I am not quoting for timber at the moment. What I can do is help you work out what you actually need — and that is often the harder half of the job.
Free: point you in the right direction
If you are not sure what you are doing yet, start here. There is no charge for any of this and no catch:
- Choosing a species. The species library is written from the yard, not from a catalogue — how each timber works, moves, finishes and behaves once it is in a building.
- Working out quantities and movement. The calculators cover board feet, coverage and how much a board will move. They are free to use, no email needed.
- Learning the trade basics. The series runs one short episode a week, and the guides go deeper on individual jobs.
- Finding somewhere to buy it. The timber directory lists independent merchants, sawmills and specialists — what they do, where they are, and who to talk to.
Paid: my time on your job
Sometimes you want a second opinion from someone who spends their week around timber. That is a service, so it is charged — but only after we have talked about what you need and I have told you what it costs.
Typical things people ask for:
- A sanity check on a species choice before you order, and an honest answer if it is the wrong one.
- Help reading a specification or a quote you have been given somewhere else.
- Working through what a job actually needs, in the sizes and quantities that exist.
- Pointing you at the right supplier for something awkward or specific.
Enquiries are welcome and every one is quoted individually, so you will always know the cost before anything starts. If your question turns out to be a quick one, I will just answer it.
Where the timber comes from
I do not hold merchant stock and I am not going to pretend otherwise. If you need material in quantity, the directory points you at the people who have it. Occasionally I have odds and sods going spare from my own workshop — those are on Workshop Finds.