With the cost of traditional real estate rising, many people are turning to tiny homes to meet their housing needs at a more affordable price. Although investing in a tiny home can save you money, it's important that you are prepared to spend money when it comes to framing your new home.

You may be tempted to use reclaimed lumber for framing materials because you think this type of secondhand wood will help you enjoy additional savings. However, making the choice to build core parts of your tiny house with reclaimed lumber could cost you in the long run. Here are three reasons why new lumber is your best option when framing a newly-constructed tiny house.

1. You can be sure that new lumber won't contain harmful chemicals.

You want your living space to be safe, and using the right building materials can significantly contribute to the safety of your new tiny home. Reclaimed lumber is typically collected from old barns and homes that are being torn down. Since building codes evolve over time, the lumber used for construction purposes in the past may have been treated with chemicals that are now recognized as being toxic.

Investing in brand new lumber for the framing of your tiny home ensures that you won't run into any health problems caused by trace amounts of toxic chemicals in your living environment in the future.

2. You can be sure that new lumber is pest free.

There are many different kinds of pests that use wood as a food source. Reclaimed lumber that hasn't been properly stored could be home to pests like termites, ants, or certain strains of fungi that can weaken the integrity of the wood.

The last thing you want to do is get your tiny home fully framed with reclaimed lumber, only to find out that the wood contains pests and is rotting from the inside out. New lumber typically doesn't pose a pest problem, and you can be sure that you will only have to frame your tiny house one time when using new lumber during the construction process.

3. New lumber can actually be more affordable.

Reclaimed lumber has become more popular among designers and architects in recent years. The demand for old lumber coupled with the limited supply of reclaimed lumber available on the market has actually increased the price of salvage wood.

New lumber is often more affordable than reclaimed wood, so you will be able to save some money on construction costs by opting to frame your tiny house with new materials.

Choosing new lumber to frame your tiny house ensures your new home will be safe, strong, and affordable.

For more information and options, talk with a lumber supply company, such as Henning Building Supply Co Inc.