Clarification on timber purchase and what wasteage means

[Tetsuaiga]

I'm thinking about buying some wood from S.L Hardwood online.

Its says this on their timber section

When Hardwood timber is cut from the round it is produced to random width and length, to maximize the yield from the log. These boards are then measured and sold on to hardwood merchants for re-sale. When an end user has a need for instance of 6" wide board this may in many instances come out of 7" 8" or 9" board, this is termed as "wastage" and can vary from 20% up to 50%. This is usable material and is normally costed into the particular project in hand.

Our policy is to achieve a wastage factor within 40% and this should be borne in mind when ordering Hardwood.

Can anyone explain what this means? Because im not really getting it. Does it mean they will charge you for extra wood they include, or do you get given it free?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[marcros]

they charge you for the extra wood that they have to send you.

If you need a 6" board, and they only have a 7", they are not going to trim it down and hope to sell the remaining inch to somebody else. They say that they aim to keep what they send you to 140% of what you order.

 

[Harbo]

You also need to allow for wastage in the thickness of the boards if you are buying sawn - i.e. If you're wanting 20mm planed then buy 25/30mm sawn depending on the quality?

Rod

 

[marcros]

and length

 

[Tetsuaiga]

Thanks, good thing I asked here.