When you are ready to order your Castable Refractory, High-Temperature Mortar and Fire Bricks, locate your closest Refractory Dealer with our Refractory Materials Dealer locator or go straight to America’s largest refractory manufacturer - HarbisonWalker International Locations
When ordering Castable Refractory and other Refractory Materials you may have several money-saving pick-up / delivery options – if you know what to ask for. Here are those options ranked from least-to-most expensive.
IN-STORE PICK-UP: Obviously, the least expensive ordering option is to pick-up your refractory materials directly from the manufacturer or refractory dealer. Bring a ½ ton pick-up truck as a pallet of Castable Refractory, Dry High-Temp Mortar and Fire Brick will weigh about 1000lbs x 2 pallets. If you called ahead, your order will most likely be plastic wrapped (if requested) and will be placed into your truck via forklift. Depending on the size / weight of your order, you may need to make 2 trips / 2 pallets depending on the weight-class of your truck.
LOCAL TERMINAL PICK-UP: This money saving option (if available) allows you to pick-up your pallet of materials at the freight forwarder’s local TERMINAL. The fright terminal is basically a hub for receiving freight, sorting then loading freight trucks for local freight delivery. By picking-up your pallet at the freight terminal, you are saving the costs that are associated with Business or Residential Delivery & Liftgate charges (see below). Freight terminals are usually located in or just outside major cities – and they can place your pallet in the back of your truck or trailer. Again, depending on the size / weight of your order, you may need to make 2 trips / 2 pallets depending on the weight-class of your truck.
BUSINESS DELIVERY: Do you work at a business that has a forklift? You might save some coin if you have your pallet delivered to a BUSINESS location and use your company forklift to take your pallet off the fright truck. If you don’t have a forklift, make sure you request a LIFTGATE delivery, but at least you don’t have to pay the Residential portion of the delivery fee. Another bonus – you can have a coworker sign for your pallet so you don’t have to be there personally to provide your Herbie Hancock.
RESIDENTIAL HOME DELIVERY / LIFTGATE: If you just want to have your pallet of refractory materials delivered to your home, this option is for you… but it costs a bit more for that convenience. ALL freight forwarders have an additional fee for RESIDENTIAL and LIFTGATE delivery – on top of their delivery charges. In addition, freight companies are NOT moving companies. They will not drive up dirt roads or take your pallet to your backyard - their job ends at the edge of what the driver feels is your driveway. Also, you or a neighbor will need to be at home to sign for the pallet / delivery (but they will call you the day before delivery to schedule an approximate delivery time).
Damaged Pallet? Take pictures of any damage from several angles and make sure the Freight rep or Driver signs the BOL acknowledging the pallet has been delivered damaged.
Shop around and save some SERIOUS Washington’s!
Firebrick Price | Landscape & Masonry Supply - $3-$3.50 per brick (on avg)
Firebrick Price | Refractory MFGs / Dealers - $5 per brick & up
Suppose “Refractory Dealer A” has great prices on Refractory and Mortar… but their Fire Brick prices are much higher than “Landscape Supply Store B”. Spilt the purchase! You don’t have to buy all of your materials from one location and you can save A TON of dough by shopping around and cherry-picking the lowest-priced items by location.
For example, we purchase our Refractory and High-Temp Mortar from a local refractory manufacturer, but their firebrick prices are $2 more PER FIRE BRICK than our local Landscape Supply. THAT’S $2 MORE FOR AN IDENTICAL FIREBRICK! The Refractory rep may be a nice guy – but I’ll take that $400 savings ($2 x 200 fire brick) and buy from the local Landscape Supply!!!
