EVERYTHING CHANGES, EXCEPT FOR THE OPENING DATE.

11/12/2012

By Jered Slusser

Rather than defecting out bolt holes, why not make them an integral part of the design? Old meets new, rough meets clean, dull meets shiny.

The old adage in retail construction is “Everything changes, except for the opening date.” This is incredibly true, and despite all the planning in the world, sometimes there’s just not a lot of time to pull a project together. Recently, one of our customers needed 40 sf of custom T&G for a wall panel for a new store overseas, and it had to be in a container 48 hours from the beginning of the conversation. Within 3 hours, we had the stock milled, packaged, and ready to be picked up by UPS, who got it to the container terminal with time to spare. It’s in our DNA to jump through hoops. We know that even a small quantity such as this can make or break the visual impact of a design. We’re continually honing our ability to recommend a material that we know will work with the design, be logical to mill to order, and ship out quickly.

To most, it is a stack of old wood. To our trained eyes, it is a stack of possibilities. How would you use these recycled wine vats?

Each project presents us with opportunities for using materials in our vast stock to make every installation special. We don’t limit ourselves to what is seen on our extensive website, although there are plenty of options available. Our team of sales people, hail from design & construction backgrounds and enjoy finding the perfect wood to set the project apart. A recent restaurant installation in Rochester NY is a great example of this type of effort. Looking beyond the original use of the wood as trusses in a factory, I worked with the owner to develop these planks which celebrate the history of the wood, right down to the old shear ring marks surrounding the bolt holes.

Our teams works seamlessly together allowing for fast project fulfillment, handling the occasional “wood emergency” with ease.

Of course, if we cant get a product to the job site efficiently then none of our work matters. Commercial construction often mandates deliveries be made at times well before the opening of the mall, or while traffic is at a minimum on city streets. Our shipping coordinator, Renee Knowles, has assembled a team of transportation providers that go above and beyond to work with strict delivery requirements. Need a 4 am delivery? No problem. Accurate documentation, communication with the job site and trucking company, and easy-to-manage packaging make it easy.

Clear labels on our protective lumber wrap help the job site know where to direct every skid during hectic offloads.

What challenges do you face in your projects when it comes to selecting reclaimed wood? Let us know, and we can help you hit your opening date. Because we completely understand – it is the one thing that never changes.