In-House Workshop Service
Planing
At John's Urban Timber, every slab is planed right here in our Whitmore Lake workshop — never outsourced. We take pride in preparing each board with precision so it's flat, stable, and ready for your next project.
Our Wood Sources
The slabs we plane come from locally reclaimed logs — salvaged from homeowners, tree services, or customer-supplied wood. We never use commercially harvested lumber. Most rough-sawn slabs begin at 2½″–3″ thick, then are planed down to a smooth 1⅞″–2½″ finish. Custom dimensions are also available upon request.
Precision Planing
Planing ensures your slabs are flat, even, and ready for woodworking. Each piece is carefully leveled and surfaced so it's stable and easy to use — whether you're building furniture, countertops, mantels, or custom projects. Many customers also bring in sentimental logs, such as a family tree or storm-damaged wood, and we treat each board with the respect its story deserves.
Custom Orders
While we don't stock dimensional lumber, we can prepare it through planing and surfacing for larger custom orders. If you have a specific project in mind, we'll work with you to achieve the exact thickness and finish you need.
What You Can Expect
- In-house processing — all planing done at our Whitmore Lake shop.
- Consistent thickness — most slabs finished to 1⅞″–2½″, other sizes upon request.
- Custom options — bring your own lumber for planing.
- Made-to-order — boards prepared to your project specs.
- Sustainably sourced — only reclaimed and recycled wood.
Common Questions