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March 25, 2013

How to source the right wood for your needs

Cutting News,MDF — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 9:38 am

Wood is a key resource in a whole range of industries, but getting the right kind for the job is vital. Different woods will always have different properties so it’s important to choose wisely, and whether you’re after wood for industrial, trade or personal needs the same rules apply. The merchant you choose will be just as important to ensure you’ve got the experts on your side to accommodate your individual requirements, so here are a few points to bear in mind as you make your decision:

  • Decide on the properties required. Are you looking for a building material, wood for carpentry or perhaps something for a quick DIY job? These considerations will all come into it and will determine the species of wood you’ll need, so make sure to do your research to be certain your chosen wood can live up to expectations.
  • Know the drying method. It may not seem that important, but the drying method of timber can make all the difference to the usability and ease of handling—air dried wood is better for working by hand, although the potential downside is that it has a higher moisture content than kiln-dried timbers.
  • Consider the grade. All woods will come with different grades, with the grade being a clear reflection of quality. Higher grades will have fewer knots and will be a lot clearer, although you might be looking for a slightly lower grade with more character. Again, it all comes down to the specific reasons you need the wood.
  • Do they machine? Often, you’ll want to look for merchants that are able to offer a full machining and sheet cutting service, ensuring you’ll be getting a bespoke service as well as guaranteeing you’re left with the wood that’s perfect for your needs.
  • Environmental certification. With the increase in global deforestation, sourcing wood with full environmental certification will be high on the list of priorities for a lot of eco-conscious consumers. Ideally any supplier should be fully Chain of Custody certified, thereby ensuring you’re getting your wood from renewable and responsible sources.
  • These are just a few things you’ll need to consider when choosing the wood to suit your particular job, and of course it doesn’t stop there. Price will be another important consideration and delivery options will often come into it too, but if you’re looking for a supplier that can meet your criteria you’ve come to the right place.

    Here at Booker Timber we pride ourselves in offering all the timber, plywood sheets and cut to size MDF you could need to suit any and all applications, and with quality being our top priority you can be confident in getting the wood that will suit your every requirement. We offer a full machining service, are fully Chain of Custody certified and will always be available if you want to get advice from the experts, so make sure to get in touch and you’ll be one step closer to sourcing the right wood for your needs.


    March 11, 2013

    UK timber supply chain set to be revitalised

    Cutting News,Timber — Tags: — Booker Timber @ 9:34 am

    The UK’s timber supply chain has been somewhat slow over the last few years, but thanks to government plans this could soon change. A bold new incentive has been designed to revitalise the supply chain and deliver the boost that the system needs, with ministers teaming up with leaders in the industry to devise the Grown in Britain action plan.

    The plan explained

    The Grown in Britain plan has been developed in response to a report conducted by the Independent Panel on Forestry last year, which found that 80% of the wood used in the UK is imported whilst the private sector harvests just 40% of all available resources. This just shows that we’re not taking full advantage of the opportunities available to us to create a thriving wood industry in the UK so it’s no wonder the supply chain seems to have stalled, and it’s something the government hopes to change. That’s where the new strategy comes in.

    The initiative, set up by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), will implement a number of factors intended to regenerate and revitalise the supply chain. It’s already received backing by the Confederation for Forest Industries with ministers highlighting the economic and environmental benefits that can be gleaned from it—improving the supply chain and generating more wood from our forests could enable us to meet fuel and construction requirements by using material from our own shores, with a few additional benefits being:

    • The wood fuel market alone has the potential to generate some £1billion for the economy
    • Thousands of new jobs can be created—as many as 15,000 by 2020
    • Wood is 24 times more efficient as a building material than steel and could save 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per cubic meter
    • A vibrant woodland industry results in more green spaces which, in turn, could help reduce air pollution, carbon emissions and even healthcare costs

    This move couldn’t have come at a better time. The UK has come under the spotlight in the last few months in light of the horsemeat scandal, with the supply chain in food production becoming increasingly blurred as suppliers from Europe get involved. This isn’t something we want in the forestry industry, and with there now being a clear (and consumer-led) desire for all manufacturing areas to focus on home-grown products it’s great to see the Grown in Britain campaign taking hold.

    It makes sound economic, environmental and even social sense for the government to concentrate on this most important of areas, and here at Booker Timber we fully support the move and look forward to seeing the results of this regeneration. Of course, in the meantime you’re still going to want to get your wood from an approved source, so why not get in touch? We’re a leading timber merchant in the UK and are proud to be Chain of Custody certified, bringing you hardwood, softwood, chipboard and cut to size plywood of all kinds with clear emphasis on maintaining quality and environmental standards, so get in touch with the experts as you wait to see the results of this new initiative.


    February 25, 2013

    New Controls to Guard Against Tree Pests and Diseases

    Cutting News,Timber — Tags: , , — Booker Timber @ 9:24 am

    Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced in January that there would be tighter controls of the importing of native tree species from the EU, in the government’s latest bid to protect against disease and pests.

    And the new rules on importation of sweet chestnut, oak, plane and ash trees from EU trees are now in force. They mean that plant health inspectors will be able to conduct very targeted inspections, and trace saplings if there are any concerns that a disease or pest may be present.

    Equally, any business which imports tree plants, and the buyers who purchase them, will have confidence that any issues will be spotted at an early stage.

    The controls bring EU imports into line with trees entering outside the EU, under which importers need to tell the relevant authorities:

  • Where they trees originated
  • The species
  • The trees’ destination
  • Inspectors are then able to assess risk, and decide whether testing is required.

    Clearly, the new controls mark a departure from the current situation – whereby single market rules mean the authorities are not aware of what trees are entering the UK from EU member states.

    Own Paterson said: “We have learned from the recent situation with ash tree dieback the importance of acting quickly and finding out where infected trees may be. These new controls should make a real contribution in preventing diseases from establishing themselves in the first place.”

    At the same time, a Plant Health Task Force report is anticipated before the summer. Chaired by Chief Scientific Adviser at Defra Ian Boyd. It has already produced an interim report, in which it recommends:

  • The development of a risk register for tree health
  • The establishment of an expert system to quickly provide information on tree and plant health
  • The new scheme also comes after an informal consultation with key groups such as the NFU and the Horticultural Trade Association.

    Of course, if you are buying wood-based products, you can also do your part by choosing an ethical timber merchant which prioritises environmental concerns.

    Booker Timber is one such merchant.

    What Booker Timber Offers

    At Booker Timber, our marketplace is the UK’s industrial sector, and the regional DIY and trade markets in the North West.

    As well as offering an extensive selection of timber-based products, from chipboard to marine plywood, our nationwide specialist sheet material cutting, routering and machining service is second to none.

    And we offer all customers a number of great benefits, including:

  • Competitive machining and supply prices
  • Our staff are highly experience, and very able to answer any questions you may have
  • We can supply and machine, or cut products you have sourced elsewhere
  • Stringent quality control to make sure your order is completed to exactly what you need
  • We can package up your order in any way you choose – or deliver it to you
  • We can handle all sizes of order
  • Chain of Custody certified to prove that we source our timber sustainably and responsibly.
  • There’s more on our website.


    August 10, 2012

    Choosing the perfect timber for your home improvements

    Cutting News,Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 8:53 am

    If you’re on the lookout for cut to size chipboard or other types of timber for your DIY projects, you’ll no doubt want to source the right products at the right prices. By making sure you select the most suitable suppliers, you can help to control your costs while also ensuring you have the right materials for the job.

    As long as you know where to look, you should find it easy to source the products you’re after.

    Property conscious

    There’s no denying the fact that UK consumers are house proud and figures produced by Everest Home Improvements drew attention to this issue. It revealed that more than eight in ten Brits polled wanted to change something about their abodes to make them better. In total, 82 per cent of respondents noted they’d like to enhance their abodes.

    Meanwhile, 30 per cent stated they wanted to make the changes so that their properties would look nicer, while 16 per cent were focussing on making their houses or flats more energy efficient. Following this, 13 per cent of homeowners wanted to boost their standard of living and 11 per cent were eager to raise the value of their properties.

    A gender divide

    It seems as though when it comes to sourcing cut to size MDF and so on to enhance abodes, women may be leading the way. Whereas 85 per cent of female respondents said they wanted to make changes, only 76 per cent of the men questioned revealed a similar intention.

    Location location location

    Another factor that influenced the likelihood that people would want to improve homes was location. While 84 per cent of respondents from the Midlands and Wales wanted to invest in DIY projects like this, this figure fell to 80 per cent among respondents from the south of England. The proportion was even lower in Northern Ireland, where 75 per cent of people wanted to engage in changes.

    Come to us Booker Timber

    Here at Booker Timber we’re experts when it comes to MDF cutting and should have just what you need to help you get on with your DIY projects. We have a vast range of timber related products and you shouldn’t struggle to get just what you’re after at good value prices.

    Accuracy is key

    It’s frustrating if the wood you choose isn’t cut to the correct size. This can throw your project back and prevent you from achieving the best results. Thankfully, our wood is cut to an accuracy of within 0.1mm, meaning you can have total confidence in it.

    To find out more about what we have to offer, just take a look around our website or get in touch with our friendly and helpful team. Meanwhile, if you’re keen to find out how much you would have to pay for your wood, you can fill in an online enquiry form.

    Sourcing superb timber is well worth it

    In order to make sure you benefit from the best results, it’s important you get the most suitable wood around. This can make DIY projects much easier and help you ensure your home is looking great.


    March 1, 2012

    If you haven’t heard of it before, cnc cutting stands for Computer Numerical Control.

    It means a computer converts the design which Computer Aided Design software (CAD) produces, into numbers. These are like the co-ordinates of a graph and they control the cutter’s movement. The computer controls the cutting and shaping of the material to give greater precision, consistency and accuracy.

    From start to finish, the whole process is automated. The design and shape of the cut are fed into the computer, and the machine does the cutting without manual help.

    While cnc machine may once have been prohibitively expensive, and used exclusively by heavy industry, today the lower prices mean the equipment and its benefits are much more widely accessible.  Once the machinery is in place, production is low cost and machines repeat tasks very accurately, with minimal human intervention.

    For smaller orders particularly, though, it may not be cost-effective to do your own cutting, so it’s a good idea to get it done professionally.

    At Booker Timber, we’re independent timber merchants supplying industrial customers across the UK, as well as the trade and DIY sectors in our region, the north west of England. Whether you need cut to size chipboard, or cut to size mdf, we can help. And we love a challenge!

    As well as cutting timber related products, we can cut plasterboard and plastic. We have some of the best and most modern equipment to do it. Check out our website today – it’s packed with helpful information.


    February 26, 2012

    Inspiring Youth in a Tough Jobs Market

    Cutting News,Sheets,Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 9:02 am

    According to the BBC, youth unemployment is a huge cause of concern in the current U.K financial climate. The recession has left a “legacy” of young unemployed people due to most companies streamlining staff and keeping on more experienced employees.
    The BBC recruited economics experts to predict the future of such a “lost generation” in terms of future economic success as a nation and in individual terms. Looking back to past recessions, experts were quick to point out that the phrase “lost generation” doesn’t suit the long-term effects of youth unemployment. They pointed out that historically speaking, by the time the current youth hit forty-years-old, around one in five will still bear the scars of youth unemployment in the form of lower wages and less realised career aspirations.
    We don’t just focus on sheet cutting and timber ethics here at Booker Timber HQ. We keep a pulse on everything from the latest developments in MDF sheets to the current coalition government’s stance on Health & Safety in our industry. Youth unemployment and the future of the U.K economy is something we follow with daily interest. We believe training and development are the way to make sure the next generations are prepared for their working lives.
    In our industry, we stick steadfastly to the moral that peer training and skill development are the key to keeping the next generation in employment, whether that’s overseeing cut to size MDF or developing better eco-practices in our timber yard.


    February 6, 2012

    Working with the Environment through 2012

    Cutting News,Sheets — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 9:50 am

    We see our blog as a place to meet our clients head-on in a less formal setting. Although we’re a superbly organised, streamlined company, we also like to make sure our employees and clients see us as approachable, open and ethical. Some of the things many of our clients worry about is material sourcing, carbon footprints and sustainable living.
    Living the eco business life isn’t just about recycling plastic bottles and not leaving machines on standby overnight. It’s about implementing an effective set of protocols suitable for our way of life as a leading U.K timber merchant.
    We’ve come across various other timber companies that fly the Chain of Custody certified flag but are strangely opaque about other environmental practices. That’s why we’ve put lots of eco-related FAQs on our website to make sure our clients have quick access to environmental information about our standards, practices and achievements. Did you know 2012 will see the first U.K-based International Conference on Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development? We do because we keep a close watch on current sustainability news and developments. It matters to us and our business.
    We know our future lies in maintaining resources and doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint in all areas of life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s preparing custom plywood sheets or getting large scale cut to size chipboard projects underway, we try to be as transparent as possible in our ethical practices. If you’d like to know more or suggest a FAQ, get in touch on 0333 123 1290.


    December 25, 2011

    Live the good life with raise beds

    Cutting News,Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 9:32 am

    Like a rising number of people, you might be eager to begin growing your own fruit and vegetables. After all, the price of such provisions in shops continues to rise and so having access to your own supply of edible garden treats could help you to control your finances.

    Of course, unless you have a big garden and intend to grow produce on a large scale, you will not cultivate all the fresh items you need. However, getting stuck into growing like this also has therapeutic benefits and many people think it is a good way to help reduce stress and to reconnect with more basic human endeavours.

    When you are getting started in such activities, it is important to find out what’s what and to get all the equipment you need. If you cut corners at this stage, you may be disappointed with the results.

    With this in mind, we may be able to help you. Here at Booker Timber we provide superb raised beds that could be perfect for your outdoor projects. These offerings are ideal for smaller, city gardens, rooftop spaces and so on.

    As a timber merchant, we know all there is to know about items like this. Meanwhile, if you would prefer to make up the constructions yourself, you can get them in kit form. On the other hand, you can buy them readymade.

    Our timber is of the finest Scandinavian quality and is properly treated against the elements. To find out more about these items, as well as our cut to size chipboard, MDF sheets and so on, simply take a look around our website.


    December 18, 2011

    Buying timber with a clear conscience

    Cutting News,Chain of Custody,Sheets — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 10:30 am

    If you are on the lookout for a timber merchant to supply your firm with wood, you will no doubt have a range of issues to bear in mind. Of course, you will want products that are great value for money and are of the very best quality. After all, you are spending your hard-earned cash on the provisions, so it is vital that they meet all your needs.

    However, there is another issue that may well influence your decision and that is the green credentials of your supplier of MDF sheets and other such offerings. Environmental concerns are becoming ever more important. And it is not only your own conscience that you have to deal with, but also those of your customers.

    These days, individuals often vote with their money when it comes to issues of this nature. They tend to be more willing to purchase products from companies that can show they have a responsible attitude towards this matter.

    The good news is, by coming to Booker Timber for your cut to size chipboard and other such products, you can rest assured you are doing your bit to promote sustainability.

    We have achieved Chain of Custody certified status, which enables us to offer chain of custody for forested timber from well managed forests.

    By buying products with Chain of Custody certified status, you can rest assured you are not contributing to global forest destruction. So, to find out more about what we have to offer, simply take a look around our website.


    September 16, 2011

    Precision In Sheet Cutting

    Cutting News,Sheets — Tags: , , — Booker Timber @ 9:17 am

    No matter what project you have in mind, whether you are working with plywood or chipboard or some other material, when it comes to cutting panels and sheets, you want precision. In building, precision of cut is necessary to make sure that everything fits together perfectly.
    If you are looking for the best possible sheet cutting services, you’ve come to the right place. At Booker Timber, we assure you that our cutting services are the best available.
    We do sheet cutting including a cut to size plywood service, chipboard, and many other kinds of wood as well as some plaster board and plastic sheets and panels.
    Often times someone will come to us with a sketch of what they want done and we take it from there. Our state of the art cutting equipment means no chips will occur in your finished pieces, no matter the material.
    We can cut your material or you can purchase material from us that you would also like to have cut.
    If you don’t see  the service you are looking for on our web site, feel free to ask. You can also browse through our many FAQ sections to find out if your question has already been answered on our web site.
    Our services are competitively priced and top quality, and we offer lots of advice throughout the process. We treat every order with the same amount of care and attention no matter the size.
    For more information, or to speak to a member of staff about your requirements, ring us on: 0333 123 1290.


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