We Buy Lumber
Got reclaimed wood? Don't let it end up in a landfill. We pay fair prices for quality used lumber from demolition sites, barns, and warehouses.
Request a Quote
Interested? Fill out the form and we'll get back to you promptly.
What We Buy
We purchase a wide variety of reclaimed and salvaged wood products. If it's wood and it's still usable, chances are we're interested.
Barn Wood
Siding, beams, joists, and framing lumber from agricultural structures of any age.
Industrial Timber
Heavy timbers and dimensional lumber from factories, mills, and warehouses.
Residential Salvage
Framing, decking, and trim lumber from home renovations and demolitions.
Bridge & Rail Timbers
Large-format timbers from decommissioned bridges, rail ties, and infrastructure.
Hardwood Flooring
Tongue-and-groove flooring, parquet, and strip flooring from remodel tear-outs.
Architectural Elements
Mantels, wainscoting, moldings, doors, and other character-rich wood components.
How It Works
Selling your reclaimed lumber is easy. Three simple steps and your wood gets a second life.
Contact Us
Give us a call or fill out the form on this page. Tell us about the wood you have — species (if known), approximate quantity, location, and condition. Photos are always helpful.
Assessment
We'll review the information and, for larger lots, schedule an on-site visit. Our team evaluates species, dimensions, condition, and volume to provide a fair offer based on current market rates.
Pickup & Payment
Accept our offer and we handle the rest. Our crew arrives with the right equipment, carefully removes the lumber, and you receive payment on the spot. Simple as that.
Condition Requirements
We're not looking for perfection — we're looking for potential. Here's what we accept:
- Structurally sound with minimal rot or insect damage
- Old nail holes and surface weathering are perfectly fine
- Paint and finish are acceptable — we can process it out
- Minimum quantity of 200 board feet for on-site pickup
- Wet or green lumber accepted — we kiln dry in-house
- Mixed species and dimensions welcome
What we cannot accept
Lumber with extensive rot, active termite infestation, or contamination from hazardous materials (such as creosote-treated railroad ties or CCA-treated wood) cannot be accepted for safety and environmental reasons. When in doubt, send us photos and we'll let you know.
Recent Purchases
Here is a sampling of lumber we have recently acquired. Every project is different, and we are always looking for the next great source of reclaimed material.
1890s Dairy Barn — Cerro Gordo County, IA
Deconstructed a 40x80-foot dairy barn that had been standing since 1893. Recovered approximately 8,500 board feet of hand-hewn white oak timbers ranging from 6x6 to 10x12, plus 3,200 board feet of original pine siding with beautiful weathered grey patina. The barn was slated for demolition before the landowner contacted us.
Industrial Warehouse — Waterloo, IA
Salvaged over 14,000 board feet of heavy Douglas fir timbers from a decommissioned John Deere parts warehouse built in 1942. Beams measured up to 8x16 and 24 feet long. Also recovered 2,800 board feet of maple industrial flooring in excellent condition — dense, tight-grained material ideal for residential and commercial installations.
Grain Elevator Complex — Blue Earth, MN
Purchased 6,200 board feet of old-growth longleaf pine framing from a grain elevator complex that was being demolished to make way for new storage facilities. The wood was remarkably straight and dry, with tight growth rings indicating slow-growth timber that is virtually impossible to source new today.
Church Renovation — Decorah, IA
Acquired 1,800 board feet of American chestnut wainscoting and trim removed during an interior renovation of a Lutheran church originally built in 1878. American chestnut has been functionally extinct since the blight of the early 1900s, making this a rare and highly sought-after species. Every piece was carefully numbered and cataloged.
Railroad Bridge — Bremer County, IA
Recovered 4,500 board feet of massive white oak bridge timbers when a county rail bridge was decommissioned. Timbers measured 12x12 and up to 20 feet in length. After de-nailing and surface cleaning, the interior wood was pristine — dense, quartersawn white oak with exceptional structural integrity and visual character.
Farmstead Outbuildings — Austin, MN
Purchased a collection of three outbuildings on a single farmstead: a machine shed, a corn crib, and a hog barn, all dating from the 1920s. Total recovery was approximately 5,800 board feet of mixed red and white oak framing, plus 1,400 board feet of tongue-and-groove fir loft flooring that cleaned up beautifully after processing.
Pricing Factors
We strive to offer fair prices for every lot of reclaimed lumber we purchase. Here are the eight primary factors that influence what we can pay.
Species
Hardwoods like white oak, chestnut, and walnut command higher prices than softwoods like pine and fir. Rare species — especially American chestnut and old-growth longleaf pine — are the most valuable due to limited remaining supply.
Dimensions
Larger timbers are generally worth more per board foot than dimensional stock. A 10x10 hand-hewn beam is more difficult to source than a 2x6, so it carries a premium. Wide boards (10 inches and above) also command higher prices.
Condition
Structurally sound wood with minimal rot, insect damage, and checking is worth more than heavily weathered or partially compromised material. Surface weathering and nail holes are expected and do not significantly reduce value.
Volume
Larger lots are more cost-effective for us to pick up and process, so we can typically offer a better per-board-foot price for quantities above 2,000 board feet. Small lots under 500 board feet may receive a lower price per foot due to fixed pickup costs.
Accessibility
If your lumber is easy to access — stacked in a field, in a standing structure near a road — our pickup costs are lower and we can pass that saving along. Remote locations, difficult terrain, or multi-story structures requiring specialized equipment may affect the offer.
Processing Required
Clean, de-nailed lumber ready for immediate resale is worth more than lumber that still has hardware, paint, or other coatings requiring extensive processing. The less work we need to do to bring it to market, the more we can pay upfront.
Market Demand
Current market conditions matter. If we are seeing strong demand for reclaimed oak flooring, we will pay a premium for oak stock. If our fir inventory is already high, fir pricing may be more conservative. Calling ahead for a current quote is always recommended.
Distance
Pickup locations within 150 miles of Mason City, Iowa are the most cost-effective. For lots beyond that radius, transportation costs may be factored into the price, especially for smaller quantities. Very large or high-value lots justify longer pickup distances.
FAQ About Selling to Us
Common questions from people considering selling their reclaimed lumber.
Do I need to know what species of wood I have?
Not at all. Our team can identify species on sight in most cases, and we carry moisture meters and reference materials for less common woods. Just send us photos of the end grain and surface, and we can usually tell you what you have before we even visit the site.
What is the minimum quantity you will purchase?
For on-site pickup, our minimum is 200 board feet. This is roughly equivalent to fifteen to twenty standard 2x8 boards at 8 feet long. For drop-offs at our Mason City yard, there is no minimum — bring us whatever you have and we will make an offer.
How quickly can you pick up the lumber?
For standard pickups, we schedule within 5-10 business days of accepting the assessment. If you are on a tight demolition timeline, let us know and we will do our best to expedite. We have completed emergency pickups within 48 hours when schedules allow.
Do you handle the deconstruction, or do I need to take the structure apart myself?
We handle full deconstruction for qualifying structures. Our crew arrives with the equipment and expertise to carefully take apart barns, sheds, warehouses, and other buildings, maximizing lumber recovery while minimizing damage. We provide a separate quote for deconstruction labor when applicable.
How do you determine the board footage of my lumber?
We measure each piece by width, thickness, and length, then calculate board feet using the standard formula (width in inches x thickness in inches x length in feet, divided by 12). For standing structures, we estimate based on visible dimensions and typical framing patterns, then verify during deconstruction.
When do I get paid?
For standard pickups, we pay on the spot by company check when our crew loads the lumber. For larger purchases involving deconstruction work, we issue payment within 5 business days of completing the salvage. We can also arrange wire transfer for amounts over $5,000 if preferred.
Deconstruction vs. Demolition
There is a critical difference between demolition and deconstruction, and understanding it is key to maximizing the value of your old structure.
Demolition
Standard demolition uses heavy equipment to knock a structure down as quickly as possible. The debris is loaded into dumpsters and hauled to a landfill. This approach is fast but destroys virtually all salvageable material. Beams get cracked by excavator buckets, siding is splintered, and usable wood is mixed with drywall, roofing, and other waste. The lumber — often the most valuable component of the structure — ends up buried.
- Fast but destructive
- Most lumber is damaged beyond use
- All material goes to landfill
- No financial recovery from wood
Deconstruction (Our Approach)
Deconstruction is the careful, methodical disassembly of a structure with the goal of preserving as much usable material as possible. Our crew removes boards one at a time, starting from the top down. Nails are pulled on site where practical. Beams are rigged and lowered with care. The result is clean, intact lumber ready for processing and a second life. It takes longer than demolition, but the environmental and financial returns are dramatic.
- Careful, board-by-board disassembly
- 90%+ lumber recovery rate
- Material is reused instead of landfilled
- You get paid for the wood we salvage
The bottom line: If you are planning to take down a barn, warehouse, or other wood-framed structure, contact us before you hire a demolition contractor. In many cases, the value of the salvaged lumber can offset a significant portion of the deconstruction cost — and sometimes the lumber is valuable enough that deconstruction costs you nothing at all. We have completed dozens of deconstruction projects where the landowner walked away with a check instead of a demolition bill.
Ready to Sell Your Lumber?
Every board you sell to us is one less board in a landfill and one more piece of history preserved. Get in touch today for a free assessment.