Hi! My name is Erica and for the past couple weeks, I have been interning in the marketing department of New Energy Works Timberframers and Pioneer Millworks.

I came in with a basic understanding of what the company does, build structures with wood, that’s what I thought anyways. Throughout my stay here, I learned that the companies don’t just take any old kind of wood. They use reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood is wood that has been used already, like a hand-me-down.

Not only was I amazed with the fact that they are completely eco-friendly, I was impressed when I found out that they do everything it takes to make the wood reusable, on site! The wood goes from knotty and filled with nails to clean, smooth and ready to be built into something beautiful.

Unfortunately, I was not part of that process but I was part of the amazing team that makes everything possible! Jennifer, Megan, and Craig have taught me so much about marketing. I learned what kind of language appeals to different target markets and how you constantly have to update your websites and profiles to keep attracting new people.

This is the season of The Porch. I don’t think I’ve met a person that doesn’t enjoy relaxing on the porch. Porches are a bridge between inside and outside. They’re also a great way to add space to your home without a huge investment. Check out how much they can change the look of a home:

Before and after. This cottage home’s lakeside facade is totally different thanks to quad post porches connected by a huge deck.

More good news: crafting a porch with timbers increases longevity of the structure. (They also give the space unmatched aesthetics.) Timber is versatile and can work with large decks and removable screens to modest cement pads as post and beam supported roof structures. Summer, Spring, Fall, and even “Winter” in some regions, these spaces act as extra rooms and get us all outside.

Porches are perfect spaces to combine elements. Reclaimed barn siding, stone, reclaimed timber, custom arched screens, and more. For a family in Mendon, New York, this porch is the place to be, day or night.

Porches offer protection from the elements, but what about insects? Often folks spend more time on screened porches as the discomfort of insects and threat of unwelcome animals is eliminated. Installing and removing screens can be painful, but our fine woodworking group has perfected a modular screen system for timber frame porches. These panels of screens are easy to install and remove as weather demands.

Earlier this year we talked about hardware that our our fine woodworking division, NEWwoodworks often uses. Today we’d like to share a bit more on the use of reclaimed wood by this talented group of craftsmen.

We like to say: if you can dream it, they can make it! Curving staircases that become gradually more narrow; displays with wooden double helix features; curved and arched doors; corner cabinets; end-cut tops; live edge steps, tops, stiles, and rails, to name a few – all crafted with reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood inherently has more character than fresh sawn, with ferrous staining, nail holes, deep patina, original saw marks, and high contrasting grain patterns. For our craftsmen access to Pioneer Millworks’ entire inventory of salvaged reclaimed and sustainable wood is no small advantage when searching for that one special board. Each antique board is hand selected and fitted for a one-of-a-kind creation.