Price Increase 1st September 2010

Reluctantly we are having to increase our prices a little on September 1st.

We are having to do this as we have seen huge increase in timber prices as supplied to us. We have had a 25% increase in the last six months alone.

Why Have Prices Increased?

There are a whole host of reasons that have lead to the increases

1. LOG SUPPLY: In 2009 & 2010 the timber industry has seen shortages due to forest owners holding logs back, creating a shortage in wood supplies which has lead to rises in prices.

2. MILL CLOSURES: During 2009 & 2010 many sawmills closed due to a lack of log supply and the down turn in demand for the end product. Some mills were mothballed and others closed forever.

3. FREIGHT COSTS: These have risen recently from a low point in 2009 along with fuel costs. There has also been delays in shipments from Northern Europe as a result of one of the coldest winters in the last 40 years.

4. CURRENCY: When we buy direct from Europe, stirling's weakness affects prices.

5. NORTH AFRICA: has a substantial house building programme and  Swedish sawmills have shipped 45% more timber to this area. They are happy to pay higher prices to secure the raw material.

6.PAPER: More logs today are going straight to pulp to satisfy the increase in paper demand created by the use of computers. I definitely use a lot more paper than I ever did before I had a computer.

7: WOOD PELLETS: Again logs are being sent straight into production to create a fuel for pellet burning stoves and boilers. This new eco-style of boiler which originally was only meant to be used for scrap wood and off cuts is increasing in huge volumes as new ways of heating our homes become available.

All of these facts are combining to make our buildings here at "Prime Stables" that bit more expensive. Rest assured, we will be working hard to secure top quality timber for your new buildings and I trust this helps explain a little about the world of timber and why we are being forced to raise our prices.