Serious question, salvaged barn wood or new lumber for a deck rebuild?

I'm fixing up my deck and found a stack of barn wood from a neighbor's tear-down. It looks rough but has that cool aged vibe, and it's free. The catch is, each piece needs cleaning, sanding, and might have hidden rot. Buying new pine boards is easier, with no surprises, but it costs more and I feel guilty about the trees cut down. I read that reusing stuff helps the environment, but man, the work seems endless. My buddy says new wood lasts longer, but I hate adding to landfill waste. What's your take? Have you picked one over the other and regretted it?

2 comments

2 Comments

sage1969h ago

Salvaged wood's character beats new lumber, but only if you're ready for the work.

henry_morgan5h ago

That 'character' usually means hidden nails.