Ask Sir Walter: International Questions
Q: Does Lindal have experience shipping Lindal home packages to countries outside North America?
A: Yes, more than thirty-five years worth. We have shipped homes to most major housing markets in the world.
With our experience, there probably aren't many challenges that could occur in your project that we haven't had to deal with before!
Q: Most of the world uses Metric. Is this a problem for you?
A: No, all of your Lindal home plans will show both Metric and Imperial measurements.
Q: Can you accommodate Letter of Credit or other Trade Finance instruments?
A: Yes, on a case-by-case basis dependent on approval by Lindal's International Department and our bank. We
need to know your request upon the placement of your home package order.
Q: Can I purchase the Lindal home using my home currency?
A: Lindal homes sold to be built outside of North America are sold based in U.S. Dollar; freight terms are "Exworks
Surrey B.C. Canada Plant."
Q: Can we come to Seattle to see your operations before we finalize our purchase?
A: Yes, we are happy to meet with you at our corporate office, which is just 10 minutes away from
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Q: Does the Lindal Lifetime Warranty cover my Lindal home overseas?
A: Yes, we offer the Lindal Lifetime Structural Warranty to homeowners no matter where in the world you are
building.
Q: I live in a Tropical location. Is it possible to have a Lindal home here?
A: Yes. Lindal homes have been built in many tropical areas including Hawaii, Thailand, Malaysia, the Caribbean,
the Philippines and more. Lindal offers a "Tropical Specification" which was originally developed for the Hawaii market. We
have also modified our standard specifications to include more pressure treating and cedar.
Q: I notice that there is not Lindal dealer anywhere near my country. Don't you have a way for me to order a home
from Lindal, or should I try to contact one of your dealers in North America?
A: If there are dealers anywhere in your vicinity, there is no question that contacting one of them is the best way to order
your Lindal home. But the fact is that most of the world has yet to see a Lindal dealership! If you are in an area without a dealer,
please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Q: I am building our Lindal home in a remote area that doesn't have many stores, or the right kind of home supply
products in the area. Can you supply a complete house package to the extent it would be "turn key" ?
A: Yes, we can complement the Lindal home package with as much of the finished package as you need.
(The Lindal package consists of a structural home package and does not typically include the finishing materials, which is usually locally
supplied in North America by the dealer or homeowner.) This finished package could include basics like floor coverings,
cabinetry and plumbing fixtures, or it can be as extensive as Lindal supplying all of the finishings down to the interior
decorations.
Q: Where are Lindal Cedar Homes packages shipped from?
A: Our shipping facility is in Surrey, near Vancouver B.C., Canada. Shipments heading to Asia move by ocean
container from Vancouver. Packages headed to Europe typically move across Canada to the East coast, and then by ship to
Europe.
Q: How do you load a house package?
A: Lindal's shipping facility uses a loading and shipping system forged from 60 years of experience. Our loading
professionals know how to utilize the air bags, pull rods and other shipping devices and techniques to correctly load the house
package to minimize possibility of freight damage.
Q: How long does shipping take?
A: Depending on what country you are in and your proximity to the ports, this can take anywhere from 10 to 45
days or more. The import process can take more time, depending on the country.
Q: How can I estimate the cost of shipping to my building site?
A: Lindal homes are shipped in 20', 40' or 40' High Cube containers. A freight forwarder can provide you with a
quotation for the costs per container or contact us for help.
Q: How many containers will it take to ship my Lindal Home?
A: A rough rule of thumb is to estimate 1,500 sf. (142 sm.) of Lindal design per 40' container. This will give you a rough estimation, but we have learned from experience that we just cannot guarantee how many containers until the house
is actually loaded.
Q: Are there Custom duties or export fees?
A: There are no fees assessed to you for exporting the home package. But, more often than not, there are duties
and/or taxes/fees that you pay when you import your Lindal home package. We suggest you contact a reputable and
experienced Customs Broker in your market to ask for advice on the costs involved to import a "Knock Down Cedar
Home package." Of course Lindal's International department can assist to provide more information.
Q: Our government requires special documentation that is necessary to import the wood into our country. What
should I do?
A: Once you have placed your order and we have a rough timeline for your order, our International department will
be in touch with you and your freight forwarder to determine what will be needed. Having shipped to most markets around the world, there is little that we haven't seen before!
Q: Can Lindal help us find a contractor?
A: We are happy to introduce you to third-party contractors who are in the business of building overseas.
Naturally we can't guarantee a third party's work for you, but we can provide a list of several companies that have built Lindal
packages for other clients, for you to investigate.
