Barnwood Customs removes old barns, repurposes old wood
Josh Clemens posed by a 1952 Chevy truck that had been owned by his grandfather Vince Thiele who built and put up Stor Mor grain bins on farms. Staff photo by Karen M. Jorgensen
Barnwood Customs is a unique local business that takes down old barns and repurposes the wood and other items found.
It recently held open house events to give people a chance to look at what the company does, said owner/builder Josh Clemens.
Clemens said that now that the open house weekend is past, Barnwood Customs will be open by appointment only at 612-715-1671. He said he is planning to have another weekend open house in October although no date has been set.
Clemens said he actually has two companies running under the Barnwood Customs banner. One aspect of his business is to remove old barns that have seen better days, and the owners want them taken down. Depending on the arrangement he has with the building owner, he often retains barnwood he is able to reuse and old items he finds in the barn. He said he does not remove those barns that have already fallen down. He added he is also trained to deal with older structures that contain lead-based paint or asbestos.
That leads to a large part of the second aspect of his business, he said, where he repurposes the wood from old barns for those who contact him looking for furniture, cabinets, doors, walls and other items using the barnwood. He has also incorporated the galvanized metal he has recovered for several home bars.
He repurposes some of the items he finds in old buildings in creative and unusual ways, he said. After looking at the shape of the old-fashioned sewing machine, he said, he realized with a little work and repainting it could be made to look like a tractor which he has sold for a decoration. He even paints the tractor in the specific color of a tractor brand, he said.
Another aspect of his business, Clemens said, is renting tables he has made for outdoor events such as graduation parties.
Clemens has sold works in the past, he said, but it has always been at special events including Rustic Mamas, Junk in a Trunk and the Home and Rec Show. This was the first time he has opened his farm to the public to come and browse.
For the future, he said, he is planning on open house weekends several times each year. At all other times customers can contact him by phone for information.
