Shipping Information
How to Qualify for Free Shipping
Our free shipping promotion covers economy shipping to the lower 48 U.S. states on orders over $195 before discount. For a limited time only, this includes both commercial & residential freight shipments.
Order Changes
Once your order is placed, we cannot guarantee that it can be modified or cancelled. We process orders quickly and your order may be too far along to be changed or cancelled. Please reach out to us as soon as you are aware of a change that needs made.
If a shipping address needs changed after the carrier has taken possession of the package, carriers will charge a reconsignment fee. This fee is not covered by shipping costs paid or our Free Shipping Promotion and must be handled prior to the reconsignment being approved. If we receive a reconsignment request from the carrier, we will reach out to verify and collect the amount due. If you need to update your shipping address, please reach out to us as soon as possible. This will help avoid reconsignment fees, redelivery fees, and misdelivered items.
Ground Shipping
Small items will be shipped via Ground Services such as UPS Ground, USPS, and Speedee Delivery. All ground orders, with no custom work, will generally ship the business day after it was placed. Orders placed over the weekend, or during peak times, may take 1-2 days to be shipped depending on order volume. You will receive a shipping email as soon as your package label is printed.
Typical ground shipping times range from 3-7 business days with UPS and USPS, depending on your distance from our facility in Central Iowa. Speedee Delivery services areas here in the Midwest and their transit times are typically 1-3 business days.
Please note: due to additional handling large or oversized packages may take 1-2 days longer for delivery than smaller sized packages.
Freight Shipping
Due to the size and weight of our products, some orders are shipped via LTL or Commercial Freight. Freight shipments can be delivered to a commercial address, held at a local freight terminal, or delivered to a residential address. We use several different freight carriers and will notify you by email of who we shipped the order with and the tracking number once your package has been loaded on a truck at our facility. This email will also contain information about what to expect at the time of delivery. We highly recommend reading over this information so you are prepared to accept your shipment as once your package is loaded on the truck, ownership has been transferred onto you.
Shipments to a commercial address will be delivered Monday - Friday during normal business hours. If your company has differing or odd hours, please note this when placing your order. If your package will be held at the terminal, the carrier will call you as soon as it is available for pickup. For Residential deliveries, the carrier will call once your package has arrived to the terminal to schedule a delivery appointment. Residential shipments under 8' long and 48" wide will be shipped with Liftgate Service to help with unloading the shipment. If your shipment is over these dimensions, the driver will be unable to use the liftgate and you will need to prepare a way to unload the shipment upon arrival. Residential deliveries are delayed by a day or two because of appointment scheduling. Residential deliveries should be scheduled in a timely manner to minimize handling by the freight carrier and to get the shipment from an uncontrolled environment to your home. To receive your package quicker, we recommend choosing the terminal pickup or commercial option.
Upon receipt of your freight shipment, you should open and unpack the items immediately to allow proper airflow. Leaving the order wrapped on the pallet or in the crate will encourage the wood to move and can lead to cracks, checks, warping. etc.
If you notice any changes in the shipment or damage to the shipment please be sure to note it on the BOL or Freight Bill prior to signing it (i.e. hole in side, crushed corner, etc.). If the driver does not permit you to note the damage, ask them to make the damage notes prior to signing it. If they state they will NOT note the damages there is obvious external damage, call us immediately at (515) 832-8733.
If you do not inspect before signing, and do not note any changes or damages on the BOL or Freight Bill, you are, for all practical purposes, waiving the right to collect on a damage claim, even if the damage is discovered later (known as concealed damage). If you suspect there is concealed damage, open the container before signing the BOL and inspect the contents. The driver must stay until the BOL is signed, so do not be intimidated or rushed by them. If you are unable to inspect the contents at that time, please note “Subject to Inspection” on the BOL.
Canadian Shipments
Orders shipped to Canada will incur additional duties, taxes, and other fees. These additional fees associated with shipping are the customer's responsibility and are not included in shipping fees charged. The carrier will reach out to you directly with any fees due once the package has been processed through customs. We require a broker for all Canada shipments. If you do not have one, we will assign one through the shipping carrier.
International Shipping
We can ship worldwide; however, the buyer is responsible for verifying that our product can be shipped into their country and are fully responsible for all broker duties and taxes. For international shipments, we recommend setting up an account with www.myus.com, or a similar shipping service. They are a facility where you can have items shipped in from all over the US and then have them all shipped out to you together. The company will provide you with a US address to ship to, allowing you to take advantage of many Free Shipping promotions! Their rates are based on total weight and they are able to offer much better rates through the Post Office, Fedex , UPS and other carriers.
Local Pickup
We are not a retail store front, but if you are in the area we do offer a local pickup option. We ask that you complete your order online and contact us to schedule an appointment for pickup. Pickups must be scheduled Monday – Friday from 8AM-3PM. Weekend pickups are not available.
Other Fees
Chargeback claims may incur a $25 fee. Storage fees may be accessed if shipments are not picked up from freight terminals within 7 days, or if products are held at our warehouse for final payment before shipping. Please keep in contact with us to avoid these charges.
Damaged Items
Damage must be reported within 3 business days. Although we package our products diligently to ensure that they come to you in the condition they left our site, we can't always guarantee that they are handled with the care that they require once they leave our shop. In the event that you receive your item(s) and it is damaged, please email us immediately so we can immediately address it with the carrier. Please be sure to provide as much information as you can regarding the package appearance, what was damaged, and be sure to include pictures of the damage.*
If you have a replacement item in mind, please be sure to let us know and we will see what we can do to get that shipped out to you right away.
*With UPS, once we file a claim, they require the original packaging and the item to be held at your residence for up to five business days. Please keep the packaging and item available, and be ready to package it back up for your UPS driver to pick up, should they request an inspection.
Received Incorrect Item
If your order arrives and it is not right, please email us! Provide as much of a description as you can of what was received versus what you should have been received. If you can include pictures of the item you got, this will help us greatly while investigating the problem!
Common Questions
Q: Are these pictures of the actual slab(s) I will receive, or just one similar?
The pictures you see with this listing are pictures of the exact slab you will receive. Each item is listed as a one of a kind product that can only be sold once. See the “Description” tab for more details regarding this item.
Q: I don't need both (or all) slabs, can I just purchase one of them?
Unfortunately, we cannot split up any of the packages. However, we do have slabs that are sold in singles as well. You can narrow your search down by using our search filters that correlate with your dimensions. You may also use our online chat service to speak with a wood expert while that can help you find various options while you are browsing.
Q: How do the slabs come if I don’t select any finishing options?
A majority of our slabs are planed on both sides before they are listed on the site. This helps smooth out some of the marks left from the saw. You would then have some sanding to do before a finish was applied.
Q: Can you guys custom cut this slab to my dimensions?
Absolutely! We have a full shop that can custom cut any of the slabs. If you have any drawings or sketches of your design, you can always send those directly to service@thelumbershack.com to discuss your project with one of our wood experts!
Q: I see I can add epoxy to my order. What do you offer, and how do I specify want I want?
We do offer epoxy fill services on any slab that is being fully finished by us. This is a popular choice for river table slabs, or any slabs that may have some larger voids or cracks. We use TotalBoat and West Systems epoxy, and have many different colors and shades in blue, gold, copper, black, white, red, purple, and many more! If you would like to add this to your order, please add a note in the notes section when you go to checkout. From there, someone from our team will contact you with a quote and to discuss your design details.
Q: Does “live edge” mean there is still bark on the slab?
The term live edge does not necessarily mean that the slab still has bark on the edges. Often times, the bark has fallen off, and the live edge refers to the surface just below the bark. This has a smoother texture than bark, but still has a very natural look. If the bark is still intact, this will be listed in the Product Features section of the listing.
Q: It says the slab has been planed on both sides. How is that different from flattening?
Most of our slabs are finished planed on both sides. This means the slab was ran through our planer to smooth out the surface of the wood. The main difference is that the planer will not flatten/sand out any of the tapers, bows, cups, or twists that the slab is listed with. You can find these details in the Description section of this listing. The flattening services would remove any tapers, bows, cups, or twists listed with that slab, leaving you with a perfectly level surface on one or both sides of your slab.
More questions? See a full list of common questions and answers here.