my first oak beam,rough value.

[kinderscout]

The is 8 inch by 8 inches by 20ft.

[kinderscout]

Picture

[mendiplogs]

Picture

 

Hi mate BIG JOHN will no mate thanks Jon

[PeakOakFrames]

I pay £17.50/ft3 for standard THB framing grade and £25/ft3 for best THA grade +VAT so I'd be expecting to pay around the £150 +VAT mark. You should be able to get more like Big J said especially to a local builder or private customer.

[Copford sawmill sussex]

I pay £17.50/ft3 for standard THB framing grade and £25/ft3 for best THA grade +VAT so I'd be expecting to pay around the £150 +VAT mark. You should be able to get more like Big J said especially to a local builder or private customer.

 

 

Is that English or French but graded?

[Copford sawmill sussex]

We charge anywhere from 20-30 depending on length and grade

[Johnpl315]

Interesting thread. I have been milling oak but cut it all to shorter length posts and sleepers. To price an oak sleeper competitively against a builders yard such as covers the price basicly works out to just under £15 per cubic foot.

Is it easy to sell larger beams? I have a very large high quality oak to mill in June. If I could get over £20 a cubic foot I would be very happy.

Any advice?

[Copford sawmill sussex]

Don't try to compete with builder yards, they buy in such bulk

[Johnpl315]

Yes but if you cannot compete then why would people but from you? I had an enquiry for oak sleepers the other day, I quoted £25 each only to be told covers are doing them for £24

I understand that large beams are a different kettle of fish but as a one man band I have enough trouble trying to move 8x8 gate posts on my own never mind a 20' beam!

Is it normal that a customer would collect a beam this size?

Sorry for hijacking thread...

[PeakOakFrames]

All our stuff is cut to order. I believe it's all French and Belgian boules brought over and milled here. Sawn to garde but no paperwork as it's an extra cost that we only use if our engineer specifies it. If I was to order direct from France I could get it cheaper and wouldn't have to pay the VAT (inter European trade thingy). But I have a good relationship with my mill and that is a price that isn't too far off the French prices once you take in to account the cost of delivery and allow for the convenience factor of have a mill that is relatively local that should I need to I can drive to to pick up replacement stock. The beams from French grown stock are much better and more consistent quality than anything I've ever seen from English stock. I guess that's what happens when you have well managed forests generation after generation. Hopefully we can get our stocks recovered by the time my kids are grandparents.

 

Big J, no wonder all the framers I know of in Scotland order from the same mill as I use. I grew up in Penicuik and I don't recall seeing many oak tree plantations.