Timber Talks – Paul Aitchison

MEET PAUL

A great business is so much more than products and services. People are at the heart of what we do at Bone Timber, and our team sets us apart. Say hello to the dedicated experts making sure you get what you want, where you want, when you want it. 

You may know him as the dynamic Business Development Manager at Bone Timber, always enthusiastic about helping shape your perfect project — and there’s a solid reason that Paul Aitchison is constantly in demand from local builders.

After knocking on the door of Bone Timber as a uni student, 31 years ago, Paul’s built up an impressive career. He understands the timber business as a whole — having worked across sales, stock placement, order management, on the machinery and delving into accounts — but his true talent lies in making sure you get top-notch service.

Paul knows timber like the back of his hand — he’ll make sure you get the right product for the job, all while juggling tight turnarounds and never compromising on quality. In a transactional world, Paul’s genuine care for results and an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, combined with his expertise and longstanding tenure embody Bone Timber’s commitment to excellence.

How do you help South Australian builders?

I’m here for you! People know my urgency about getting things done and wanting to make sure things are right. I’ll always treat people how I want to be treated if I went to a business — and if I wouldn’t buy a piece of timber myself, I’d never expect you to buy it.

We prioritise value — which means quality products, expert advice, top service and prompt delivery. I’ve got a lot of clients who will buy from me because of this — they know they can trust me to deliver on each of these promises.

How do you help customers juggle budget constraints?

We get that people are doing things on a budget, but if I sold you something that’s not fit for purpose and it falls down in six months’ time, I haven’t done you any favours. I like to talk it through with people and I have a duty of care to explain the pros and cons of your options.

It’s also about balancing budget, purpose and your preferences, too. It may even be holding out for another six months to be able to afford the product you really love if you’re going to live at the property. What you choose to do from there is of course up to you, but you’ll always get an honest run-through so you can make an informed decision.

Are customers using more Australian or imported timber?

There’s definitely an influx of imported products coming into Australia, like Danta, Grappa, Merbau, Kapur and Brazilian or Pacific species — but we have many customers who still like and request Australian species. We used to do a lot of Jarrah but the Western Australian embargo means they’re not releasing or felling logs.

Hardwoods, like Black Box, Ironbark, Spotted Gums, suit the eastern seaboard climate because of the humidity, but don’t tend to react to that well with South Australia, because we live in such a dry climate and can get a lot of surface checking and cracking.

Overall, our stock lines have and will continue to grow because we listen to what the market dictates, and we’ll work through any supply issues to ensure you get the right product for your job every time.

How do you stay across so many different products?

I don’t claim to know everything, but I’m always learning and I’ve got a great book that I’ve had on hand since I first did the Timber Development Association course many years ago. Keith Boodle’s second edition book on timber is worth its weight in gold.

It covers various wood species, detailing cubic densities, Janka ratings, and applications both in and above ground. It doesn’t extensively cover BAL ratings for bushfire attack levels, which is important, especially in the hills, but there’s definitely enough there to help assess all the factors and make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

I love playing my part in making sure you nail the choice and walk out happy.