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December 9, 2019

SNOW FENCE VS BARN WOOD

Reclaimed wood, distressed wood, weathered wood, treated wood, pallet wood, barn wood… the options or terms seem endless these days and at times very confusing. We know that it can be overwhelming to find the best option to fit your style whether it be modern, urban farmhouse, wabi sabi, coastal, or rustic. When it comes to your home, business, or project for an important client, it’s essential to choose a supplier that provides all the things you need in a reclaimed wood product.

Before Centennial Woods began reclaiming snow fences these structures were purely functional (these 12’ tall wooden structures direct snow away from roadways and highways). The boards from the fences used to be burned or thrown in a landfill when replaced. Centennial Woods decided to create a product that was both unique in appearance and ecologically friendly.

An international market was developed for this sustainable and carbon-negative Wyoming resource abd we have repurposed more than 20 million feet of reclaimed wood to date and have avoided more than 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Our high altitude, sunshine, snow, and scouring winds give our wood its beautiful patina. Wyoming’s recycled snow fences are now the largest source of sustainable reclaimed wood in the world.

We’re committed to producing the most consistent reclaimed wood products for our clients and customers; here are five things that set Centennial Woods’ products apart from the competition:

CHARACTER

Unlike newly sourced wood and faux reclaimed wood, snow fence has been naturally aged for years in Wyoming’s wild weather. Like snow flakes, no two pieces are identical. Knowing the wood comes from Wyoming creates a distinct conversation for each space that displays the wood.

SUSTAINABLE

Using our reclaimed snow fence can assist your project in becoming LEED® Certified, with the use of our FSC® Recycled 100% wood, helping qualify your project or your client’s home or business for LEED® certification. Centennial Woods’ products help earn credits under MR3, MR4 and MR5 for LEED® v4, and has been featured in sustainability-first businesses like Starbucks.

CONSISTENT

Our wood is clean, consistent, and sustainable. Unlike barn wood, either current and future add-on orders or replacement orders will be consistent in overall color, quality, and dimensions. Snow fence wood has not only been featured in homes around the world, but also in corporate locations for companies like Shake Shack, Whole Foods, Red Lobster, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, and more.

SAFE

It’s entirely possible that wood that has been sourced from old barns and warehouses has been treated with chemicals that are now recognized as toxic (like lead paint) and there may be no way of knowing which pieces have been contaminated without laboratory tests. Unlike barn wood, snow fence wood is free from insects and contaminants. It has neither been treated with chemicals nor been exposed to barnyard animal waste. Most importantly, it does not contain any VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that contribute towards off-gassing.

DURABLE

Rather than demolishing a structure to gather barn wood, our boards are carefully taken down and refinished for an entirely new purpose. The moisture content of our boards is only between 4% and 8% making them uninhabitable to insects. These reclaimed wood planks have never been exposed to ground moisture or chemicals that often affect wood from barns or pallets. This results in a more stable and durable wood plank compared to barn wood.

At Centennial Woods, we produce reclaimed wood products for any kind of project you can imagine. Our wood is featured at locations like Island Fin Poke, Nando’s, mountain resorts and many luxury homes and businesses around the globe. Learn more about the Wyoming Snow Fence story, or to contact us today to learn about interior and exterior design options.

The Ultimate Guide To Reclaimed Wood has more information about everything reclaimed wood. 

Check out some of our other blog posts: Accent Wall Ideas, Wood Accents On House Exterior, or 15 Reclaimed Wood Design Ideas.

See our reclaimed wood featured on HGTV and Netflix's Instant Dream Home.