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What is a hand-hewn reclaimed-wood surface?

A hand-hewn surface is created when a round log is not sawn but shaped into a rectangular form by a carpenter using a broadaxe. The marks of the axe remain visible on the wood as irregular facets.

Tool
Broadaxe
Common until
about 100 years ago
Wood species
Spruce, fir, pine
Every piece
one of a kind
Stacked hand-hewn reclaimed wood beams with visible axe marks
Hand-hewn reclaimed wood beams: the axe marks are visible along the full length.

How to recognise it: Instead of straight saw cuts, the wood shows the shallow hollows and ridges of the individual axe strokes. Depth and rhythm of the strokes vary from piece to piece, along with nail holes, cracks and discolouration from its former use. For wall cladding and DIY boxes the surface is brushed, and the axe marks are preserved.

Hand-hewn or machine-hewn: For 3-layer panels there is a machine-hewn version alongside the hand-hewn one. Here the hewn texture is worked into the old wood by machine today, which makes it more even. If you are looking for the irregular pattern of handwork, choose hand-hewn.

View hand-hewn boards →
Read on: How old is reclaimed wood? → Why does old wood turn grey? → Ordering boards to fit your wall →