Type
Residential
Location
Pasadena, CA
Year
2023
Area
1,900 sq ft
Materials
1,800 board feet of reclaimed old-growth fir and redwood
Timeline
12 weeks
Budget Range
$70,000 - $90,000
Wood Species Used
- Old-Growth Douglas Fir (structural & trim)
- Old-Growth Redwood (exterior siding & trim)
- Reclaimed White Oak (flooring)
Finishes Applied
- Shellac on interior fir trim
- Exterior oil stain on redwood
- Tung oil on oak flooring
Project Story
This 1912 Craftsman bungalow in Pasadena's historic Bungalow Heaven neighborhood required meticulous restoration after a century of wear, weather damage, and well-meaning but inappropriate previous repairs. The home is a contributing structure in a designated historic district, meaning all restoration work had to meet strict historical accuracy standards.
The greatest challenge was sourcing materials that matched the original construction. Craftsman homes of this era were built almost exclusively with old-growth lumber — Douglas fir for the structural framework and interior trim, and redwood for exterior applications. Old-growth timber from trees that grew for 200-300 years has dramatically tighter growth rings, greater density, and different visual character than any lumber available from modern forests.
We supplied reclaimed old-growth Douglas fir for replacement structural members, interior window and door casings, baseboard moldings, plate rails, and built-in bookcase components. Each piece was carefully selected to match the grain density and color of the home's surviving original trim. Our millwork team reproduced the exact profiles of the original moldings using a sample provided by the restoration contractor.
For the exterior, reclaimed old-growth redwood was used to replace deteriorated siding clapboards, window trim, bargeboard, and rafter tails. The redwood was sourced from a water tank demolition in the San Fernando Valley — water tank redwood is prized in the restoration community because its constant moisture exposure keeps the wood in excellent condition even after many decades.
The interior floors were replaced with reclaimed white oak in a period-appropriate 2.25-inch strip pattern. White oak was the most common flooring species in high-quality Craftsman homes of this era. We sourced rift-sawn stock that matched the straight, consistent grain pattern of the original floors.
Working closely with the Pasadena Heritage Foundation and the city's historic preservation officer, we ensured that every piece of reclaimed lumber met the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The finished restoration earned a Pasadena Heritage preservation award.
This project demonstrates that reclaimed lumber is not just an environmental choice — it is often the only way to accurately restore a historic building with materials that match the original in species, grade, growth characteristics, and visual quality.
Before & After
BBefore
The 112-year-old Craftsman had deteriorated significantly: exterior redwood siding was rotted in several areas, interior fir trim had been painted over and damaged, some original built-in features had been removed entirely, and the oak flooring was worn through in high-traffic areas. Previous repairs had used inappropriate modern materials — MDF trim, composite siding, and laminate flooring — that were visually incompatible with the original Craftsman construction.
AAfter
The restored bungalow is a showcase of period-accurate Craftsman detail. Every piece of exterior siding, interior trim, and flooring matches the original in species, profile, and finish. The living room's plate rail and built-in bookcases have been reconstructed with old-growth fir indistinguishable from the original work. The exterior glows with the rich tone of freshly finished old-growth redwood. The home earned a Pasadena Heritage preservation award.
Material Specifications
Interior Trim
Old-growth Douglas fir, vertical grain, custom-milled to match original 1912 profiles. Shellac finish (historically accurate).
Exterior Siding
Old-growth redwood, 1x8" clapboard profile, sourced from San Fernando Valley water tank. Oil-based exterior stain.
Exterior Trim & Details
Old-growth redwood, various profiles including bargeboard, rafter tails, window casings. Matching oil stain.
Flooring
Reclaimed white oak, rift-sawn, 3/4"x2.25" strip. Tung oil finish (historically appropriate for the period).
Built-Ins
Old-growth Douglas fir, bookcase shelving, plate rail, and wainscoting components. Shellac finish.
Project Timeline
Assessment & Documentation
2 weeksDetailed documentation of all existing original materials, profiles, species, and finishes. Worked with historic preservation officer to establish restoration standards.
Material Sourcing & Selection
2 weeksHand-selected reclaimed old-growth fir and redwood from our inventory and sourced water tank redwood specifically for this project. Grain density matching to original samples.
Custom Millwork
3 weeksReproduced all original trim profiles on our shaper and moulder. Created exact replicas of plate rail, baseboard, window casing, and crown molding profiles.
Exterior Restoration
3 weeksReplaced deteriorated redwood siding, window trim, bargeboards, and rafter tails. Applied exterior oil stain.
Interior Restoration
2 weeksInstalled all interior fir trim, rebuilt built-in bookcases and plate rail, installed reclaimed oak flooring. Applied shellac and tung oil finishes.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge
The home's original interior trim profiles were unique and did not match any standard modern molding patterns.
Solution
We removed a small sample of original trim from a concealed location (inside a closet) and used it to set up our shaper with custom-ground knives that exactly replicated the profile. The reproduction trim is indistinguishable from the 1912 original.
Challenge
Historic preservation rules required that replacement materials be identifiable as new upon close inspection, while still being visually compatible from normal viewing distances.
Solution
We discreetly stamped each replacement piece on its back face with our reclaimed lumber mark and the installation year, satisfying the identification requirement without any visible impact to the finished appearance.
Challenge
Some exterior redwood elements had been damaged by termites, and we needed to ensure the replacement reclaimed redwood would not carry any infestation.
Solution
All reclaimed redwood was kiln-heated to 135 degrees F for a minimum of 4 hours at our facility, which is the USDA standard for eliminating wood-boring insects. We provided heat treatment certificates to the contractor and building inspector.
“We looked everywhere for old-growth fir and redwood to match our original materials. Modern lumber simply does not look right in a 1912 home — the grain is too wide, the color is wrong, the density is off. LA Lumber had exactly what we needed, and their millwork team matched our original profiles with remarkable precision.”
Dr. Katherine & Robert S.
Homeowners