Walk into almost any new restaurant that's going for a warm, authentic aesthetic, and you'll likely see reclaimed wood. Accent walls, bar tops, table surfaces, shelving, and ceiling treatments — reclaimed lumber has become the go-to material for restaurant designers, and for good reason.
The appeal is straightforward: reclaimed wood creates instant atmosphere. A brand-new restaurant can feel established and warm on day one if the materials carry genuine age and character. No amount of artificial distressing can replicate what decades of real use produce.
Bar tops are one of our most popular commercial applications. A single massive slab of reclaimed Douglas fir or white oak, finished with a commercial-grade polyurethane, creates a stunning focal point. We can supply slabs up to 24 inches wide and 20 feet long — finding material this large in new wood would be extremely difficult and expensive.
For wall treatments, mixed-species barn wood is the classic choice. The natural variation in color, texture, and grain between species creates visual depth that a single-species installation can't match. We sort and package barn wood specifically for wall installations, with boards cut to consistent lengths.
There are practical considerations for commercial use. Fire code compliance is the big one. Most jurisdictions require interior wall treatments to meet Class C or better fire resistance ratings. Reclaimed wood can meet these standards when treated with a fire retardant. We work with a certified applicator who can treat your material before delivery.
Food contact surfaces (bar tops, table tops) need a food-safe finish. We recommend commercial-grade polyurethane or epoxy for bar tops, and food-safe cutting board oil for surfaces that might see direct food contact. Avoid shellac and lacquer, which can be damaged by alcohol spills.
If you're designing a restaurant project and considering reclaimed wood, we'd love to be involved early in the process. We can help with species selection, dimension planning, code compliance, and finish specification. Some of our most rewarding projects have been restaurant and hospitality installations.