"I spent weeks sanding and sealing pallet boards for a ceiling project once... never again, haha."
Haha, sounds like a cautionary tale! Did you find reclaimed wood ended up being much pricier than pallets? I'm trying to balance aesthetics and budget—curious if the extra cost was worth the sanity saved.
Reclaimed wood can definitely cost more upfront, but honestly, the time and sanity you save is usually worth it. Pallets are tempting budget-wise, but after sanding splinters for days... I'd gladly pay extra for smoother boards and fewer headaches.
Totally agree about reclaimed wood—it's pricier upfront but saves a ton of hassle. Pallets seem great until you're knee-deep in sanding dust and splinters. Plus, pallets can be sketchy if you don't know where they've been—some get treated with chemicals you definitely don't want indoors, let alone overhead. If you're going fantasy-inspired, smoother reclaimed boards or even salvaged barn wood can give you that rustic look without the headache. Did a similar project last year, and honestly, the extra cost was worth every penny once I factored in my sanity...and my back pain from sanding.
Yeah, pallets always seem like a good idea until you're halfway through and regretting life choices, lol. Learned that the hard way myself—spent an entire weekend sanding and still ended up with splinters every time I touched the ceiling. Reclaimed barn wood is definitely the way to go if you want that fantasy tavern vibe without losing your mind. Good call on spending a bit extra upfront; your back will thank you later.
Reclaimed barn wood definitely saves headaches, but have you considered faux beams? They're lighter, easier to install, and you can still get that rustic look without the splinters. Might be worth checking out if you're still planning things out...
