| Timber can usually be bought from d-i-y shops, some | | | | visits and to buy materials for future use. |
| hardware stores and iron-mongers, builders' | | | | Many d-i-y shops carry a stock of stan¬dard size |
| merchants and, of course, timber merchants. The | | | | softwoods and will often cut wood to size, though |
| smaller shops and many builders" merchants do not | | | | the cost may be fairly high. |
| stock hardwoods but most towns have at least one | | | | Timber prices can vary widely so it is worth shopping |
| limber merchant or saw mill selling softwoods and | | | | around before you buy. Stockists generally work out |
| hardwoods. | | | | their timber prices on the basis of its cost a cubic |
| Timber merchants are often cheaper than other | | | | metre. What this means is that 1.8m length of 50 x |
| shops, particularly for large quantities, and lend to | | | | 50mm softwood generally costs twice as much as a |
| know more about wood how to use it and how to | | | | 1.8m length of 50 x 25mm. Very small sizes (which |
| treat it. But the larger ones are often busy supplying | | | | involve a lot of work for their volume) and very large |
| the trade and will generally expect a fairly large order | | | | sizes (which may be difficult for the timber merchant |
| presented in a knowledgeable manner. Common sizes | | | | to get) often work out more expensive than you |
| are widely available in the large do-it-yourself | | | | would expect. Many timber merchants price their |
| superstores. | | | | softwood by the metre but sell it in the standard |
| Small timber merchants who rely heavily on d-i-y | | | | metric lengths. Hard¬woods are sometimes still |
| customers and builders' merchants mainly slock | | | | priced by the foot. |
| softwoods. The timber can vary in quality so it is | | | | Some limber stockists use a sliding scale for working |
| essential to choose it carefully yourself and not to | | | | out their discounts the more you order the less |
| order it by telephone. However, by care¬ful | | | | expensive it is a metre. Others have a simple cut-off |
| choice, it is possible to buy small quantities of good | | | | point quantities up to 100m are one price a meter, |
| quality timber cheaper than from many large timber | | | | quantities over 100m are cheaper, so it can work out |
| merchants. From time to time, small timber | | | | less expensive to buy 56 standard 1.8m lengths of |
| mer¬chants obtain limited quantities of new or | | | | soft¬wood (100.8m) than 55 (99m). Most |
| reclaimed hardwoods. If you have much call for | | | | stockists deliver timber but charges and distances |
| hardwoods, il may be worthwhile making frequent | | | | vary. |