Spent $75 on 'vintage' barn wood that was just painted pallets

I drove out to this place called Rustic Relics over in Millerton, thinking I was getting these amazing old planks for a wall piece... guy swore it was from a 1900s dairy barn. Got it home, started sanding, and the 'patina' flaked off to show bright blue industrial paint and a stamp that said 'CHEP 2018'. So I basically paid for someone's free shipping pallets. Anyone know a real spot for old wood around here that won't rip me off?

3 comments

3 Comments

walker.rowan1mo ago

Did you check the CHEP stamp before you left? I learned the hard way to always look for pallet markings after I bought a table from a place called 'Farmhouse Finds' that turned out to be an old Ikea hack. The real deal is usually from guys who do their own tear-downs, and they sell it rough, not pretty. But also watch out for them washing it with bleach to fake the silver look, that's a whole other headache. Dick's Salvage over in Kingston gets clean straight lumber from actual dairy barns, but you have to go early Saturday before the flippers scoop it all up.

diana_flores252mo ago

Honestly that CHEP blue is a specific look some people pay extra for now. You bought a finished product with a consistent finish, which is what that shop sells. For true barn wood you need to find a demo crew, not a decor store.

angela_dixon2mo ago

Ugh, been there! Check with local salvage yards, they sometimes have the real stuff from tear-downs. Way cheaper and way more character.