Wood Grain

100 years after the wood on the right was harvested to build the original home, the wood on the left was harvested to do our remodel.

The other day Michael pulled us aside to show us how much tighter the grain on the original stuff is. Trees grown for construction today are selected for their rapid growth, which means that they are relatively sustainable (i.e., we don't have to chop down old growth to feed our building appetites--we just plant more fast-growing trees). On the other hand, the newer construction-grade stuff is not as strong, straight, or beautiful as the older tight grain lumber, hence the high prices folks are willing to pay for reclaimed, salvaged, and re-milled old growth wood.