Timber: how to buy beams, boards or panelling at a good price
Cubic metres, pieces or metres
Timber is usually sold by the cubic metre (or cubic foot), while the need is often expressed in pieces and length. To avoid mistakes, convert it: the section, the length of one board and the quantity. For example, 5 m³ of 150×150 mm beams, 6 m long, is clear to the maker and lets him work out the price at once. Boards (OSB, plywood, chipboard) are bought in sheets, and panelling in square metres.
Species and drying
Pine and similar softwoods are the most common, easy to work and affordable. Teak and sal are more durable and resist moisture better, hardwoods are used for furniture, stairs and floors. Ask separately about moisture: kiln drying reduces the risk of warping and cracks, while natural moisture is cheaper but the wood “moves” after laying. For a frame, floor and finishing, dry wood is recommended. In the monsoon, check how the timber has been stored.
Grade and finish
- Grade — a higher grade has fewer knots and cracks; for finishing it matters a lot, for rough sheathing not always.
- Planed or unplaned — planed is smooth and more exact in size, unplaned is cheaper.
- Treatment — protection against rot and insects, needed outdoors and for roofs.
- Profile — panelling, log-look cladding and tongue-and-groove boards have different joints.
What to put in your request
- Type of timber — beam, board, panelling, batten, OSB, plywood, chipboard.
- Size — section and length, for example 150×150 mm, 6 m.
- Species — pine, teak, sal, others.
- Quantity — in m³, pieces or sheets.
- Grade and finish — first grade, planed, treated.
- Drying — kiln-dried or natural moisture.
- Address and delivery — unloading by crane or by hand.
- Budget — for example up to ₹25,000 per m³.
Example: “I need 5 m³ of pine beams, 150×150 mm, 6 m long, first grade, kiln-dried, planed. Delivery to a plot near Pune. Budget up to ₹25,000 per m³.”
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
Sawmills and yards have different stock and different distances to you, so prices can vary a lot. Instead of calling around, you post a request, and sellers answer in the chat with the species, grade, moisture, price per m³ and the cost of delivery to your site. Each seller sees where their offer ranks and improves the terms. BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer first, and the seller's reviews are next to it. Your phone is hidden until you choose a seller. More in how it works.
How to compare, and what not to fall for
Most often people compare the price per m³, but the real difference is in the actual section and moisture. A “150×150 beam” may be nominal: ask for the actual sizes, and check the number of pieces per cube. Ask about the quality of drying, straightness and geometry, and the look of the ends. Agree who unloads and what vehicle will bring it, especially to a narrow street.
Related to wood are paints and varnishes for protection, fasteners and hardware and bricks, concrete and blocks for the foundation.
