Preserve the identity
Record supplier, delivery date, species description, profile and package identifiers. Compare the received overall dimensions with the order and note damage without blending it into accepted stock. Keep product instructions with the delivery record.
Separate time from condition
Record storage conditions and any moisture measurements with the instrument and method. Do not substitute a fixed number of days for the installer’s review of material and site conditions. Protect labels while keeping the storage arrangement consistent with instructions.
Keep the delivered boards connected to the ceiling plan
Before opening the bundles, compare the delivery with the accepted order: profile reference, actual dimensions, coverage basis, length assortment and quantity unit. Photograph labels and record differences while the packaging still connects the wood to its documents. A nominal board name does not establish installed coverage.
Separate the delivery check from installation readiness. A correct count does not answer whether the material condition, storage or supporting assembly is ready for work. Keep any moisture observations and the measurement method with the received lot rather than relying on a date alone.
A receiving discrepancy should have a disposition
| Observation | Useful next step |
|---|---|
| Different profile designation | Hold the affected material for identity clarification |
| Unexpected length mix | Revisit the joint and cut plan before cutting |
| Visible transit damage | Record affected pieces and supplier response |
| Missing label | Assign a temporary local reference without inventing identity |
| Quantity difference | Reconcile units and recount on a stated basis |
For a fictional ceiling, the total linear footage matches the order but the shipment has shorter pieces than the reflected ceiling plan expected. That is a layout issue even though the total is correct. Check the permitted joint locations and supports before distributing the stock to installers.
Keep accepted and unresolved bundles identifiable in storage. A field change should be reflected in the plan and material record so the finished joint pattern can be traced to the decision that created it.
An overhead coordination study
Two bundles arrive on different days. Keep separate receiving records so one wet package is not hidden behind a single average for the entire ceiling order.
Hypothetical planning example.
Technical context
Wood moisture responds to the surrounding environment; storage and handling affect dimensional change. This does not establish a universal moisture target or waiting period.
USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Moisture and dimensional changes