02/01/2025
I seen this with my own eyes in the 40 years I’ve been a carpenter and builder…
As a company we always salvage timber and reuse it whenever possible even if it’s just for firewood.
My 1st house I totally renovated in the mid 1990’s all the internal timber stud work was taken down and the new layout was constructed using all the salvaged timber, which firstly save me a fortune and secondly was built to last…
I no longer buy off the shelf timber exterior doors as they are made from inferior materials, unlike doors from the past where you could reuse them on another property when they were replaced by Aluminium & UPVC products…, I only have them bespoke by a local traditional jointer using only hardwood timber.
It’s very sad to say but modern timber frames building will not last as long and without the lack of maintenance can shorten the lifespan to 25 years or less.
Home Buyer: I want a house built after 1980.
Me: Actually, you don't.
Let me explain.
Newer isn't always better, and this picture sums it up pretty well. The quality of modern lumber is simply far inferior to the quality of lumber they were using to build homes in the early and mid-20th century. Wood quality began dropping on a serious scale in the 1980s due to old-growth timber being almost completely depleted.
Most wood used today is grown very fast - not only can you visibly see the difference in quality, but the newer lumber is more prone to rotting due to a lack of heartwood. Slow growth wood yields much more heartwood, which is the longest lasting part of the tree, whereas sap wood (new growth wood) will rot very quickly. Modern lumber is also a lot more prone to termite damage as it is softer and easier to consume whereas old lumber is extremely resinous and naturally termite resistant. A good rule - as long as the plumbing and electric has been updated, a well-built home from the mid-20th century is a better investment and will likely outlast a newer build.
