Weathered Wood Siding: Pros, Cons, and Where to Get it

The weathered wood look is experiencing a renaissance.

The rustic charm and character of aged, distressed, and reclaimed wood is getting more and more popular, and it's easy to see why.

Weathered wood has a classic, natural beauty — from time-worn beams and trusses to textured siding and detail-laden accents — that takes pride in slight imperfections instead of trying to hide them.

The weathered wood look is a key component of shabby chic decor, which has an antique farmhouse vibe. Achieving the look can be accomplished through the use of reclaimed wood, or by distressing new wood.

Reclaimed wood is a hot commodity for distinctive designers, but comes with challenges. Reclaimed lumber will have discoloration, scratches, and other natural degradation that can make it hard to work with. It's inconsistent — rough walls, curved boards, and the like — and is more expensive to obtain than new lumber.

Its durability can't match new lumber either, given its previous exposure to the elements and bugs.  

It's also just really hard to find without spending an arm and a leg. Supplies of reclaimed wood are unreliable. You may find some that looks just right, but then discover there is not enough of it to finish your project. 

We've heard it all. 

But with distressed wood made from newly milled lumber, you can replicate the weathered wood look without the worry that comes with sourcing reclaimed lumber.

Distressed wood is new lumber handcrafted to mimic the character and style of reclaimed wood. Special staining, sawing, and sanding perfectly recreates a realistic patina that mimics the look of weathered wood.

The Design and Aesthetic Benefits of Weathered Wood

Weathered wood is more than just a material; it’s a design choice that brings depth, warmth, and a sense of history to any space. Its rich texture and natural imperfections evoke a feeling of rustic charm that resonates with those who seek a cozy, lived-in atmosphere.

The beauty of weathered wood lies in its ability to transform a room, making it feel welcoming and full of character.

One of the key design benefits of weathered wood is the way it balances modern and rustic elements. By incorporating weathered wood into a contemporary space, you can create a hybrid aesthetic that is both stylish and timeless.

When you match weathered wood with sleek, polished materials, you get a unique contrast that adds depth and interest to a room. This blend of old and new helps to keep the material relevant in modern design while retaining its rustic roots.

And there's an emotional impact to weathered wood as well. Its aged appearance, marked by the passage of time, imbues spaces with a warmth that newer materials often lack. This sense of history and permanence can make a space feel more grounded and inviting, creating a comforting environment that reflects both tradition and personal style.

One of the best things about weathered wood is that it can be used in a variety of design contexts. Whether it’s as a feature wall, cabinetry, or even as unique furniture pieces, weathered wood adds a narrative to your home.

Its imperfections tell a story, making it not just a decorative choice, but a conversation piece that can anchor the design of a room.

5 Types of Weathered Wood Siding

Northern Log Supply has delivered the dream of owning a log home to customers for more than 20 years. We know what works, what doesn’t, and what clients — both commercial and residential — are looking for. A common challenge is that the look and feel of reclaimed wood is preferred for projects both big and small, but relying on reclaimed wood can be frustrating given the points outlined above. 

But with our Weathered Wood line of products, customers can enjoy the weathered wood look and feel without those concerns. While these products look aged — with handcrafted distressing, weather checks, and antique-styled cutting marks — they are all produced from 100% new pine lumber. 

This specialty wood line comes with the appearance you want, and none of the concerns about durability due to previous exposure to pests, mold and mildew, or rot and decay. And because it’s new lumber that is continuously being harvested, you’ll never run out.

You’ll always be able to get more of a specific look to complete a project. Here’s a quick look at our many different styles.

1. ANTIQUE HEWN

This replicates the look of aged timber or logs that appear to have weathered decades in the elements. Using mild abrasions and horizontal grain breaks, we’re able to craft an old axe-hewn look that evokes character and history. This rugged appearing product can be used both inside and outside, and comes with modern touches, including tongue and groove for installation.

It comes 1x12 milled, with a bevel edge at horizontal joints and is available in lengths of 8-12’ with square end matching at butt joints. 

2. ANTIQUE CIRCLE SAWN

With cuts that replicate those of old circle-sawn sawmills, this line of Weathered Wood features a detailed texture that is enhanced and magnified with a stain or finish. Coupled with our Weathered Circle Sawn wood, you can create authentic barn wood replicas without the mess or inconsistency.

Milled with a square horizontal edge, this line comes in 8” wide boards in lengths running 2-12’ and end matched. Blind nail application and tongue and groove capability help installation.

3. WEATHERED CIRCLE SAWN

This product also uses the distinctive circle sawn texture and adds a weather-checked effect to give you a look that appears to have been pulled straight off a century-old barn.

Suitable for use on the exterior and interior, this wood comes with tongue and groove installation and blind nail application. It is milled out at 1x12 in lengths of 2-12’ and is end matched.

4. VINTAGE BARN WOOD

This combines the looks and advantages of both our antique and weathered circle sawn wood to create an authentic barn wood appearance.

Mixing different sizes and colors creates a look that is as close as possible to real, aged, barn wood — but without the threat of ever running out of supply. Milled from 8” material, our Vintage Barn Wood comes in lengths of 2-12’ and all the joints come square edged.

5. ANTIQUE HEWN CHINK SIDING

Chink siding was used more than a century ago as a gap-filler, and typically was implemented to block air leads in original pioneer-style log cabins.

We replicate that rustic weathered wood look here with antique axe-hewn cuts and distressed horizontal weather checks. Available in lengths of 6-16’ and milled from 12” stock, our antique hewn chink siding features blind nail application and can be used for both interior and exterior projects. 

5 Most Common Uses for Distressed and Weathered Wood Siding

Variations in color and grain are natural characteristics of wood and can be enhanced by the application of stains. No two trees are identical and this also holds true for distressed wood as well.

It’s part of the charm.

Here's how you can use worn wood.

1. EXTERNAL SIDING

Whether you’re looking to create the look of an old farmhouse or seek to recreate a vintage ranch house feel, distressed wood as a replacement for traditional siding gives your exterior a time-worn appearance to make it stand out. 

With Northern Log’s Weathered Wood, adding a distinctive exterior — or using these elements to create memorable decks, or porches — has never been easier with installation-friendly touches like tongue & groove functionality, blind nailing, and butt ends that are square-end matched for minimal waste. 

2. WALL & CEILING PANELING

Incorporating a distressed wood look inside your home opens the door to nearly limitless possibilities. For instance, distressed or aged beams — with warm colors — can add depth and detail to vaulted or cathedral ceilings.

As wall paneling, distressed wood represents a tangible history, including color variations, nicks, and cut marks. You can even mix distressed wood with other wood paneling options; combining shiplap & nickel gap, or board & batten, with distressed wood gives you a complete palette for designing a space all your own. 

The picture above shows one of the projects we did for a local restaurant, just to give you an idea of what a weathered wood ceiling can look like. 

3. FLOORING

Natural wood floors have been a mainstay for interior designers for a long time, and for good reason with the warmth, color, texture, and grain they can bring to your home.

Distressed wood, properly sanded and sealed, embodies the rustic country aesthetic and offers a way to add strong characteristics to rooms big and small.

4. ACCENT PIECES

This is where you can get really creative.

Adding a distressed wood look to an accent wall, or wall inlay makes a room or space pop. Kitchen cabinets are a natural choice for such materials, and kitchen islands/butcher blocks make great use of the variety of colors available when working with distressed, or aged wood. Here are more possibilities:

• Functional or decorative shelving
• Furniture, such as a coffee table
• Countertops
• Framing
• Mantle
• Stair treads
• Bathroom Vanity
• Interior ‘barn’ doors

5. COMMERCIALLY

While so far we’ve discussed mostly residential uses for implementing distressed wood, the commercial viability of this material is just as strong. Using Northern Log’s Weathered Wood and expert installation techniques, you can also add character and charm to many business spaces.

You can employ worn wood to convey the age and history of a long-running restaurant (like we showed you above).

Distressed wood is a natural fit for a barn wedding venue or similar outdoor gathering space, like a pavilion. Even amusement parks can benefit from weathered wood — from beams and timbers for vintage roller coasters to character-adding touches for eateries and public spaces on site. 

4 Uses for Multicolored Weathered Wood You Probably Haven't Thought Of

Multicolored weathered wood, whether reclaimed or purchased new, is a creative choice to add zest and character to interior spaces big and small. From rustic to urban, rough to soft, the variety present leaves the exact design choices up to you. Here are some of the more common ways this resource is used today. 

1. FURNITURE

The wide array of colors and cutting styles present gives untold options to creating unique furniture pieces, suitable for every room in a home. Tables are a natural choice and can make great use of a pallet top or single panel. But benches, chairs, bed frames, and (if you extend the category slightly) mantles, all make use of diverse colors and textures that multicolored weathered wood provides. And this doesn’t even begin to cover the options if you extend the use to outdoor furniture on a patio or porch.

2. WALL ART 

Panels and paneling made from multicolored weathered wood can add to the desired atmosphere in any room, from warm and inviting for a den or bedroom to a more modern, sleeker choice for living spaces. Combining panels or arranging them in eye-catching patterns can give a focal point for any space or add a signature touch. 

3. IN THE KITCHEN

Want a rustic-themed kitchen? Weathered wood can be used for cabinet doors, with modern options providing character and consistency.

Topping a substantial butcher block or kitchen island gives the cooking space a strong focal point that can tie it strongly to the chosen motif employed elsewhere in the home.

4. PERSONAL IMPRINT ITEMS

There are many more areas and items in your home that can use the style of multicolored weathered wood to add the kind of unique feel and charm that marks it as something wholly your own.

For instance, weathered wood planks—of different hues or the same—can be used to create a heirloom-worthy headboard. Building open shelving units from weathered wood can hold decorative items, personal belongings, or kitchen essentials with style. Create personalized house number signs for your exterior. The uses are only limited by what you can envision.

How NORTHERN LOG SUPPLY Creates A PERFECT WEATHERED WOOD LOOK

Northern Log Supply is a family-owned lumber mill headquartered in Mayville, Michigan and we source our wood products — everything from log siding and paneling to trusses and trim — from the woods in our home state of Michigan.

We bring high-quality products directly to you without middlemen or a mark-up. Our expert craftsmen are involved in the entire process, from harvesting to delivery, and saw, dry, mill, and pre-finish your wood products to order. 

Because of this process, we’re able to sidestep many of the long lumber lead times that are hampering many other suppliers. 

We’re able to deliver log siding products, including paneling, in less than a month. Many of our options come in as little as two or three weeks. 

Our natural wood products are backed with reliable customer service and are shipped straight to you via our own fleet of trucks and trailers, streamlining logistics. We also partner with the top wholesale distributors of specialty lumber and building materials across the country. 

As you start to build your log cabin or home, or commercial project, we can offer assistance with installation.

With our in-state lumber sourcing, in-house production facilities, and commitment to quality and communication, you’ll be able to keep your project on schedule and enjoy the benefits sooner. Getting an authentic weathered wood look has never been simpler; let us know what style and color you’re looking for and our team handles the rest