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September 23, 2013

The ‘Australian Summer’

Timber — Booker Timber @ 3:55 pm

It is fair to say that we have enjoyed quite a unique summer in the UK this year. Indeed, some people have labelled the summer of 2013 as being the ‘Australian Summer’ as Britain didn’t just bask in soaring temperatures; it also basked in supreme Aussie-like sporting success. Along with great performances by the British and Irish Lions rugby team, the England cricket team and Chris Froome in the Tour De France; who could forget that magical moment when Andy Murray won Wimbledon in the searing heat back in early July?

The label of ‘Australian summer’ is actually quite apt when you think about it as the consistency of the hot weather gave many of us Brits the chance to enjoy our outdoor spaces in the way that many Australians take for granted. For sure, millions of residents took full advantage of the hot weather by using their gardens as outdoor rooms rather than merely somewhere to play Swingball and burn meat for fleeting periods.

Savvy residents who took the time to listen to the Met Office’s predictions invested in things like timber decking, outdoor furniture and wall mounted canopies as these highly functional additions enabled them to effectively decamp into their gardens and comfortably enjoy the fine weather for much longer periods of time than they normally would.

If you’re in the business of supplying things like wooden decking to the general public then you will certainly have noticed the effects of this Australian summer for yourself. Indeed, you may well already think of the summer of 2013 as being one of the most memorable summers in your trading history!

However, it could be that there is still more to come.

The reason for this is that, although the summer holidays are at an end, the legacy of the summer carries on. Quite simply, many people in Britain have ‘seen the light’ with regard to outdoor rooms and as such they are looking to make the most of outdoor living much more. Indeed, there are lots of residents now who are not only keen to invest in decking and furniture to help them enjoy an nice al-fresco autumn but also to get in early for the good weather when it comes round again (hopefully) next year.

Of course, if you’re going to be able to meet this increase in consumer demand then you will need to ensure you are set up to source high quality timber from a timber merchant you can really rely on. Fortunately we here at Booker Timber fit the bill perfectly in this respect as we are widely regarded as being one of the finest suppliers of top of the range timber in the UK. As well as supplying the very best of everything from of cut to size chipboard and plywood sheets, we also provide exemplary cutting services too. Indeed, we are able to cut to within 0.1mm accuracy so you can have complete confidence in the dimensions of the wood you source from us.

September 13, 2013

Sourcing High Quality Timber For Self Build Home Extensions

Timber — Booker Timber @ 3:51 pm

Whilst there have been some signs that things are getting better, it is fair to say the UK property market is still far from rosy at the moment. Indeed, most homeowners these days are of a mindset that staying put in their current abode makes more sense than trying to find a new place.

You may be one of them

However, whilst this strategy may make sense financially, it can be problematic when space is an issue. Young families and parents-to-be are most likely to be affected by this as they invariably need more living space to accommodate their children as they grow.

So what is the answer?

Well, many more homeowners are now deciding that – as moving is not an option – extending their home is the best way forward. There are three main reasons why extensions are particularly good options:

  • They can be built to exact specifications so residents can be sure they will get all the extra space they need;
  • They enable homeowners to avoid all the hassle that goes with relocating to a new home i.e. moving furniture, sorting out new schools for kids, re-mortgaging, etc;
  • They can be built by homeowners who are suitably skilled or who are fortunate enough to have friends in the trades.

So, if you’re at a stage in your life where living space is at a premium yet moving home is not an option, building an extension of your own may well be the way to go.

If you decide to go down the self-build route then you will need to find a reliable timber merchant that is capable of supplying you with high quality wood to form the basis of your build. Working with poor quality wood or having to wait around for ages to get your hands on the materials you need is of course likely to be detrimental to any project so it is vital you locate a supplier that will meet your needs entirely.

Fortunately for you, you have already come to the right place as we here at Booker Timber specialise in providing superb quality cut-to-size timber to public and trade customers at truly competitive prices. Indeed, the quality of our plywood sheets and associated offerings really is second to none so you can rest assured any items you source from us will be of the very highest standards.

And it’s not just in terms of quality where we excel; we also lead the field when it comes to cutting too. To be sure, we are able to cut sheet material to within 0.1mm and our boards go up to 5,400mm in length, 4,000mm in width and 90mm in thickness; therefore you can rest assured your requests for cut to size chipboard – or anything else for that matter – will turn out exactly as you need them to be – perfect.

To find out more simply take a few moments to browse our pages further.

August 22, 2013

Quality timber as and when you need it

Timber — Booker Timber @ 1:47 pm

When you source products for your business, whether you’re after cut to size MDF, plywood sheets or anything else, you’ll want to know you’re getting the very best. After all, you’re spending your hard-earned money on the resources, so it’s important that they meet your expectations.

Here at Booker Timber we’re aware of the importance of offering top-quality wood that is accurately cut and we might have just what you’re looking for.

Rising demand

It seems as though demand for timber may be up among small businesses in the UK. According to figures provided by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), confidence is high among such organisations and many are planning to expand.

During periods of growth, having quick and reliable access to accurately cut timber can be particularly important.

Some stats

The FSB revealed that during the second quarter of 2013, its Small Business Index, which measures confidence, hit 15.9 points. This was the second highest reading since the index began in 2010. Small manufacturers were among the businesses feeling more optimistic about their prospects, suggesting conditions within the sector are improving.

Meanwhile, more firms expect turnover to increase during the third quarter of 2013 and more companies anticipate growth in the coming year. It was also noted that a larger number of enterprises expect to increase staffing levels over coming months. Export growth is expected to pick up this quarter too.

The right direction

Responding to the figures, FSB national chairman John Allan said: “After five consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth, confidence is moving in the right direction. Small firms want to employ more people and grow their business. They want to export and expect turnover levels to increase. This is all good news.”

However, in a note of caution, he added: “We know inflation is likely to remain high for the coming 12 months, largely due to rising energy costs. This is why reform of the sector is so important and why it must provide transparency for small firms to choose the best tariff for them.”

Peace of mind

If you’re firm is enjoying a period of growth, you’ll no doubt be thrilled. However, let’s face it, dealing with more orders and an expanding business isn’t easy. There are plenty of logistical issues to contend with and you might often feel as though there simply aren’t enough hours in the day.

This is why it’s so important to find reliable suppliers to provide you with the resources you need when you need them. If you come to us for your timber, you can rest assured you’ll benefit from top-quality and precisely cut wood that ticks all of your boxes. This means you’ll be able to enjoy peace of mind over this particular issue.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more about our sheet cutting services, just take a look around our website or get in touch with our friendly and professional team by phone or email. We’re on hand to answer any queries you may have.

June 24, 2013

Timber cutting services you can rely on

Sheets,Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 9:42 am

It’s often said that only a bad workman blames his tools, but this isn’t strictly true. If you’re about to embark on a building project, whether it’s a small-scale DIY job or a major commercial operation, it’s vital that you have all the equipment and materials you need.

For example, if you fail to get hold of the right plywood sheets and any other wood you need, you progress might be thwarted. Trying to make do without certain materials or with substandard versions can get you into serious difficulty.

Past frustrations

In the past, you’re bound to have encountered scenarios like this. Perhaps you ordered certain lengths and styles of timber only to receive something different, or maybe you under-estimated the amount of wood you required.

Whatever the cause of your lack of suitable timber, this might have been really frustrating. It’s impossible to demonstrate your skill and achieve the results you’re aiming for when you’re lacking vital building elements.

Looking forward

However, these problems could now be a thing of the past. Here at Booker Timber we know how important it is for our customers to access top-quality wood in the right quantities and cut to the perfect dimensions. As a timber merchant, we go out of our way to offer products that conform to all these criteria.

If you come to us to get hold of your building materials, you can rest assured they’ll be of the very highest standard. As well as helping to ensure your construction project goes according to plan, this can also give you peace of mind.

The best facilities

Our CNC beam saws are amongst the largest in the UK, allowing us to handle and cut sheets up to six metres long and four metres wide, with board thicknesses of up to 90mm. Meanwhile, thanks to the quality and precision of our equipment, and the skill of our operators, we can cut to within 0.1mm accuracy.

It’s worth noting that we deal with all of the following products:

  • MDF
  • Chipboard
  • Plywood
  • OSB (orientated strand board)
  • Hardboard
  • MFC (melamine faced chipboard)

We can even cut plasterboard and most types of plastic panels.

Saving you cash

Of course, cost is likely to be a major issue in your build project. Whether you’re making something for your own home or on behalf of a paying client, it’s important that you keep your expenses down to a minimum.

With this in mind, you might be pleased to note that our optimisation software will calculate the most efficient way to cut the boards where different sizes are required. This helps to reduce waste and minimise the number of boards needed.

The full low down

If you’re intrigued by our offerings and want to find out more, just take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly and professional team. Sourcing the perfect cut to size MDF and other timbers is easy when you come to us. Ultimately, this may help ensure your building projects are a big success.

May 20, 2013

How to Ensure your Business Capitalises on British People’s Passion for Wooden Garden Products

Timber — Booker Timber @ 9:22 am

If you are in the business of selling wooden garden products then you will not have failed to notice that interest in these items has risen significantly over the last decade or so. Indeed, it is now very common for residential gardens and outdoor areas to feature an array of things like raised beds and decking, as well as sheds and other outdoor buildings.

Of course, this increased interest in wooden products should really come as no surprise. After all, residents in the UK have always been keen to get optimum usage out of their gardens and investing in things like wooden furniture, ornamental beds and decking enables them to achieve this. Items like this can also be highly functional too as they can make outdoor spaces far easier to maintain. Naturally, this can be a boon for house-proud residents who don’t have much time to spare as they can rest assured their garden will always be ready to enjoy whenever they do get a spare moment to appreciate it.

From your point of view, this gentle and consistent surge of interest is naturally a very welcome phenomenon. After all, the greater demand there is for your products, the more your business will profit. However, your business will only be able to capitalise on this market fully if you are able to consistently produce enough high quality wooden garden products to meet demand.

Quite simply, you won’t make much of a profit if you don’t have the products available – and you won’t have the products available if you don’t have access to timber merchants that are able to provide high quality wood.

So, the situation really is very clear: if you want to make the most of the nation’s passion for wooden garden products then you need to make sure you source your timber from the best timber merchants in the business

And that is where we here at Booker Timber come in.

As one of the UK’s most highly regarded timber merchant operations, we here at Booker Timber are leading experts when it comes to wood and wood cutting services. We appreciate that vendors like yourself don’t just need the finest woods available to manufacture your wares; you also need that wood to be cut to your exact specifications. We cut to within 0.1mm accuracy; therefore you can be sure that the dimensions of the wood you source from us will be 100 per cent ‘on the money’. We also have some of the some of the largest beam saws in the country so you really can rest assured that – when it comes to accurate chipboard, MDF or plywood cutting – our services are unrivalled.

And that’s not all.

All of our products and services offer unparalleled value for money; therefore you can not only look forward to getting the best high quality timber available – you can also save your business money as well!

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.

    January 28, 2013

    Sourcing the perfect timber for home improvements

    CNC Cutting,Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 12:47 pm

    If you’re in need of cut to size plywood and other materials to help you complete a property extension, you’re not alone. Many firms and individuals around the country are seeking timber for the purposes of revamping real estate in this way.

    Thankfully, getting hold of the necessary products is now easy. Here at Booker Timber we specialise in offering plywood sheets and other forms of wood.

    New rules

    You might be welcoming a move by the government to relax the red tape associated with building conservatories and extensions. Last month, the coalition administration announced that anyone looking to enhance their properties through measures such as building conservatories or extensions will not be subject to any rules requiring them to carry out additional building works on other parts of their homes.

    Proposals for ‘consequential improvements’, whereby work conducted on one part of a residence would trigger a requirement to carry out energy efficiency improvement works throughout, have been halted. The government decided that this would deter many consumers from having any work done in the first place.

    Straightforward

    Commenting on the thinking behind the move, communities secretary Eric Pickles said: “Having consulted carefully, the government has noted the potential danger that introducing consequential improvements would, in fact, discourage people from undertaking home improvements.

    “This measure ensures that it will remain straightforward for hard-working homeowners to undertake small-scale home improvements and conservatories.”

    Demand for timber to rise?

    This development may lead to a rise in demand for certain kinds of timber. After all, if more people are encouraged to engage in domestic revamps, the quantity of wood required will go up.

    Come to us

    By sourcing your timber from us, you can rest assured you will benefit from excellent quality and accurate results without breaking the bank in the process. We specialise in supplying the industrial sector nationwide, as well as the trade and DIY sectors in the north-west.

    We offer a vast array of timber-related products and pride ourselves on providing the perfect solutions to challenging requests.

    Our facilities

    One of the reasons why we’re able to achieve such impressive results concerns the fact that we have a hugely impressive production facility that combines the latest and most impressive CNC machinery with powerful software.

    Indeed, our CNC Beam saws are among the biggest in the UK and we are able to cut to within 0.1mm accuracy.

    Take your pick

    Also, we offer an impressive selection of materials. You can choose from MDF, chipboard, plywood, orientated strand board, hardboard and melamine faced chipboard. We can even cut plasterboard and most types of plastic panels.

    To find out more about how we operate and to discover whether or not we have the ideal solutions for your project, just take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly and helpful team by phone or email.

    When it comes to MDF sheets and other timber products, you can see us as your one-stop-shop. We won’t let you down.

    January 14, 2013

    Precision cut timber

    Timber — Tags: , — Booker Timber @ 12:40 pm

    When you’re on the lookout for a timber merchant to provide you with cut-to-size wood to use in projects, accuracy may be foremost on your mind.

    After all, if you ask for timber in certain shapes and sizes and the materials you receive don’t quite conform to your requests, you can encounter a range of problems. In the worst cases, you may not be able to use the wood at all, while in others you might find that you have to waste your time cutting the timber to the right size yourself.

    Use the experts

    The good news is, there’s a simple way to avoid these potentially costly and time consuming difficulties. By coming to us here at Booker Timber, you can rest assured that you’ll get exactly what you ask for.

    This might help you complete projects on time and to the necessary high standards. It could also bring your stress levels down.

    What makes us different?

    There are a number of ways in which we stand out from the crowd. For example, we have invested in state of the art CNC machinery and we also use powerful software. This impressive combination enables us to produce accurate and efficient solutions within no time.

    Our CNC Beam saws are among the biggest in the whole of the country and we have the capacity and skill to handle and cut sheets up to six metres long and four metres wide, with board thicknesses of up to 90mm. Meanwhile, we can cut to within 0.1mm accuracy.

    Variety

    It’s not only in terms of precision that we’re leaders of the pack. We also offer an impressive choice of timber products. We can cut or router MDF, chipboard, plywood, orientated strand board, hardboard and melamine faced chipboard. Also, our saws will cut plasterboard and most types of plastic panels.

    Saving you cash

    Of course, accuracy isn’t the only issue you’re likely to focus on. You might also want to source superb value materials. Again, we’re perfectly placed to help. Our optimisation software will calculate the most efficient way to cut boards where different sizes are required. This means we can reduce wastage and minimise the number of boards required.

    Particularly now when times are tough and everyone is counting their pennies, saving cash may be especially important.

    A flexible approach

    Regardless of the scale of your order, we will be able to help. Our services are available to everyone, from large companies to enthusiastic DIYers.

    The full low-down

    If you think we may be able to help you and are keen to find out more about the services we offer, just take a look around our website. You can get the full low-down about the techniques and machines we use to create such impressive results.

    You can also get in touch with our friendly and helpful team by phone or email. Whether you’re in need of cut to size chipboard, cut to size plywood or anything else, we may well be perfectly placed to assist you.

    November 12, 2012

    Timber is an increasingly common feature in UK gardens

    Timber — Tags: — Booker Timber @ 9:50 am

    Over recent years, there has been an increase in demand for plywood sheets and other forms of timber for use in gardens. This is because the popularity of wooden garden features has risen and now many outdoor areas feature an array of these goods.

    For example, timber is used in raised beds, items of furniture and decking, as well as sheds and other outdoor buildings.

    No surprise

    It’s no real surprise that interest in wooden products like this has increased. Homeowners are keen to ensure that they get optimum usage from their gardens and by investing in additional furniture, ornamental goods and decking, they can do precisely this.

    Also, using products like this can make outdoor spaces easier to maintain. For busy consumers who don’t have time for lots of gardening, this can be ideal. They can keep this part of their properties in impressive shape without spending hours and hours working on them.

    Meeting demand

    If you’re to meet consumer demand for wooden garden products, you’ll need a timber merchant you can rely on.

    This is where we come in. Here at Booker Timber we’re experts when it comes to wood and should have exactly what you’re after. You can have complete confidence in our precision cutting services and you can also benefit from impressive levels of customer service.

    Value for money

    In addition, we offer impressive value for money and this may be especially important now. Consumers and businesses are operating on tight budgets, so in order to attract interest in your goods and services, you may have to ensure you’re at the top of your game.

    As part of this, it’s crucial to provide competitive prices. Unless you’re able to woo customers in this way, you might lose out to rival organisations.

    We ensure that our marine plywood and other materials are competitively priced because we appreciate the importance of this issue.

    Accuracy is key

    Of course, cost isn’t the only factor you need to consider. You’re no doubt after high quality and precisely cut timber as well. We cut to within 0.1mm accuracy, meaning you can have complete confidence in the dimensions of our wood.

    Our large computerised robotic routers can cut shapes from sheet material, chamfering and drilling and we have some of the largest beam saws in the UK. When it comes to accurate timber cutting, our services cannot be surpassed.

    More info

    So, if you’re keen to continue cashing in on consumer appetites for timber garden products and want a merchant that can sell you exactly what you need, when you need it, you’ve come to the right place. We’re passionate about offering the best possible service and know all there is to know about wood.

    For more information, just take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly and professional team either by phone or email. We’re on hand to answer your queries.

    With our help, you should find you can more than meet your customers’ expectations.

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