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LMA Timber
Lately, a new supplier has entered the New Zealand market, offering Australian hardwood at prices that seem too good to be true. In an industry where raw materials, global shipping and rigorous quality compliance have fixed baseline costs, slashing prices to buy work is a dangerous race to the bottom that never ends well for the end user.
When a supplier drastically undercuts the market, they are not discovering a magic operational efficiency. Instead, they are sacrificing timber quality, grading standards, compliance and essential customer service just to secure a quick sale and gain short-term market share. The same can be said for many other construction products out there that are tried and tested with suppliers being beaten up again and again on price alone...
The illusion of the bargain in hardwood timber
For architects and builders, sourcing cheap timber can initially look like an easy win for project cash flow. However, genuine reclaimed and sustainably sourced Australian hardwood is a premium, high-performance material that requires expert sourcing, accurate moisture seasoning, and strict chain-of-custody documentation.
If a newcomer is selling below cost to build a footprint, they will eventually have to cut critical corners to survive. That compromise might show up as poor moisture management, incorrect structural grading, or a complete lack of technical support when the product arrives on site.
A commercial fit-out or architectural home is designed to stand for decades, not months. Sourcing substandard materials to save 5-10% on the initial invoice only transfers massive liability to the builder and the specifier down the track when the timber begins to deliver substandard results or even worse, fail compliance.
Real value customer service and picking up the pieces
LMA Timber have spent years building their reputation as New Zealand's largest family-owned importer of premium Australian hardwood. They know exactly what it costs to import 24+ tonnes of quality timber weekly, ensure absolute compliance with local building standards, and provide genuine customer support across our nationwide showrooms.
The LMA team are already beginning to see the early signs of this race to the bottom in the local market. It will not be long before their team is called in to pick up the pieces from a trail of failing cladding, cracked beams, and silent phone lines when frustrated clients try to get hold of their discount supplier.
When cheap timber fails on site, the cost of remediation, delayed handovers, and damaged professional reputations far outweighs any temporary discount. True value in our industry is found in reliability, deep expertise, and partnering with a supplier that stands behind their product for the lifetime of the build.
As professionals, we must ask ourselves if we are truly willing to risk our hard-earned reputations on cheap timber.
Have you ever specified or purchased a cheaper building material only to pay twice as much to fix the mistakes later? Let us discuss how we can collectively protect New Zealand's building standards.
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