. We then search our inventory for the closest match. Exact color matching is challenging because reclaimed wood changes color over time due to oxidation and UV exposure, but we can usually find material from the same species and era that will blend well after finishing. For critical matching, we recommend ordering extra material and selecting the best matches on-site.
Is reclaimed lumber safe for use in kitchens and food-contact surfaces?
Yes, when properly sourced and finished. All reclaimed lumber in our inventory is screened for chemical contamination (CCA, creosote, lead paint). Material sold for kitchen use comes exclusively from non-industrial sources — barns, residential structures, and non-chemical warehousing. For cutting boards and food-contact countertops, use food-safe finishes such as mineral oil, butcher block conditioner, or food-safe tung oil. We can advise on species selection — hard maple, walnut, and cherry are traditional choices for food-contact surfaces.
What happens to reclaimed wood that does not meet your grading standards?
Nothing is wasted. Material that fails our grading standards is channeled through our zero-waste system. Wood with cosmetic defects but structural soundness is sold as Economy grade at reduced pricing. Pieces too small or damaged for dimensional use become kindling bundles, landscape mulch, or are donated to community woodworking programs. Rotted or contaminated wood that cannot be repurposed is sent to permitted biomass energy facilities. Metal fasteners are recycled. Our overall diversion rate is 98.3%.
Do you provide certificates of origin or chain-of-custody documentation?
Yes. For every order, we can provide documentation identifying the salvage source (structure type, location, approximate age), species identification, grade, processing history, and moisture content at time of shipping. For LEED projects, we provide formal chain-of-custody letters suitable for MR credit submissions. For historic preservation projects, we provide provenance documentation that can support historic tax credit applications. This documentation is included at no additional charge.