You may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned our next salvage project.
Well, here’s the deal.
After working virtually nonstop for 20 months deconstructing old houses, we’ve decided to take a break.
This decision was difficult for us to make because we do want to save as many old houses as we can.
However, we have our reasons.
For one, we’ve salvaged ten old houses so far, and our four lumber barns are full.
We need to concentrate on selling our inventory of salvaged materials. I’m way past due opening our Etsy shop.
We also want to use some our salvaged materials. We’d like to make furniture and other reclaimed wood items for resale.
For personal reasons, we need to focus on home improvement projects, including finishing two rooms in our house: our laundry room and guest bedroom.
We’re also way past due for a relaxing family vacation.
Plus, to be frank, we’re tired. The salvage business is a brutal one. It’s filthy, physically demanding work requiring long hours often in the bitter cold or blazing sun.
The work didn’t stop at the jobsite either. We had to haul the materials home to unload and organize the lumber often at the end of the work day when we were already bone tired.
We’re in our 50’s and because of the physical demands, we’re just not sure we want to continue salvaging old homes in the long term. Sure, if we quickly sell a bunch of our reclaimed materials . . . or if we were offered an extra special old house to salvage (one with tons of old beadboard, for example), we’d be tempted to take on another project.
But, we’re not actively looking at the moment.
I also need quality time to write new blog posts.
Since starting our business, we’ve been contacted by numerous individuals who are interested in the salvage trade. I’m delighted to pass on the lessons we have learned, and I’m going to focus on writing some blog posts that specifically address those questions we’ve received in the past.
Questions range from how we find old houses to salvage, the investment required to start an old home salvage business, how to clean reclaimed wood, and considerations to keep in mind when installing reclaimed wood.
Speaking of which, if you have any questions, you’d like for me to answer, let me know.
Anyway, that’s our big news. If you’ve been following my blog for the salvage posts, I hope you’ll stick around. 🙂
best of luck to you guys. I sure wish I lived close enough to shop those barns of your.
Me, too! 🙂
I can only imagine how it feels to get that dirty all the time. We live in a house built in 1885 and tearing out the ceilings is so nasty. When I seen one of your pictures where your face was covered in grime, I thought, yep, I’ve felt that. In our case, someone had the bright idea to drop the ceilings at some point and we are raising them back up. I have never seen such a mess and never felt more filthy in my life, except when I decided to restore the existing tongue and groove wood on the original ceiling in one bedroom, which required sanding it – in place…… yuck and more yuck. Over a hundred years of dust and grime. The dust is red and we don’t have red dirt here (Arkansas). My husband said he thinks that is from the dustbowl!!! Anyway, I bet you are tired. I sure wish I had some of that wood you have, we’ve salvaged all we can from this old house and are reusing it in the house, beadboard, walnut flooring (not tongue and groove), etc. but it is hard work.
Train house Bill here… I can’t say I blame you for taking a break. What you are doing is extremely demanding and as you stated filthy which undoubtedly adds to the exhaustion and not to mention the occasional respiratory invasion. I am glad however that we are next to neighbors because I may be in the market for some 116 year old flooring after we tear out that hulking fireplace hearth in the parlor. This of course depends entirely on whether it is embedded in the floor or simply poured on top of it. It needs to go! We will be there for a couple weeks coming up so we will be able to dig into some things we haven’t been able to yet. I want to (well I don’t really want to but…) crawl under the house and see how the utilities are run as well. I have a water leak out in the yard that needs to be dug up and some miscellaneous maintenance items that need to be addressed which of course are going to be fun. Especially with the guest house. We are beginning to accept it as our second home. We would rather it be our primary but with work, we are still waiting.
I will have a thousand questions when the time comes as there is an incredible amount of ship lap in this house and it seems very dark. We love it but there is just a bit too much if you know what I mean. We will need to lighten it up a bit. The kitchen of course is cheerful but the rest seems a bit drab. We need color. I plan on having the tubs refinished and creating a walk in shower in the master bath since using a claw foot tub is a bit… well…. dangerous and there isn’t much room with the curtain. Oh the prospects are great but it would be helpful if my savings matched!
I am a do-it-yourself person and have no fear (except for crawling under the house) so I look forward to the day when I have all my tools out there and can begin restoring the windows. We decided we wanted to keep them but many have suffered weather damage over the last century and will need new muntins and what-not… But then there is someone I know who deconstructs old houses. In the mean time, we are collecting unique pieces of history to add to the house and I will be removing all of the door and window hardware for refinishing. I love old door knobs and hinges! I am really glad that the house has updated electrical and plumbing. That must have been quite a job! Right now I have a caretaker who is mowing and checking on the place for me but I do wish we were there living the dream.
What is your Etsy store going to include? It is a great website for promoting unique crafts and items. I bought my wife a 1949 western electric model 302 phone (Lucy’s phone from I Love Lucy). and wouldn’t you know, the darn thing works and unique as it is, the dial actually has the Ricardo’s first phone number “Murray Hill” 5-9975 on a vintage dial tag. I found it on Etsy! Good luck with that!
You are my future lumber store so keep up the good work! If you come across any unique fixtures (plumbing-lighting) shoot a picture! We need to add character! Hardware is always of interest. I am always looking for transom hardware, grates and registers, and even fireplace parts.
Best wishes to you during your break! I hope you are blessed for your hard and dedicated work!
Bill
I love your blog and look forward to your posts on the salvage trade, specifically, the things you have learned along the way. I live in the South and there are so many abandoned and forgotten homes with salvage potential. I have been ruminating on the idea, just need a plan and time! Thanks for your advice! 🙂
Awesome! Thanks, Terry. Hopefully, our advice will make you want to take the leap.
Kim, as a two-time remodeler of ‘new’ homes, I cannot imagine the amount of work it takes to take a really old home and ‘update it’! I’m positive you have more than earned this rest! Thanks for restoring those old gals. History is important! I used to think I wanted to update a really old home. Not anymore. Just more work than this 60’s something can handle! Good luck with the Etsy shop and we’ll be waiting for the next installment of what’s going on with you guys.
Kim, I will miss your salvage posts but as a 55 year old, I have wondered how you have had the stamina to do this. I realize it is a work of love but it also comes with stiff muscles, strained backs and short tempers in the Texas heat. Prayers going your way that you are able to sell your inventory quickly. Best wishes and looking forward to your new adventure.
Kim, BREATHE – you’re not really closing the salvage door you’re just changing the way you enter it. I’m looking forward to following you on all your travels where ever you take us. Happy Summer! xoxo Theresa
PS I’m 58 and I2 can relate on so many levels.
I’ve been in awe of how hard you work deconstructing buildings. I’d say you’ve definitely earned a well-deserved break from that physically demanding job, and I hope you enjoy creating new projects. I’m looking forward to seeing your new endeavors.
Hi Kim,
I just wanted to sincerely thank you for saving all of the old and beautiful structures that you do! At 57 I, too, marvel at what you do! We are saddened at how many old windows, door, siding (etc.) are taken to the dump every day in our home state of Washington. If not for people like you and your husband, those of us who look to use these materials in our own homes would be left wanting.
Thank you again; no matter where your path leads, I am certain it will be the right direction.
This is sad to read! But I do know your feeling and most do not. I may only be 30 but I have been in the salvage tried for as long as I can remember. I figured out at a young age that I could make a buck at what I like to collect PLUS I got to save stuff from some odd unknown fate. I moved onto ebay, meet friends in the business and EVERY weekend I would go to estate sales all over California. During the week and the winter I went to thrift stores then at the end of the week I did yard sales. It is just so back breaking! Plus with eBay selling it involves packaging and shipping. It really wears on a person and at the end of the day the little money one managed to make wasn’t even enough to pay my bills. Now with my this rare arthritis I have these things aren’t possible but I still want to save so much. I hope to move to etsy and get a property(on my site) that can be a base camp. I have always thought it would be amazing if I could start a collation of younger people/teens to teach the art of salvaging to and eventually move this into a large corporate industry like Home Depot. The hard HARD thing to teach is to not get greedy! So many people see $$$ signs, jump to far in and soon you forget why you started this. Not everyone has that passion either and they must realize it isn’t meant for them.