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Overview
Your Dimensions, Our Precision
Reclaimed lumber does not come in standard sizes. A beam pulled from an 1890s warehouse might measure 8 by 10 inches — a dimension that no modern lumber yard stocks. Flooring from a demolished school might be 3/4 by 3-1/4 inches with a face nail pattern that does not match anything available off the shelf. That is where our custom cutting service comes in.
At our facility at 121 Esplanade Blvd in Houston, TX 77060, we mill reclaimed lumber to your exact specifications. Whether you need boards ripped to a non-standard width, timbers resawn to a specific thickness, or hundreds of linear feet of tongue-and-groove milled from salvaged heart pine, we have the equipment and expertise to deliver consistent results at scale. Our custom cutting service works with any species we carry — including heart pine, cypress, oak, Douglas fir, and mixed hardwoods.
Every custom order begins with a conversation. We discuss your project requirements, review available inventory, and recommend the most efficient approach to achieve your target dimensions from the source material on hand. If the reclaimed stock in our yard does not suit your needs, we source material specifically for your project from our network of salvage partners across the Gulf South.
Step by Step
How Custom Cutting Works
From your initial specifications to the final packaged product, here is exactly how we turn your requirements into precision-cut reclaimed lumber.
Specification Review
You provide your target dimensions, profile type (if any), species preference, quantity in board feet or linear feet, and any special requirements (moisture content, surface finish, grade). We review your specifications against available inventory and confirm feasibility.
Material Selection & Sourcing
We select reclaimed stock from our inventory that matches your species and grade requirements with enough extra material to account for waste and defects. If we do not have sufficient inventory on hand, we source from our Gulf South salvage network. We inform you of any species or grade substitution options.
Sample Production
For profile work (tongue-and-groove, shiplap, V-groove, or custom profiles), we produce sample boards first. Samples are checked against your specifications — fit, depth, width, surface quality — before the full production run begins. For large orders, we ship or deliver samples for your approval.
Setup & Tooling
Our milling team sets up the appropriate equipment — molder, shaper, planer, resaw, and/or rip saw — and installs the correct tooling for your profile. For non-standard profiles, custom tooling may need to be fabricated, which adds lead time but ensures exact replication of your design.
Production Run
Material feeds through the milling line at production speed. Our operators monitor output quality continuously, checking thickness, width, profile depth, and surface finish against your specifications. Defective boards are culled in real-time and replaced from backup stock.
In-Process Quality Checks
For large orders, we pause production at regular intervals to verify that dimensions have not drifted. Thickness and width are checked with calipers. Profile fit is verified by test-fitting boards together. Moisture content is spot-checked with pin meters. These mid-run checks ensure the last board matches the first.
Final Inspection & Grading
Every finished board receives a final visual inspection. We check for dimensional accuracy, profile consistency, surface defects, and species correctness. Boards are graded and sorted. Any board that does not meet spec is rejected and replaced.
Packaging & Delivery Prep
Finished material is banded, stickered, and palletized for safe transport. A detailed packing list documents species, profile type, dimensions, board count, and total board footage or linear footage. Material is staged in covered storage until pickup or delivery.
Profiles
Specialty Cuts & Profiles
Tongue-and-Groove
Our most requested profile. We mill tongue-and-groove from reclaimed stock for flooring, wall paneling, and ceiling applications. Standard tongue-and-groove features a 1/4-inch tongue and matching groove, but we can adjust the profile depth and width to match existing installations or meet your architect's specifications. Available in virtually any width from 3 inches to 12 inches.
Shiplap
Shiplap creates a clean, overlapping joint that is popular for accent walls, exterior siding, and ceiling treatments. We mill shiplap from reclaimed lumber in the classic rabbeted profile — each board overlaps the next by 1/2 inch, creating a subtle shadow line. We can produce shiplap with either a tight or gapped reveal depending on your design intent.
V-Groove
V-groove paneling adds a defined channel between each board, creating a traditional look that works for ceilings, wainscoting, and porch ceilings. We cut V-groove profiles into tongue-and-groove or shiplap boards, and the V can be milled at various angles and depths. This is especially popular for heart pine and cypress ceiling installations.
Custom Dimensions
Beyond standard profiles, we cut reclaimed lumber to any dimension your project requires. Need 2x3s for a custom frame? Thin strips for trim and molding? Thick slabs for a live-edge table? We handle it. Our saws, planers, and molders work together to produce material at whatever length, width, thickness, and surface finish you specify.
Matching Existing Material
Renovation and restoration projects often require new material that exactly matches existing reclaimed wood in the building — same species, same dimensions, same profile. We measure your existing material, select matching stock from our inventory, and mill it to replicate the original dimensions and profile precisely. This is essential for historic preservation work.
Architectural Millwork Blanks
We prepare reclaimed lumber blanks for finish carpenters and millwork shops — squared, dimensioned, and surfaced stock ready for final shaping into moldings, casings, baseboards, and custom trim profiles. By starting with reclaimed blanks from our shop, your millwork team can skip the rough processing and go straight to finish work.
Equipment
Cutting & Milling Equipment
Our facility is equipped with industrial-grade milling equipment designed for the precision and volume that custom cutting demands.
CNC Molder/Profiler
Produces tongue-and-groove, shiplap, V-groove, and custom profiles with repeatable precision. Handles widths up to 12 inches. Quick-change tooling allows fast profile switches between orders.
Wide-Belt Planer
Surfaces boards up to 24 inches wide and 8 inches thick. Used for thickness dimensioning and final surface preparation before profiling.
Resaw Bandsaw
Slices thick timbers into thinner boards — up to 12 inches thick and 30 inches wide. Essential for creating usable dimensional stock from oversized salvaged beams.
Table Rip Saw
Rips boards to width with a digital fence and laser guide. Precision width cuts with tolerances of +/- 1/32 inch.
Radial Arm Crosscut Saw
Crosscuts boards to length with 24-inch capacity. Used for final length dimensioning on cut-to-length orders.
Spindle Shaper
Produces custom edge profiles, decorative edges, and non-standard molding profiles using custom-ground cutters.
Edge Jointer
Produces straight, square edges on rough-sawn stock before ripping or profiling. Ensures tight joints on T&G and shiplap installations.
Custom Tooling Fabrication
For non-standard profiles, we fabricate custom cutter heads in-house. This allows us to replicate any profile you provide — historical or modern.
Digital Measurement Tools
Calipers, micrometers, and digital angle finders used for in-process quality checks at every stage of production.
Pricing
How Custom Cutting Pricing Works
Custom cutting is priced based on the type of work, profile complexity, and order volume. Here is a transparent breakdown.
Dimensional Cutting
Per Board Foot
Ripping to width, resawing to thickness, and crosscutting to length are priced per board foot of finished material. The rate varies based on the number of cuts required and the complexity of the dimensions. Simple ripping is at the lower end; multi-step resawing and dimensioning is higher.
Profile Milling (T&G, Shiplap, V-Groove)
Per Linear Foot
Profiling is priced per linear foot of finished material. Standard profiles (T&G, shiplap, V-groove) use established rates. Custom profiles that require specialty tooling incur a one-time setup fee in addition to the per-linear-foot rate.
Matching Existing Material
Per Project Quote
Matching work is quoted on a per-project basis because it involves measuring existing material, selecting matching stock, and milling to replicate the original profile. We provide a fixed quote after reviewing your existing material — either from samples you send or from an on-site visit.
Millwork Blanks
Per Board Foot
Blanks prepared for millwork shops — squared, surfaced, and dimensioned — are priced per board foot. This is typically combined with a processing order (de-nail + kiln dry + plane) for a complete package.
Volume Discounts & Setup Fees
Orders over 2,000 linear feet of profiled material receive a 5% discount. Orders over 5,000 LF receive 10%. Setup fees for custom tooling are a one-time charge per profile and are waived for orders over 3,000 LF. We provide detailed quotes that break down every cost so there are no surprises.
Timelines
Custom Cutting Turnaround Times
| Service Type | Small (<500 LF) | Medium (500-2,000 LF) | Large (2,000-10,000 LF) | Extra Large (10K+ LF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripping to Width | 1-2 days | 2-4 days | 4-7 days | 7-14 days |
| Resawing to Thickness | 1-3 days | 3-5 days | 5-10 days | 10-18 days |
| Crosscutting to Length | 1 day | 1-3 days | 3-5 days | 5-10 days |
| T&G Profiling | 2-4 days | 4-7 days | 7-14 days | 14-28 days |
| Shiplap Profiling | 2-4 days | 4-7 days | 7-14 days | 14-28 days |
| V-Groove Profiling | 2-4 days | 4-7 days | 7-14 days | 14-28 days |
| Custom Profile (with tooling) | 5-10 days | 7-14 days | 14-21 days | 21-35 days |
| Matching Existing Material | 5-10 days | 7-14 days | 14-28 days | Contact us |
Timelines assume material is in stock and pre-processed (de-nailed, kiln dried). If processing is also required, add processing turnaround time. Rush service available at 25-50% surcharge.
Capacity
Volume Capabilities
Our custom cutting service handles orders ranging from a few dozen board feet for a small residential project to 50,000+ board feet for commercial installations. We maintain a deep inventory of common reclaimed species — heart pine, cypress, white oak, red oak, and Douglas fir — so we can start your order quickly without waiting for material to come in.
For large orders, we stage production in phases to maintain quality control and ensure consistent output across the entire run. Each batch is checked against your specifications before the next batch begins. This approach catches any drift in tolerances early and ensures that the last board off the line matches the first.
We also offer split shipments for projects that need material delivered in stages. If your renovation is happening floor by floor, we can produce and ship each floor's material on your schedule rather than delivering the entire order at once.
Precision
Precision Tolerances
Reclaimed lumber presents unique challenges for precision cutting. Unlike new lumber from a modern mill, reclaimed stock varies in density, moisture content, and internal stress. Our equipment is calibrated for these conditions, and our operators know how to read the wood and adjust accordingly.
Thickness
+/- 1/32 inch across the full width of the board
Width
+/- 1/32 inch for ripped stock, +/- 1/16 inch for rough
Length
+/- 1/16 inch on crosscut pieces
Profile depth (T&G, shiplap)
+/- 1/64 inch for consistent fit
Moisture content
Within 1 percent of target after kiln drying
Squareness
Within 0.5 degrees on all jointed and ripped edges
Coverage
Service Area for Custom Cutting
Custom cutting is performed at our facility at 121 Esplanade Blvd, Houston, TX 77060. Like our processing services, custom cutting is available to clients nationwide. You can ship or deliver raw or pre-processed reclaimed lumber to us, and we mill it to your specifications and ship it back or deliver it to your job site.
For Gulf South clients in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, we can pick up your material and deliver the finished product using our own fleet. This door-to-door service is especially popular with architects and contractors who want the convenience of a single vendor handling material, processing, cutting, and delivery.
Many of our custom cutting clients pair this service with material from our own inventory. We select the right reclaimed species and grade from our yard, process and mill it to your specifications, and deliver it ready to install. This eliminates the need for you to source material separately.
Direct Delivery
Cities We Deliver To
Texas
Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Beaumont, Lufkin, Tyler, Waco
Louisiana
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Slidell, Mandeville
Mississippi
Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Vicksburg, Natchez, Oxford
Alabama
Mobile, Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Fairhope
Florida
Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee, Destin, Fort Walton Beach
Nationwide
Freight carrier coordination for shipping custom-cut material to any US address
Our Clients
Who Uses Our Custom Cutting Services
Interior Designers
Designers specifying reclaimed tongue-and-groove or shiplap for accent walls, ceiling treatments, and wainscoting in residential and hospitality projects.
Flooring Contractors
Flooring installers who need reclaimed T&G milled to exact dimensions and moisture content for seamless installation in homes, restaurants, and retail spaces.
Restoration Contractors
Preservation specialists who need matching profiles replicated from existing material in historic buildings — same species, same dimensions, same profile.
Furniture Builders
Woodworkers who need reclaimed stock resawn, dimensioned, and surfaced into blanks for tables, shelving, mantels, and cabinetry projects.
General Contractors
GCs managing commercial build-outs who need large quantities of profiled reclaimed material delivered on a construction schedule.
Architects
Architects who need sample boards and test fits before committing to a full production order. We produce samples first, then scale up after approval.
Millwork Shops
Custom millwork shops that use reclaimed lumber blanks as the starting point for moldings, casings, baseboards, and decorative trim.
Homeowners & DIYers
Homeowners undertaking shiplap accent walls, barn door builds, floating shelves, and kitchen island tops from authentic reclaimed material.
Our Promise
Quality Guarantees
- ✓
Dimensional Accuracy
All custom-cut material meets stated tolerances of +/- 1/32 inch on thickness and width. If any board falls outside tolerance, we re-mill or replace it at no cost.
- ✓
Profile Consistency
Profiled material (T&G, shiplap, V-groove) is guaranteed to fit consistently from the first board to the last. We test-fit boards throughout the production run to ensure uniform joint quality.
- ✓
Species Accuracy
If you order heart pine T&G, you receive heart pine T&G — not southern yellow pine or a mixed lot. We verify species on every order.
- ✓
Sample Approval Process
For profile work, we produce samples for your approval before the full run. This eliminates surprises and ensures the finished product meets your expectations.
- ✓
No Short-Count Guarantee
Every order is counted and documented. If the count at delivery is short, we mill and ship the balance at no additional charge.
Transformations
Before & After Scenarios
Before
Architect specifies 3,000 SF of reclaimed heart pine T&G for a hotel lobby ceiling but cannot find the exact 5-1/4 inch face width needed to match the adjacent historic wing
After
Houston Lumber selects matching heart pine from inventory, mills 4,500 LF of 5-1/4 inch T&G with V-groove, kiln dries to 8% MC, and delivers to the job site in 3 staged shipments timed to the construction schedule
Before
Furniture maker receives a commission for a 12-foot reclaimed cypress dining table but only has access to rough 4x12 timbers from a salvage yard
After
We resaw the 4x12 timbers into 1-1/2 inch slabs, plane them S2S, joint the edges straight, and deliver 8 bookmatched slabs ready for glue-up and final sanding
Before
Homeowner wants shiplap accent wall in their bedroom using authentic reclaimed wood but every vendor only stocks new-growth pine shiplap
After
We mill 400 LF of reclaimed mixed hardwood shiplap in 6-inch face width with a 1/8 inch reveal gap, sanded smooth on the face, and delivered to the homeowner's door in Houston
Before
Restoration contractor needs 200 LF of replacement T&G to patch a damaged section of 1890s heart pine flooring in a historic home — exact match required
After
We measure the existing flooring, select old-growth heart pine from our inventory, mill T&G to replicate the original 3-1/4 inch face width with matching tongue and groove depth, and deliver boards that integrate seamlessly with the existing floor
FAQ
Custom Cutting — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send you a sample of existing material to match?
What is the minimum order for custom profiling?
Do you provide samples before the full production run?
Can I supply my own material for custom cutting?
What species work best for tongue-and-groove flooring?
How much waste should I expect in a custom cutting order?
Related Services & Products
Custom cutting pairs perfectly with our processing services and custom millwork products. Explore both for a complete solution.