💰 Cheap timber is expensive. Expensive timber is cheap.
A construction manager once told me: “We saved $15,000 on timber costs!” Six months later: “We need $65,000 for emergency repairs.”
Smart procurement isn’t about chasing the lowest price—it’s about minimising the total cost of ownership.
Greenheart’s real economics:
📊 Initial cost: Around 3× standard softwood
⏰ Lifespan: Often 8–10× longer in marine or structural use
🔧 Maintenance: Minimal to none in harsh environments
💡 ROI: Typically turns positive within two years
The long-term math:
Standard softwood: $50/m³, replaced every 5 years = $200/m³ over 20 years
Greenheart: $150/m³, replaced rarely (if ever) = $150/m³ over 20 years
Add to that zero downtime, no replacement disruption, and no reputation damage from premature structural failures.
The timber that fails is always the most expensive.
The timber that endures pays you back every year it stays in service.
What’s your biggest timber cost challenge—initial purchase price or long-term replacement cost? How do you model total cost of ownership in your projects?
Explore a full lifecycle cost comparison for your next project at goldenarrowtimber.com.
