Delivery & Lead Times

We deliver across mainland UK using a combination of our own in-house delivery service and trusted pallet couriers, depending on the product. This page explains our delivery charges, lead times, and what to expect. If you have a question about delivery for a specific product, please contact us.

Delivery charges

  • Free delivery on steel sections, RSJs, and playground rubber chippings to mainland UK.
  • Timber products are charged at £25.00 for orders below £300.00, with free delivery on timber orders over £300.00.
  • Prices on our website are shown inclusive and exclusive of VAT where indicated.

We do not currently deliver to Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands. Some remote areas (for example, the Scottish Highlands, Aberdeen, and parts of Cornwall) may require an additional delivery charge or a longer lead time. If this applies to your order, we will contact you before proceeding.

Lead times

Lead times vary by product and location. As a general guide, from the point your order is processed:

  • Most items (steel sheet, chequer plate, box and angle section, timber): 3–5 working days.
  • RSJs / universal beams: 5–10 working days.
  • Playground, rubber & equestrian chippings: 5–15 working days, and longer during busy periods (see the chippings section below).

These are estimates, not guarantees. Free delivery does not mean express delivery — heavier and made-to-order items naturally take a little longer. Early bookings are given priority.

Playground, rubber & equestrian chippings — pallet delivery

Rubber chippings are heavy, bulk-bagged goods delivered on pallets through a national pallet network, separately from our metal and timber lines. Please read the following before ordering.

Lead time: 5–15 working days to mainland UK from the point your order is processed. During busy periods — the spring and summer landscaping season, bank holidays and seasonal shutdowns — delivery can take longer. If your order is time-sensitive, contact us on 01665 497513 before ordering and we'll confirm the current lead time. Lead times are estimates, not guarantees.

How it's delivered: Bulk bags arrive on a tail-lift lorry with a manual pallet truck. Moffett/HIAB offload or loose tipped loads can be arranged for larger quantities on request — please contact us before ordering. You will be contacted during your dispatch week to arrange a delivery day; deliveries take place between 8am and 6pm, and a specific time slot cannot be guaranteed.

Access: The pallet truck needs a flat, level, solid surface — tarmac or concrete — with enough width and clearance for an 18-tonne curtain-sided lorry. Pallet trucks cannot cross gravel, grass, soft ground, rough or broken surfaces, sloped driveways or kerbs. If the delivery point can't be safely reached, the driver will leave the pallet at the nearest safe roadside point. Please tell us about any access restrictions (narrow lanes, gateways, low branches or cables, weight limits) when you order so we can book the right vehicle.

Coverage: Mainland UK only. We cannot deliver chippings to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight or the Scottish Islands. Some Highland and remote postcodes (including AB, DD, DG, HS, IV, KW, PA, PH, TR and similar) may carry a surcharge or a longer lead time — if this affects your order we'll contact you before proceeding.

On delivery: Please be available to receive and check your order. Have suitable help ready to move bulk bags once they've been offloaded — drivers offload to the ground/roadside only. Inspect the goods and report any damage or shortage to us within 48 hours, with photos and your order number, so we can put it right. Risk in the goods passes to you once they are offloaded.

Failed deliveries: If a booked delivery can't be completed for reasons within your control — no one available to receive it, blocked or unsuitable access, or an incorrect address at checkout — the goods are returned to the depot and a redelivery charge will apply.

Please do not book installers or contractors until your chippings have arrived and been checked in full.

Offloading on heavy items

For large, long, or heavy items, you may need to provide assistance to offload at the delivery point, as our drivers are not always able to offload heavy goods alone. Where this applies, it will be made clear at the time of order. Please make sure suitable access and help are available on the delivery day.

Tracking

Tracking is available for smaller items sent by standard courier. It is not available for our metal products (sheet, RSJs, sections) or playground chippings, as these are delivered by pallet courier or our own in-house delivery service. We will keep you updated on these orders directly.

Split deliveries

For logistical reasons, items in the same order may sometimes arrive in separate deliveries, even where combined delivery was expected. This is normal and does not mean any part of your order is missing.

Important: please do not book tradespeople until your order is complete

We kindly ask all customers not to book builders, contractors, or engineers until your full order has been delivered and checked. While we work hard to deliver on time, occasional delays or split shipments can occur due to stock, courier schedules, or product size and weight. To avoid unnecessary costs, please only arrange installation or labour once you have received and inspected your entire order. Rackerman Limited cannot be held responsible for any costs arising from tradespeople being booked before goods have arrived in full.

Incorrect addresses

Please make sure your billing and delivery addresses are correct before placing your order. We cannot be held responsible for orders that fail to arrive due to an incorrect address provided at checkout. If we have made an error, we will put it right at no cost to you.

Bank holidays and seasonal periods

Over bank holidays and seasonal periods, some of our warehouses may not be operating, which can extend delivery times. If you need a delivery estimate for a specific product during these periods, please contact us.

Questions?

If you have any other questions about delivery, please contact us and we'll be glad to help.

Last updated: August 2026