The overall unit that Værdalsbruk makes up today has remained unchanged for approx. 200 years when one disregards the purchase of the property Færen Nordre from Selbo Kobberverk in 1861, and the separation of the former tenant farms with household forest after 1912. The name Værdalsbruket was adopted approx. 1860. The property comprises approx. 900,000 acres, corresponding to 58% of Verdal municipality's total area.

The property consists of a number of units that previously mainly belonged to the King, Church and monasteries. By the middle of the 17th century, there were approx. 56% crown property in Verdal, approx. 37% beneficed property (church property), while the rest was divided between proprietary property and peasant property. You can see that even after the Reformation (1528), when the King took over a lot of church property, the Church was a large landowner. The property picture is not peculiar to Verdal. The farms were mainly run as tenant farms at this time.

Developments in the 17th century had a decisive influence on the collection of goods. Water saws were put into use, and timber and lumber gave the forest a completely different value. It was only now that private property rights to forests arose, as we know them today. The 17th and 18th centuries were an active period in the collection of goods. The sawmill owners needed forest areas for timber supply, while the King needed money.