Frequently Asked Questions

Browse through the most common questions about our Oak products and services, if you have any further questions don’t hesitate to ring one of our dedicated sales team members for a chat.

  1. You can have your Oak delivered anywhere, as long as it meets the minimum order requirements. Here at Border Hardwood, we have a transport team within the office teamed up with a state of the art vehicle tracking system, enabling customers to have second by second updates on deliveries.

  2. Sustainable business practices are important to us here at Border Hardwood and we aim towards keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible. We hold two accreditations with both the PEFC ™and the FSC® that certifies the sustainable sourcing of our timber.

    Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the high quality of the timber we source; it extends through all of our business practices and through to the daily running of the timber yard. This is important to the ethos of the business. We make sure that we care for the environment that we source our timber from, ensuring the longevity of the trade.

    We use rainwater harvesting on site and use this water to wash the vehicles, lowering our water usage. This is really important as less than 1% of the world’s water is accessible or usable for our freshwater needs.  Biomass boilers have also been installed on site, where we burn waste wood and offcuts. This makes sure that no Oak goes to waste on site and we make the most of our product. The heat from the boiler is then used to heat the kilns where we air dry the Oak, giving our customers the dryest Oak possible.

    Solar panels have also been installed at the site in Shropshire, to supply green energy to our site and the machines we use. This subsequently lowers the sites demand for energy and our carbon footprint with the excess electricity being put back into the grid.

  3. Being one of the last remaining European Oak Specialists, what makes us different, is our unique personal experience within the European Oak market.

    As a fourth generation family-run business our knowledge of the industry and the experience and trust we have developed is priceless. We have been involved in exporting French oak worldwide since 2003 and have been involved in importing since 1984.

    We aim to ensure that everyone throughout the business is a specialist in what we do, so every member of the team goes through an intensive training program. This gives us the edge in the industry passing on knowledge and experience to give our customers the service they deserve.

    We take great pride in our sourcing and our procurement team is constantly traveling to Europe, sourcing inspecting and grading all the timber prior to arriving in the UK. We work alongside dozens of sawmill throughout the continent to be able to offer the most competitive rates on all European Oak products. This has meant that we have built up close relationships with our suppliers over generations and can offer a quality like no other.

    We currently import over 700 cubic meters of hardwood per week, which is then distributed globally from our head office in Shropshire. This demand for quality timber overseas has allowed us to become the UK European Oak export leaders.

    However specific the request is if its European Oak we can offer it.

    If you wish to contact one of our team directly please do not hesitate to do so at the following number: 01939 235 550

  4. If you would like to place an order with us, discuss product ranges or get a quote don’t hesitate to give us a call today. We offer a range of Oak products and are happy to discuss the best option for your needs. We also offer an onsite sawn to size service for any custom requirements you may have.

    If you would prefer to contact us via email please go to the contact page and fill out the Contact us form. Alternatively, you can reach one of our sales team on info@borderhardwood.com

    Whether you prefer to email, fax or speak to someone in person, please do not hesitate to get in touch, we are here to help.

    You are welcome to call one of our dedicated sales team members on 01939 235 550

  5. Oak is a very versatile and durable product, but choosing the correct type of is crucial. Whatever you need we would be happy to help and can advise you on the best product and grade for your specific usage.

    If you have any question or if you’re unsure, give us a call, one of our experts are always on hand to help.

  6. We are delighted to be able to offer our own in-house structural grading service. This makes sure that we supply our customers with the finest Oak products.Whether you have been asked for a certain grade by an architect or looking for something characterful, we cover all aspects of the grading scale for your convenience. This ensures that all of our customers get both the look and strength they need from their Oak, for whatever project or use you have in mind.

    All of our Oak is sourced from sustainable and well-managed forests in France and we have been importing timber from Europe since 1984. By sourcing only the very best Oak and hardwood we have built up an enviable reputation within the oak supplier industry for quality, something we take great pride in.

    All of our Oak gradings is done in accordance with The British Standard, which came into effect in 2007. This specifies the way we assess the quality of our hardwood and the best use practice.

    Some characteristics of hardwoods which might be considered defects from an appearance grading point of view. These could be characteristics like stain not associated with decay, and pinholes, but these don’t affect the strength of the wood. Other characteristics like the slope of grain, however, can. This is the reason why grading is such an important part of our customer’s purchasing process.

    Once you know what Oak you need but are unsure of the grade don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can advise you on what will be best; For more information on the standard, we use click here.

    Contact our sales team on 01939 235 550 for an informal chat if you have any further questions.

  7. Border Hardwood is is duel certified, showing commitment to our environmental values. We are dedicated to maintaining these certifications and providing our customers with quality, responsibly sourced Oak.

    The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is an NGO that seeks to improve forest management worldwide.  They are dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management while encouraging forest owners and managers to follow best social and environmental practices for the good of people and the planet.  Their certification informs consumers that the forest products they purchase are from a more sustainable source. Our FSC® certification thus, in turn, informs our customers that our timber has been harvested responsibly by our suppliers. Border Hardwood attained FSC® certification in 2016, to show that we comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. Our certifications are also a recognition of our responsible purchasing practices within the industry.

    Border Hardwood have held PEFC® Certification for over 10 years. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification® is devoted to ensuring that forests are managed according to environmental, social and economic criteria. They are an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management through independent third-party certification.  PEFC® works by endorsing national forest certification systems developed collaboratively by all interested stakeholders and has recognised certification systems in 36 countries. They currently represent over 260 million hectares of forest are constantly working to broaden the understanding and importance of sustainable forestry.

    Border Hardwood is committed to the European Timber Regulation (EUTR), working to ensure that no illegally harvested timber enters the EU from anywhere in the world.

    If you would like to discuss our certification or commitment to responsible forestry further, then please call our head office to speak to one of our dedicated sales team. They will be able to inform you or answer any further questions you may have.

Oak Products

Take a look at our oak products. From oak beams, to sleepers, flooring, or complete oak frames.

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Cutting Oak

Our Services

We offer a full grading, drying and cutting service along with a sawn-to-size service.

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