Behind the Grain: Bowens Quality Timber

Why Timber Quality Matters

Frank Di Stefano knows a thing or two about timber. As the timber specialist at Bowens for 10 years, Frank has seen the many challenges with timber onsite and off-site. His job is to provide timber advice, source specialty and unusual timbers, deal with builders’ concerns and ensure timber wholesalers deliver products of the highest standard.

“We’re dealing with sourcing materials, so we want to make sure that the timber is going to perform well and meet the end user expectations,” Frank said.

For an insight into how Bowens ensures quality timber, we sat down with Frank for a behind-the-scenes glimpse.

How We Ensure Only Top-Quality Timber Is Sold

Maintaining a high standard of quality requires regular checks in the handling, storing, and delivery of the timber. From the moment timber is received, it undergoes an inspection to ensure it meets our expectations.

“Every branch does quality assurance checks. We’ll identify any warped or twisted timbers, talk to the supplier, and return the damaged lengths,” Frank said. This stops any damaged stock from going out to site.

As a general rule, when handled and stored, timber should be;

• Kept off the ground
• Protected from weather (depending on the product)
• Wrap in plastic during transportation
• Ensure the customer is notified prior to their delivery and able to be on-site to receive the timbers.

“The infrastructure in our buildings allows a lot of our timber to be stored undercover. Minimising outdoor exposure is one of the biggest advantages to keep the timber in good shape,” Frank said.

Defects vs Character: How Visual Grades are Changing

When you’re choosing timber, it’s important to know the difference between a defect and a permissible natural feature. Knots, grain variation, gum veins, and colour shifts are all part of the timber, and predominantly not faults.

Where things can go wrong is in expectations. Flooring is a good example where Select Grade is often chosen for its minimal features. Customers opt for this expecting a clean, uniform look. However, you might see more natural features than you’d expect, and technically, they’re still within the limitations.

“There are permissible features allowed in certain grades, and we see them more so now than ever, manufacturers seem to be pushing the full envelope of the Australian Standards. This correlates with the product becoming more difficult to source at forestry,” Frank said.

It is not uncommon for producers to have their own grade of flooring from a blend of Australian Standards.

That’s why clear communication is key to avoiding misunderstandings, ensuring customers recognise what falls within grade standards and is not a defect in the timber. That said, mistakes can still happen, and timbers with defects can be missed.

“If there’s an error, we always offer a replacement. And if it’s a larger concern on-site, we’ll involve the manufacturer and resolve it with them and work towards a rectification on the job,” Frank added.

Why Expertise Matters When Buying Timber

Bowens has a reputation for selling quality timbers, from structural pine and LVLs to hardwood decking and timber flooring. They can also source unusual or recycled timbers, often used to create a visual effect or match existing timbers.

“With specialty or recycled timber, we do a lot of work in trying to get as close as possible to what the customers’ expectations are. We may even organise photos of the product prior to them receiving it.”

This sort of expertise is key to offering builders quality products that meet their expectations. Frank spends a lot of time with customers, ensuring that he understands what they want and that the customer gets the timber product they are expecting.

‘The last thing you want is for customers to say, I had no idea it was going to look like that.’

For more information about our timber products, explore our timber range online or visit your local Bowens store for expert advice.