Supplying Timber Issue 9 0 - Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 41
———— STORING TIMBER ————
Boards thinner than 6mm will need
extra support underneath and,
when stockpiling large quantities,
breaking them into smaller, evenly
stacked batches can prevent
bowing and distortion.
For interior-grade sheets,
outdoor storage is never
acceptable. When using factory
昀椀nished and speciality sheet
materials indoors, they should be
stored as described for a minimum
of 48 hours in the dried-out
building they are going to be 昀椀xed
in, so that they’ve adjusted to the
environment and won’t shrink or
expand once installed.
Managing larger timbers
Then there are the bulkier items,
such as roof trusses, I-joists, and
timber frame panels. These are
often delivered direct to site in
large quantities, and so timing
becomes critical. Ideally, they
should arrive just before they
are due for installation. If that’s
not possible, then they need to
be stored carefully: trusses, for
example, should be supported
at their nodes, never left resting
on their metal plates, and always
lifted at the correct 昀椀xing points.
Once assembled on site, they
should be covered promptly to
protect against exposure. Timber
frame panels, similarly, need to be
stacked side-up on level bearers
and kept shielded from both rain
and excessive sun.
Certi昀椀ed timber products,
especially those requiring chainof-custody veri昀椀cation, should be
stored separately to maintain easy
identi昀椀cation and traceability. If
you’re responsible for managing
these materials on site or in
branch, ensure certi昀椀cation is up
to date and that they’re protected
in line with the same stringent
storage standards applied to all
other products.
Protecting timber
during transport
Transporting timber introduces
another set of risks. A 昀氀atbed truck
may seem like a simple solution,
but cleanliness and dryness are
essential before loading. Timber
should be secured using nonabrasive ratchet straps, with
padding to prevent marks or
indentations. Over-tightening is
a common mistake; while it may
seem to o昀昀er security, it can
actually damage the timber’s
surface or even its internal
structure. Protecting timber from
the elements during transit is also
crucial. A breathable, waterproof
tarp will prevent rain and UV
exposure from taking their toll, but
air昀氀ow is, again, vital to prevent
trapped condensation from
undermining your e昀昀orts.
Even the journey itself matters.
Poor road conditions and long
distances can cause vibration
damage and movement within
the load. Careful route planning,
moderate speeds, and suspensionequipped vehicles help to mitigate
these risks. For valuable deliveries,
tracking shipments can also be
useful – not just for security but for
monitoring conditions and timing.
Loading and unloading requires
the same level of care. Mechanical
aids like forklifts should always be
used for heavy packs to prevent
drops, chips, or unnecessary
handling strain. And stacking
timber once it’s on site should be
done with the same diligence as in
the yard. Don’t forget the basics
– taking pieces from the top of a
stack, not halfway through, will
help prevent collapses, injury and
stock damage.
And, of course, none of this
works without good organisation.
Keep your timber well labelled
and logically arranged so it’s
easy to 昀椀nd and handle without
unnecessary rummaging or
reshu昀툀ing. Rotate your stock
regularly, using older timber
昀椀rst to avoid product loss from
degradation over time. Make sure
your team understands – everyone
who handles timber should know
and work with these principles.
By embedding best practices
across every touchpoint – from
delivery to installation – you can
protect your investment, reduce
waste, and maintain the high
standards your customers expect.
Advice on safely stacking
and handling wood products
is available from the Health
and Safety Executive.
www.hse.gov.uk
Information on the care
of trussed rafters is in the
Trussed Rafter Association’s
Technical Handbook and
Product Data Sheet No 3:
Guidelines for the Storage
and Erection of Trussed
Rafters.
www.tra.org.uk
STOCKING TIMBER
R TIMBER STOCKS SAFE?
