Procurement guides

Practical notes from the sourcing floor

Material grades

Reading timber veneer specs

Veneer thickness, core construction, and finish codes decide how a cabinet ages. Learn which specification lines to confirm before any deposit is paid.

Factory checks

What to test before production

Ask for hardware load samples, finish tolerance photos under daylight, and a dimensional check against your drawings. These three steps catch most avoidable rework.

Customs clearance

Packing and clearance steps

Container loading, moisture barriers, and export paperwork each carry their own risk. Plan the sequence early so goods arrive in the state they left the factory.

Field notes

Judging supplier claims

A supplier saying a slab is premium or a hinge is heavy-duty tells you very little. Ask for the test report, the grade code, and a sample that you can hold against your own dimensions.

Dimensional rigor matters most when pieces travel. Confirm tolerances on every drawing, allow for finish variation between batches, and measure again on arrival before installation begins.

Have a material question?

Send me the specific timber, slab, or hardware you are weighing, and I will help you work out what to check next.