Pergola made of 100-year-old beams

A pergola from recycled wood, a pergola from 100-year-old solid wood, a burnt wood pergola, a pergola from old beams – all of this was a reality in our workshop. When we received the offer, we knew right away: this wouldn't be an ordinary pergola. This would be a piece with a soul, one that survived wars, regime changes, and dozens of winters, and now it would get a second life as a place for relaxation in the garden.

Why 100-year-old wood? 

Old beams have something that new solid wood doesn't – stability, density, and a patina that cannot be replicated. The growth rings are tight, the wood is dried to the maximum, and it has long since stopped working. When we received them, they were full of dirt, old nails, moss, and traces of woodworm. But beneath the dirt was beauty. We decided not only to save them but to emphasize their story even more.

Cleaning and preparation – the first step to a new life

First, we cleaned everything by hand. We removed nails, dirt, old paint residues, and moss. Then came the distressing (brushing) – using a wire brush on a drill, we removed the soft parts of the wood. The growth rings, knots, and natural structure stood out. After distressing, old wood looks like something that has stood in the sun and rain for a hundred years – rustic, authentic, with a deep relief.

Burning

Then came the main part – burning. We charred the surface with a gas torch to a black finish, but in a controlled manner so it wouldn't burn too deep. The carbonized layer protects the wood from moisture, insects, fungi, and UV radiation. After burning, we brushed the surface – removing loose ash and soot, leaving only a dark, textured layer. The result? The wood is more durable than after standard impregnation and looks great.

Pergola ceiling made of burnt cladding boards

We made the ceiling from burnt cladding boards – the same process: distressing + burning + final brushing. The boards are dark, with a distinctive grain that changes with the light. When the sun shines through climbing plants or a lamp illuminates in the evening, it looks like something from a Japanese garden mixed with a Wallachian barn.

Final treatment and assembly

After all of this, we treated the surface with natural oil. Then, on-site assembly: strong joints, anchoring into concrete, so it would stand firmly. The entire pergola now stands like new, but with a soul 100 years old.

If you are looking for a pergola from recycled wood, a burnt wood pergola, or a pergola from old beams that won't look like it's from a catalog, write to us. This isn't mass production – this is a story we can write for you too.