Name: Howarth Timber
Address: Howarth Timber, 29 Doncaster Road, Wakefield, Wakefield
Rating: 4.52

“Howarth Timber Defective Cladding: Catastrophic 10mm Shrinkage & Refusal to Refund THE PROJECT: A large-scale, bespoke garden building/garage replacement (6.5m x 5.5m x 2m, nearly 8m diagonal). Designed and hand-built by myself for a paying client. THE MATERIAL: Tongue & groove (T&G) cladding from Howarth Timber (Doncaster branch), manufactured/treated by their Wakefield branch. Total cladding cost: Over £1,300. With 15 years of professional experience in landscaping and timber construction, my work is method-driven and built to last. Yet after 7 months of exhausting diplomacy, Howarth Timber has completely refused to do the right thing. Here is the exact factual timeline: THE TIMELINE: • October 2025 (Completion): Completed to an immaculate standard. Joints were perfectly tight and flush. Timber was racked out and acclimatised on-site for 3 weeks while protected from rain with an open-ended tarp for airflow. I also custom-built the window frames on the exact same building using stable timber. • April 2026 (The Initial Call): I was shocked to find severe, catastrophic shrinkage across the entire building. This was early spring after a wet winter. Daylight was streaming through the cladding on several levels. The tongues offered zero coverage, breaking the weather seal. Crucially, my custom window frames had not shrunk at all, proving the issue was entirely the cladding. • 8th June 2026 (Site Visit): Doncaster Branch Manager, Neil, turned up an hour late to a meeting scheduled to suit him. He only left the branch after my chase call. Upon inspecting, he stated he “had never seen anything like it.” He measured that the 119mm specified boards had contracted down to 110mm/109mm. British Timber Standards dictate normal seasonal movement is 1mm to 3mm, not a massive 10mm+ failure. • 19th June 2026 (Admission of Fault): Steven from the Wakefield manufacturing branch admitted on the phone that the failure was due to residual moisture left in the timber from an over-saturated pressure-treatment process. They rushed the wood out of the cylinders and sold it wet. Steven explicitly confirmed this cause in writing via email. THE DISPUTE & THE £600 INSULT: Neil asked for a remedial quote to strip and replace the cladding. Once submitted, they backtracked, claimed it was "normal movement," and offered a flat £600 settlement. This didn't cover half the raw material cost, let alone the extensive labor required. Head office backed the branch and tried to blame summer heatwaves, completely ignoring that the damage occurred and was documented back in April. CALLING THEIR BLUFF: In September, I told Neil: “If Howarth truly believes £600 is sufficient, send your own team to do the work. My client will let you, as long as it is returned to the exact same standard I achieved last year.” Neil emailed back: “I will not be able to meet your resolve.” When phoned, Neil admitted he couldn't get the work done for £600, stating: “Because your idea of what is good and acceptable could be different to ours.” A major national merchant refused to fix their own mistake because they admit their yard's workmanship cannot match a professional contractor's standard. He confessed he got the £600 figure because a local yard tradesman "reckoned" he could do it based on a brief description. THE ULTIMATUM: They threatened that if I didn't accept the £600 by the 9th of October, they would retract it entirely. My requests for a full refund on a product clearly not fit for purpose have been dismissed. I didn't want to leave bad reviews, but after 7 months of immense patience, I have no choice. This review is a 100% honest, true, and fully documented account of my experience. If you are a tradesperson, contractor, or homeowner looking to spend thousands of pounds on timber, think long and hard before risking your hard-earned money and reputation with Howarth Timber I can't upload the video here as file to large, but it can be seen on my FB and Instagram page search for Howlin Craftsman”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Howarth Timber Rochdale Branch Manager terrible attitude when it comes to dealing with complaints!. Head Office are no different, made a complaint coming up to 2 months all ignored. Been with this company over 15 years, both accounts will be closed at the earliest!”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 month ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“The timber fencing arrived with two pieces broken the quality of the wood is absolutely shocking .for the price I certainly won't be be ordering anything else through your company Regards Ronald MacLean”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 months ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“The Golden Gravel wasn't Golden”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 months ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Job delayed, due to small tool not in the box of.screws supplied that adapts to drill, and missing corner metal joins , delivered by post days later, rebook person building decking again And I having to do a 24 round trip to another supplier with screws with the bit inside so he could get on with the job , also I was disappointed to see on the invoice you have charged me delivery, when I had spent well over the free delivery over £150. Mark, what would have been a two day job as turned into nearly over a week , when I can get my builder back next week, half done and dangerous, my husband dealt with Howarth's for years and always been satisfied, but let down this time . Regards Carol Pearce (Mrs)”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 months ago

Good morning I'm sorry your project was delayed, one of the items on your order came directly from the supplier Assa Abloy which meant there was a delivery charge for that item, which is why that item came through the post. The rest of your order was free delivery as it was all coming from the Thorne branch. We do value your feedback so I will pass on your comments about the missing tool from the box of screws to the Thorne branch.

Posted 6 months ago

“Will never purchase anything from this company again. Failed to deliver order and no response that was satisfactory”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 months ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Rubbish service. Delivery was going to be longer than stated but I wasn't informed about this until I chased my order up, so project timeline was overdue with extra costs. I would have purchased elsewhere and got the job done on time if I had been informed of delay. Was also fobbed off by a branch manager who sounded like he didn't really give a sh1t. Will not be using this company again.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 months ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Easy enough to order on-line, in my case I chose delivery of a product from my local depot only to be informed after my order was placed and paid for that they didn't stock the item (poor that the on-line sytem allowed this) so I was telephoned and offered an alternative - delivery was therefore dealyed and I was told I'd be rang re delivery next day, I had to ring to a) confirm delivery was happening, and b) to chase up on drop off time - it's hardly a smooth and seamless business model - unlikely i'll use them again”

Helpful Report

Posted 8 months ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Not heard anything about my timber yet, I know it's been Xmas and new year, but why ask for a review when nothing has happened yet.”

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Posted 10 months ago

“Ordered via website to Click & Collect. When I went to pick up my order the items I bought had been sold to someone else and they were now out of stock. Complete waste of time. Won’t use them again.”

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Posted 10 months ago

“Delivery driver decided to leave 12meters of MDF skirting on my drive in the pouring rain, obviously not very smart.”

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Posted 11 months ago

“I will never use this company again”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Ordered items . They took payment and then told me that there was no stock . Annoying as i had bought other items from different supplier to complete job . Never use again”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Item still not received over 2 weeks after ordering was a 3-5 day delivery , called repeatedly and told someone will call me back still no call !! Disgusting customer service”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. At Howarth Timber, we strive to provide excellent customer service and a reliable range of timber and building materials. We take all feedback seriously and would welcome the opportunity to investigate your concerns further. Please contact our team with more details so we can work towards a resolution.

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Still not received the item after 2 weeks”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Order took almost 2 weeks and 4 attempts to deliver. Branch were chasing stock all over, derby and doncaster and when my order came, they dropped off someone elses order which was bundled with mine. Staff at branch were helpful and apologetic but the whole experience was a shambles and extremely amateurish. Not something you expect from an established company.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, this is not the level of service that we would expect you to receive. As with any business that delivers mistake can sometimes be made, but as a company we are always striving to improve, so I will pass your comments on to the branch and I apologise for the inconvenience that this caused you.

Posted 1 year ago

“My wife ordered decking boards on 24/06/25 via the web site which indicated that the boards were wanted were in stock at our local depot. On the 27th I received a call to tell me the boards were not in stock but was offered alternatives that would be delivered within a couple of days. On the 3rd of July I called enquiring about my order to be told that whomever told me that the longer boards were available was incorrect. I was then informed that they would get the boards from another depot on Monday 7th for delivery Tuesday 8th July, needless to say that has not happened, no call from Northwich to inform me - abysmal service from Northwich Depot, i will not be using again!”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Only delivered part of my order. I continually chased for an update on missing items. They never called back with the promised update. I finally cancelled the missing items. Still waiting for a refund for this, over 2 months , 8 emails and 6 phone calls.. I have tried the branch and head office. It took over a month to get a VAT invoice.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, this is not the level of service that we would expect you to receive. If you could let me have your order number please and the branch you dealt with I will get this investigated and resolved ASAP. Apologies for the inconvenience this has caused you.

Posted 1 year ago

“I am still waiting my order from 27th May.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I would review but still haven't received my product? It wasn't even in stock when I ordered and paid? So still non the wiser 3 weeks later when I'll get my stuff.”

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Posted 1 year ago

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Own Driver, Courier
Average Delivery Time	Within 5 Days
On-time Delivery	97%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	Greater than 94%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour

Howarth Timber Reviews

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