Does Perfect Plank sell directly to residential/homeowners? YES! We strive to provide a quality product to both our commercial and residential customers. Unlike products sold in stores, we do not offer a "Do it yourself" option with pre-cut holes and parts. For this reason, if you are a residential customer, we please ask that you (or a professional) have woodworking experience and tools to install your purchase.

Do you cut to custom sizes? Does it cost extra? Yes, we offer custom sizing (squares and rectangles) typically at no additional charge, however orders with an excess amount of cutting may incur extra charges. Rounds are also available for an additional charge (see below). Our quick turn around time (of approximately one week) is achieved by making standard sizes. It's also common (but not guaranteed) for material to ship slightly oversized; anywhere from 1/8" to 3/4" over. If you need exact measurements you can specify "exact sizing" on your order and we will make it as close as possible to those dimensions. We encourage butcher block orders with meticulous measurements be ordered oversized and cut on location. If we trim your product to a smaller size, the cost will be based on the standard size from which we are cutting. For example; if you order a Maple 1 1/2" x 20" x 100" butcher block it will cost the same as the 1 7/8" x 25" x 120". In this example, for lower quantities there is no charge for this custom cutting. Rounds We also have the ability to cut full rounds for an additional fee between $10 and $50 based on diameter. Rounds can have a 0.75” variance in dimension. Full dimension rounds are additional. WE DO NOT OFFER: SINK CUT-OUTS, EDGE DETAIL (such as eased edges), OR CUSTOM ANGLES/DIAGONALS. Please call if you have further questions regarding custom sizing.

How long do I have before my product needs to be finished? Once you have established that your product has arrived in good condition and is flat, we recommend finishing your butcher block as soon as possible. Any exposure to even a slight difference in humidity can cause your board to cup or warp. Keeping the product inside a climate controlled area with the packaging as intact as possible helps to prevent unnecessary exposure to moisture in the air. KEEP YOUR PACKAGING MATERIALS. Use the existing packaging to shield the product until you are ready to finish. We recommend storing vertically allowing any exposed wood equal access to atmospheric conditions. Should I let my Butcher Block acclimate before sealing? We do not recommend this method, as unfinished wood when left exposed can have undesirable results, including splitting, warping, cupping, delaming, and discoloration. As mentioned above, if your product has arrived in good condition and is flat, we recommend finishing your butcher block as soon as possible.

I see exterior damage, I’ve unpackaged the top during inspection, and I see a problem. What now? We do our best to minimize shipping problems, but despite our efforts they happen from time to time. Here are some issues we see with damaged shipments and the proper way to handle them. All of these procedures are designed to be quickly implemented during the inspection process while the driver is still present. 1. THERE ARE A FEW MARKS AND/OR MINOR DAMAGES TO THE TOP THAT WILL NEED TO BE FIXED, BUT I THINK I CAN HANDLE THEM MYSELF. Write out on the delivery receipt “DAMAGED” and accept the product(s), provided the damages are likely low in cost and easily fixable. Please send photos and notify us by e- mail or telephone immediately to discuss options. After reviewing photos, if the damage warrants a refund, we’ll file a claim with the shipping company on your behalf to recoup repair costs. If you’re unsure of your ability to repair the product, or feel like it could become costly, please wait to hear from us before altering the product. Wrap up the product as much as possible to protect it from exposure to moisture. Continue reading under “Shipping Claims/Replacements” for further information on this process. 2. THERE ARE MAJOR DAMAGES TO THE TOP AND I CANNOT USE THE    PRODUCT. Examples of this would be major cracks, splits, gouges, stains, or other issues that cannot be re-glued, cut off, rounded, or hidden. Write out on the delivery receipt “DAMAGED” and refuse only the damaged product(s). (We’d appreciate if you would please wrap them up as best as you can with the existing packaging and/or whatever spare supplies you have available.) As soon as we receive confirmation from the shipping company that the damaged tops are on their way back, we can then take appropriate steps in resolving the situation. Common options include re-makes, refunds, or further discussion if complications arise. Remakes are expedited as much as possible but are not guaranteed to ship that same week as the damaged delivery. We will do our very best to ship as soon as possible. 3. THERE ARE PIECES MISSING! Write out on the delivery receipt “DELIVERED SHORT” and accept what is there after proper inspection. It’s likely the missing piece(s) will show up in the system and be delivered shortly after. If that’s not the case, notify us by e-mail or telephone and we’ll assist however we can. If the shipping company declares the package “lost” we can promptly file a claim on your behalf and ship out a replacement as soon as possible. 4. I SEE DAMAGE ON THE EXTERIOR OF MY PRODUCT, BUT THE DRIVER IS NOT LETTING ME INSPECT MY PRODUCT! WHAT DO I DO? All XPO drivers we work with are cooperative and reasonable people. We rarely have this problem, but in this unlikely situation write out on the delivery receipt “DAMAGED”. You shouldn’t assume responsibility if you cannot 100% determine if the product is in good condition. If the driver presents further difficulties in allowing this notation, please give us a call and we’ll attempt to resolve the situation. If our office is closed, please notate something on the delivery receipt before letting the driver leave that explains the difficult situation. We’ll address it as soon as possible.  5. I SEE ANOTHER PROBLEM, BUT I’M NOT SURE IT’S SHIPPING DAMAGE. In this situation we’ll need to be 100% involved to see the issue, however we want to avoid holding up the driver while we’re figuring things out. Please take photos and send them to perfectplank@att.net. Give us a call immediately and we’ll have a look to determine the cause of the problem. When they happen, most issues are in some way related to shipping damage. If we determine the cause of the issue to be unrelated we will give you direction over the phone. Please do not delay on this, as we’ll need to have things figured out within XPO’s 24 hour window to still qualify for a shipping claim. A decision made by the customer without Perfect Plank’s involvement will not qualify for a shipping claim, refund, nor replacement. In the scenario where our office is closed, please mark “DAMAGED” on the delivery receipt to protect yourself. If the issue is a defect in our workmanship we will resolve the situation with you directly and not persue a shipping claim with XPO. A receipt signed Free and Clear (or any other term besides “DAMAGED”) for a shipping related damage will likely result in no claim, refund, nor replacement by Perfect Plank Co.

Shipping Claims/Replacements At this point you’ve notated on the delivery receipt “damaged” and you’ve either refused or accepted a top with some damage. No doubt you’re a little frustrated and looking to get things resolved. E-mail or call our office and we’ll explain the step-by-step process to get the ball rolling! email: perfectplank@att.net telephone: (530) 533-7606 or (800) 327-1961 If we’re remaking a top, the earlier we know the better. If it’s early enough in the week, sometimes we can glue and ship that same week. Damages found later in the week unfortunately can take longer. We’ll do our best in getting replacements out ASAP! If you’re looking to recoup some costs on a product you’ve decided to keep, a claim can sometimes take 3+ weeks to process. We ask for your patience with this process. As soon as  a claim is approved by XPO, we immediately issue and mail a check to the customer’s shipping address. If the claim is deemed unreasonable by XPO and denied, it can either be altered and resubmitted or disputed by the customer.

What should I use to finish my product? This can be a difficult question, as each product used to finish your butcher block top can yield a unique result. For this reason we strongly recommend customers to consult a knowledgeable hardware or paint store associate for a product recommendation and professional finishing advice. Please remember that, regardless of what you choose, you will need to apply protection to all 6 sides of the board. Types of Sealants: How will you be using your block? It’s wise to decide beforehand if you’ll be using your butcher block for food prep. Mineral oil is a very common food-safe finishing option that can be found at hardware stores, drug stores, and even some grocery stores. If not used for food prep, you’ll have a wide variety of finishing options that can alter the color and appearance of the block (ex: tint, glossy, matte, clear, etc). A basic poly-urethane is a good starting point for your research, as this general sealant offers better protection from water rings than a mineral oil. We recommend applying a small amount on the bottom to see how you like the result before sealing all 6 sides. When sealing your wood top, most food-safe oil based products use a two step process: 1. Evenly and generously coat the entire top, using a rag or non abrasive cloth. Apply several coats, allowing at least half an hour intervals for the product to soak into the wood. 2. Wipe away any residual product not absorbed into the wood top using a separate dry rag or cloth. It’s recommended that this process be repeated several times (at least 2-3) to create a sufficient barrier around the block to prevent moisture penetration. With mineral oil, it’s common for the grain to naturally fur up creating a slightly rough surface to the touch.  When this happens, sand paper can be used to smooth these areas out once the block has had time to dry. For this process it’s best to gradually increase quality of sandpaper in stages to your liking. For example, sand to 180, then 220, 320, etc until you reach the desired smoothness. After removing the excess dust, a final coat can be applied (and wiped away) to fill any remaining exposed wood grain. From there on, re-apply every 4-6 months or on an as-needed basis. As time passes, you may find your product won’t need re-application as frequently. Please research the proper preparation and application techniques for your specific sealant(s) before applying, as not all products are applied using the above procedure.  This information can usually be found directly on the container and/or on the product’s website.

Does Perfect Plank offer installation services? Perfect Plank does not offer any installation services at this time. We strongly recommend that a professional (or someone with wood working experience) is involved throughout the whole finishing and installation process. For those who want to attempt the process on their own, there are a variety of DIY videos available on the web that suggest ways to approach finishing and installation.  Attention: Please attempt at your own risk, as Perfect Plank does not endorse nor recommend any specific method shown in online DIY videos.

The video below shows how one Perfect Plank customer transformed a piece of Walnut Butcher Block into a beautiful kitchen island countertop. 

The video below shows how the same customer created a Kitchen Coffee & Wine Bar with another piece of Walnut Butcher Block.

I have an existing order and I (and/or my helper) will be taking time off to accept my delivery. What can I do to make my delivery go smoother? A problem we have recently been hearing about more often is involving customers with limited time off or strict schedules waiting for deliveries coming to find out there were difficulties with their shipments. Some are being notified, while others aren’t notified until it’s too late (if at all). Here are a few tips we’re suggesting for people with limited schedules: All orders that ship via XPO Logistics have a Pro Number that can be used to track it’s location. Perfect Plank sends out Pro Numbers at the end of every week from our PPCO Confirmation e-mail. (Be sure to check your spam folders if you don’t see it). With that information, we encourage you to follow these steps: 1. Use the XPO webpage and track your order with the provided Pro Number. (Links should be provided in the e-mail). Make note of the expected ship date on the webpage. 2.  On the tracking page above your status under “Results”, you will see the city and state of the terminal managing your shipment.  Click the link to show the terminal phone number and address. 3. The date on the webpage is usually the date the package is expected at the terminal and NOT ALWAYS the actual date the package delivers. We recommend calling the terminal with your pro number in hand either the day before or the early morning of the listed date. By doing this you are proactively verifying the package is at the terminal and, in many cases, able to schedule it on a truck for either that day (or whenever the terminal expects it can go). For those who don’t receive this information via e-mail, we’re happy to provide it over the phone. Call our office at 530-533-7606 and we’ll provide you with your pro number and terminal contact number. If requested at the time of your order, XPO Logistics will still call individuals and businesses with regular hours to arrange a delivery date. If you’ve already had an issue with the delivery date being missed and you’re told it will be delivering the following day, an early morning call the next day may help to ensure it gets on the truck. With everything going on, there is no guarantee that these steps will ensure a carefree delivery, but we think they might help. A Reminder: Don’t forget to inspect the packages before letting the driver leave! Click here for more detailed information.   Do I have to ship with XPO Logistics? No, you are able to ship with any provider of your choosing.  If we have shipped with them in the past (and have an account with them) we’ll gladly get you a rate and arrange things on our end with your approval. If we do not have an account with the shipper of your choice, we’ll provide you with all the necessary information and ask that you handle the costs and arrange pick up on your end.  

What’s the deal with these Finger-joints??   A majority of our products sold are “Finger-jointed”, but many people don’t exactly know what that means and why we use them. What is a finger-joint?: Through a technique using specialty knives, the ends of two strips of wood are carved out to join together perfectly (similar to connecting puzzle pieces). Glue is inserted between the two pieces and the pieces are pressed together. Once cured, this process forms a strong bond and usable piece of wood. No metal or supports of any kind are used within the joint; just wood and glue. Shown Above: Finger-jointed Plantation Honduran Mahogany Strip (Actual Finger-joint style may differ depending on Size and Species) Why are Finger-joints used?: The two most common reasons for using Finger- joints in wood products are reducing wood waste and to create custom lengths. Different parts of a tree, when processed through a sawmill, yield a variety of grades of lumber. They can have various grain patterns, minimal or drastic color variation, and a small or large amount of knots and defects all throughout. Rather than purchase an expensive grade of lumber thereby generating a large amount of waste, Perfect Plank purchases quality wood sourced from the exact same trees with these natural defects and color variation left in. Through the Finger-jointing process, defects are removed and color variation is controlled, producing a beautiful wood top while saving wood and money! Sourcing clear material for longer lengths can be challenging. Some trees don’t yield longer boards because they just don’t grow wide or tall enough. Through the Finger-jointing process we take shorter lengths and repurpose them into a usable longer length products. Other Reasons for Finger-jointing Material: -Removes natural stress found in continuous wood strips to increase overall stability. Some woods are so naturally stubborn and curved that they won’t easily glue together as-is without a great deal of processing, patience, and forcing wood into submission.  Cutting and Finger-jointing these species can minimize a great deal of woodwaste and can allow us to match up similar pieces with grain running in the same direction. -Strengthens the product: The glued Finger-joint bond is actually stronger than most woods. By adding Finger-joints we’re increasing the strength of the end product. -Provides us better control over the grade, color variation, and natural defects within the product. How Do Non-Finger-jointed Products Compare? We offer Non-Finger-jointed options in both our Pacific Coast Maple and Plantation Honduran Mahogany products at a higher price due to the higher difficult of sourcing clear longer length material. While a Finger-jointed plank has less overall stress within the product, we can effectively maintain stability of our Non-Finger-jointed products by limiting their maximum lengths to 8ft (96”).