Timber merchants have been telling of how they were forced to board up their businesses and take emergency measures during the riots that hit the UK.
Some found their insurance did not cover riot damage unless they took out extra cover while in Peckham one merchant stood guard outside the gates.
Nearly all later reported increased sales of sheet materials, but some said the unrest had halted general construction work in their area.
T Brewer & Co, which has branches on the frontline in Clapham, Lewisham and Enfield, said rioters were heading toward the Enfield site, but turned away at the last minute.
Co-owner Keith Fryer said: “The main disruption has been to our customers who have not been able to work because staff could not get in or had to leave early to get home safely.
“We have a plan to deal with emergencies – security backup such as moving all the vehicles away – and we undertook extra backup for data security.”
Mr Fryer reported a brief, but marked upswing in sales of plywood and OSB. “The damage looked huge in the newspapers and it was terrible for those people, but in the overall scheme of construction in London, it’s a very small amount.”
Whitten Timber in Peckham remained open despite rioting 200 feet from the gate. Director James Whitten said: “The police hadn’t been round to us to give any advice so we stood guard outside the gate. Being open we sold loads of 18mm plywood. Our daily sales were up 20%.”
A spokesman for the former Castle Timber, now rebranded under Jewson, said sales of plywood and OSB at its south and north London branches went through the roof, along with ironmongery. “I think 400 sheets went through the door in no time.”
A spokesman for FulhamTimber Merchants in Brixton said the company boarded up and closed early. “We have not seen any increase in sales, in fact it has been quiet. No one is working, I think it has just knocked everyone’s confidence.”
The Brixton branch of Howdens Joinery, was also unaffected. “The area manager called and said we should close early and go home. When we came back everything was OK,” a spokesman said.
