4 Things to Consider when Hiring a Timber Board Supplier

Ellie Green
Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 - 23:02

Choosing the right timber board supplier is extremely important whether you're a sole trader or a major company working on a multitude of projects. The supplier you pick will not only affect the quality of the final job, but also the price you’ll have to pay for materials. This could make a world of difference if you’re operating on a slight margin and want your customers to be satisfied with your work. Thankfully, finding out if a supplier can be trusted is pretty easy when you know what to look for. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when hiring a timber board supplier.

Experience and Reputation

The very first thing you have to look for when hiring timber board suppliers is how long they’ve been in business, the type of clients they’ve worked with, and what kind of reputation they have in the community. Working with a company that works with major contractors can be good if you're looking for quality but check if they have minimum orders and whether you can mix and match pieces and get a discount if you're a smaller contractor. If you're a sole trader and are looking for a well-established company that offers preferential deals for smaller contractors, you can check out this timber board supplier.

Honesty and Transparency

Honesty and transparency are also very important when picking a timber board supplier. They can say that their boards were imported from a prime area, but you can never truly tell until you see some paperwork, so always ask for proof whenever they mention exotic woods. Also, ask if you can check their back store to see how their materials are stored and processed. This will give you a good idea of how much they care for their products.

Assess Their Capacity

You should also ask the supplier if they can handle your level of demand. Contractors need to be able to offer consistent quality to their clients. They also want to know that they'll be able to get certain products at the same or roughly the same price, so they won't have to deal with wild quote fluctuations. So, see if they can supply the amount of material that you need and consider working with multiple suppliers if you like one, but they can't guarantee the level of supply you need.

Support

Some timber suppliers will only bother with selling you the boards that you ask for while others will go above and beyond. These are the types of suppliers you want to work with. Ask suppliers questions about specific products and projects and see how willing they are to offer recommendations. Also, check if these recommendations benefit them more than you. Someone who can both provide counsel and sell quality timber will give you a major edge on your competition.

These are all things you'll need to pay special attention to when working with timber board suppliers. Make sure that you go with someone who truly cares and visit a few different suppliers until you find one that aligns with your business the best.