Pallets are built to be reused, and many that come back to a warehouse can go back into service after a repair. Others are not worth the risk. Here is how to sort them.
Usually repairable
- One or two broken or split deck boards
- Loose or protruding nails (they can be hammered flat or replaced)
- A missing bottom board
- Surface stains that do not affect the wood
Retire the pallet
- A cracked, split or rotten stringer, because the stringer carries the load
- Several boards missing on the same side
- Mould, rot or chemical contamination
- Bent or twisted frames that no longer sit flat
Why it is worth sorting
A repaired pallet costs less than a new one and keeps timber in use for longer. A damaged one that stays in circulation can collapse under a load and cost far more than the pallet. Sort by condition, repair what is sound, and replace the rest.
We collect used pallets and buy back sound ones, and our reconditioned range is graded so you know what you are getting. Ask us if you have a stack to move.