FAQs
1. What is 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4?
This is the way we measure the thickness of the lumber. If you think of this like a fraction, 4/4 would equal 1”, 5/4 equals 1 ¼”, 6/4 equals 1 ½”, and 8/4 equals 2” thick. The way you say this is “four quarter”, “five quarter”…
2. What is quartersawn lumber?
Technically, quarter-sawn lumber has the growth rings of the tree approximately perpendicular to the board’s broad face. In contrast, plain-sawn lumber has the growth rings parallel to the board’s broad face.
3. Is your facility open to the public and can I visit?
Yes, we have a very large warehouse facility that is open to the public on Monday-Friday from 9-5 PM (EST) and on Saturday from 9-1 PM. We have provided our location on our Location page to help you find us better. If you are coming from a long distance you may want to contact us first to be sure someone will be free to assist you.
4. Am I allowed to select my own lumber? Are there any additional fees for wider boards?
Yes, we have no problem with customers selecting their own material. We only ask that you put the lumber back the way you found it! Anyone who leaves a pile messy will be kindly asked to go back and clean it up. Also please note we have additional charges for wide boards. Domestic Lumber that is 8-12" wide will incur a 20% upcharge on the board foot price. Boards over 12" incur a 30% upcharge. For Exotic Lumber 7-10" wide will be 20% upcharge and over 10" wide is 30% upcharge.
5. What are my payment options?
We accept all forms of credit cards and Paypal for mail orders. Please do not mail in personal checks as they will have to be cleared before we can ship, and this will delay your order. Walk-in customers may also pay by credit card or cash.
6. Can you mail me a catalog?
We are sorry that we do not produce a written catalog at this time. All the information you will need can be found on this web site and it is updated frequently. If you are not able to find what you are looking for, please call us at 1-828-322-9663 and one of our sales associates will be happy to assist you!
7. How do I calculate my shipping costs?
Shipping cost is most often calculated by the weight of the package. Some of our packages have the shipping included, but most of the time shipping charges are based on the specific order. All lumber pallet orders will be delivered to a local terminal or commercial address. If you require residential delivery there will be a $45 additional fee. Feel free to call us at 828-322-9663 and one of our sales associates will be happy to help you. Smaller packages will be shipped either by USPS or UPS.
8. How do we ship this wood?
For smaller bundles under 70 lbs, we normally ship by UPS or USPS Priority Mail. For larger pallet orders, we generally use various freight companies and the pallet is delivered to your local terminal. It is possible to have the pallet delivered to your home, but there is usually a fee ($45).
9. What sizes does the lumber come in?
This is a difficult question, but one we are often asked. Generally our material comes on pallets where the width of the boards is from 4-7” random and the length is 6-8’. Many of our lumber species are also available in Shorts, which are typically 3-6 foot length and will be less expensive than longer lengths. But it is always best to call and speak to one of our salesmen when you are inquiring about a specific species.
10. Do you have a minimum order?
Yes, we do. For lumber there are two options: you must order at least 10 board feet. We will select the smallest board we have to fill the order or if you are looking for certain dimensions, we can pull the closest piece for an extra $1 per bdft. We offer free shipping on orders of $150 in Turning Stock or Burls. We also have many Free Shipping Deals which can be found under Products.
11. Do we buy logs/lumber?
We buy our material by the truckload or by the container load. We generally do not buy logs from people’s back yards. For this you may want to contact your local sawmill.
12. Why are most of the Turning Stock pieces covered in wax?
***PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT MOST EXOTIC TURNING STOCK IS GENERALLY GREEN/WET DUE TO THE TROPICAL CLIMATE FROM WHICH IT COMES. WE FULLY WAX OUR TURNING STOCK TO PREVENT CRACKING***. If you receive Turning Stock that is not waxed this means it has been cut from kiln-dried lumber.
13. What is B-grade material?
Due to the nature of our B-grade items, the material is sold AS-IS and cannot be returned for a refund. Some items could have defects such as: knots, bows, cracks, sappy and odd lengths. We do try to be specific with the nature of these B-grade items so please be sure to read the descriptions listed with each item. If you need any other information please don’t hesitate to contact us, we are glad to help!
14. Can you tell me about your Thin Dimensional Lumber?
We process some of our lumber into Thin Dimensional Lumber which is sold by the piece. This material is typically available in 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" thicknesses and cut into 3" or 5" widths and 24", 36" and 48" lengths. There is a margin of error on the thickness that is within reason. Not every piece will be exactly the same thickness but this margin is typically less than 1/16".