Timber merchants and what they can do for the customer

[richard7761]

I cut into the floorboards and it seemed to me that I could replace an area with a sheet of chipboard. But, you cannot go to B&Q or Wickes and conveniently pick up 20mm thick chipboard sheet for flooring

Also, I need some 20mm thick by 90mm wide floorboard. To replace some damaged floorboards. Again,I cannot pick this up conveniently from my local DIY stores.

So, where does the local timber merchant come in here?

Would you expect a half decent timber merchant to be able to sort out my needs? Thanks.

 

[big-all]

20x 94mm is will be the stock size off ex 4x1" planed
most places will have a saw but not all just look up wood yard timber merchants or builders merchants

 

[richard7761]

20x 94mm is will be the stock size off ex 4x1" planed
most places will have a saw but not all just look up wood yard timber merchants or builders merchants

Are you saying that it's likely that a timber merchant will stock 4 x 1 (nominal) and that the merchant will then plane it to 20mm?

 

[richard7761]

Of course my new floorboarding has to fit with the original floorboards. Tongue and groove.

 

[big-all]

aahh tongue and groove that size is fairly standard still cut from the same 4x1" stock size but the tongue comes within the 4" but reduces the coverage

4x1 is the pre machined size the 20x94 or 20x 90 is the worked size

 

[richard7761]

So, if I go to a timber merchant, and I say, I need some floorboards 20mm thick and 94mm wide (including tongue), he's likely to say - "I don't have that to hand, but I have some 4 x1 and I'll plane it down to what you want" ?

Looks like this is the typical situation. Is it?

 

[big-all]

not quite they buy in standard components ready machined from the stockist who will buy it in bulk from the importer near the port who buys it by the shipload

not sure where in the chain it will be machined to flooring but suspect before it goes on the boat to save space and weight

 

[richard7761]

What I'm trying to find out is should I expect a a decent timber merchant to:

* Carry 20mm thick x 94mm wide floor boards?

Or

* Get 20mm thick x 94mm wide floor boards to order.

Or

* Reduce 22mm x 94mm floorboards to 20mm (not sure about this).

Or

Have a machine to produce them (produce tonque and groove) from 4 x 1" stock.

In 1957, the year my house was built, I would have presumed the first, but in 2015 not sure.

 

[big-all]

they wont machine any timber to a moulded form they will just sell it as they buy it in
they wont have the full range off sizes all the time thats further up the chain
if they aint got it ask iff they can get it delivered but expect a minimum order off perhaps 30m
generally on site the best they will do is a bit off sawing to length and size with a bit off face plaining nothing more
you need a joinery shop for small amounts if you need it specially made but at a say £50-100machining costs so not for txg flooring but more specialist mouldings