You've placed your order, the lumber is milled and ready, and delivery day is approaching. A little preparation on your end ensures your reclaimed lumber arrives in perfect condition and stays that way until installation.
Clear the delivery path. Our trucks are big — a standard flatbed is 8.5 feet wide and up to 53 feet long. Make sure there's a clear route from the street to where you want the lumber placed. Measure overhead clearances if we'll be driving under trees, power lines, or building overhangs.
Prepare a level storage area. Lumber should be stored flat, off the ground, on a level surface. We recommend placing 4x4 blocks or concrete blocks every 4 feet to create a stable base. If storing outdoors, make sure the area drains well — standing water is the enemy.
Have stickers ready. If the lumber will be stored for more than a few days before use, place thin wood spacers (stickers) between each layer to allow air circulation. This prevents moisture buildup and staining. Stickers should be aligned vertically for even weight distribution.
Cover but don't seal. If storing outdoors, cover the top of the stack with a tarp or plywood to shed rain. But don't wrap the sides — you want air circulation. A tightly wrapped stack will trap moisture and can promote mold growth.
Plan for weight. Reclaimed lumber is heavy. A pallet of reclaimed oak flooring can weigh 2,000+ pounds. A single 8x8 beam 16 feet long weighs around 250 pounds. If you don't have a forklift on site, let us know and we can arrange liftgate delivery — but you'll still need bodies to move material once it's on the ground.
Check the moisture situation. If the lumber is going into a heated building, try to get it inside and acclimatized at least a week before installation — ideally two weeks for flooring. This lets the wood adjust to the interior temperature and humidity, reducing post-installation movement.