Anybody have a good number for the price difference in birch and beech? A percentage would be fine.
Right after Thanksgiving, I bid on doing several cabinets for a customer. Since they weren’t sure what they wanted, I gave them a number based on replacing the existing cabs (dark oak stained, particle board veneered, builders cabs from the 70’s) with new birch cabs. After not hearing from them for almost a month, I wrote them off.
About 15 minutes ago, I got an email saying that they were close (finally!!) to a decision, but wanted to ask about using beech instead of birch as well as some changes in the designs. The design changes are no sweat, but I won’t be able to check on the pricing (or availability) of beech until next Wednesday (Xmas can come around at the most inconvenient time!) – lol
So, can anyone give me a percentage difference in the price of beech v.s. birch
Thanks
Replies
I check my latest numbers which may be out of date already..
I have no plywood Beech prices to compare Birch to..(maybe special order only)
Rough 4/4
Supplier #1 (full retail)
Beech $1.95, Yellow Birch $2.85, Red Birch $5.75
Supplier #2 (wholesaler with limited reatil sales)
No Beech, Yellow Birch $2.20, Red Birch $3.75
These are retail Vermont prices. 5% to 10% discounts usually apply to these prices.
Hope this helps.
dave....some ply pices http://www.boulterplywood.com/
groff and groffhttp://www.groffslumber.com/body_index.html
what I pay, or frenchy for that matter, could be 100% more, or less, than you pay for beech n birch.
it's important to get local prices.
some of my suppliers will not even give me a price list- lumber is traded daily on the mercantile exchanges!
Expert since 10 am.
Wood prices for beech and birch are very sensitive to local pricing. In some areas, beech is more expensive, while the opposite is the case in other areas. Also, the relationship can change depending on what is available.
For competitive pricing, I would strongly suggest you contact your wood supplier. That's the only way to be sure you have the correct and current information.
BTW, there is little difference between birch and beech. In fact, many can't tell the difference.
I'll be checking the local suppliers on Wednesday, but I just needed a sense of the possible price difference. I've never had a customer ask for beech and I can't even remember if I've seen it locally. It isn't commonly used around here.
Dave
For solid stock, I think you'll find the price difference to be minimal. However, for cabinet grade plywood, you're probably looking at a special order item (beech), and it may cost as much as double for the plywood. I wouldn't throw a number at the customer without checking with my supplier, first.
Happy Holidays,
Jeff
PS I am doing a job right now in rustic (knotty) alder. The hardwood stock is cheap at @ $2.20 per board foot for 4/4, but the plywood cost (for 14 sheets) was $30 MORE than A grade cherry. Cherry hardwood is 3 times the price of the alder hardwood stock. Reason being, it is not a species used alot here in the midwest.
Just for grins how long are your bids good for?
I usually give the client 30 days after that it isnt any good and I have to rebid the job
I gave them two weeks (my standard timeframe) with the caveat that I could tweak the schedule and/or price after that.
The cost of cabinet grade beech ply will be a biggie. They want a modern look with slab doors and that's gonna take quite a bit of good ply.
The carcasses can still be birch since they won't be visible.
$%@ Customers!!
You have to be like a tree and BEND in the wind.. Never break..
$%@ Customers!! Thgy pay the bills but then again there is limits so you have to tell them... Some things cost MUCH more that others!
Edited 12/23/2007 8:49 am by WillGeorge
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled