Slab Flattening
Commercial-grade slab flattening for tabletops, counters, bar tops, and live-edge furniture, done on our own equipment in Gainesville, Georgia. Bring your own slab or start with one from our yard.
A Flat Slab Starts With the Right Equipment
A live-edge slab or a wide tabletop blank almost never comes off the saw perfectly flat, and wood continues to move as it dries. CAG Specialty Wood flattens slabs on commercial-grade equipment in our Gainesville yard, taking out cup, twist, and taper so what leaves our shop is a true, consistent-thickness surface ready for finishing or glue-up, not a slab that still needs a router sled session in your own garage.
Most flattening jobs come from customers who bought a slab from us directly, but we also flatten slabs and large tabletop blanks that customers bring in from elsewhere, including slabs that have been sitting and need to be re-flattened before a build. We can pair flattening with planing for a finish-ready thickness, or kiln drying first if the slab hasn't been properly stabilized yet.
From First Call to Finished Wood
Tell us the slab's size
Dimensions, species, and whether it's one of our slabs or one you're bringing in.
Get a flattening quote
Billed hourly, scoped to the slab's size and how much material needs to come off.
We flatten it in Gainesville
On commercial equipment, taking out cup, twist, and taper on both faces.
Pick up, local delivery, or ship
Pair with planing for a finish-ready thickness before it leaves.
Slab Flattening Options and Pricing
Live-Edge Slabs
Dining tables, bar tops, and countertop blanks flattened true on both faces.
Large Tabletop Blanks
Glued-up panels and wide dimensional blanks flattened to a consistent thickness.
Re-Flattening
Slabs that have moved after storage or an earlier drying cycle, flattened again before a build.
Pair With Planing
Flatten one face, then plane to your exact finished thickness in the same visit.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Slab flattening | $150/hour |
| Planing after flattening (optional) | $150/hour, quoted together |
| Kiln drying before flattening (if needed) | Priced separately by method |
Georgia Woodworkers Trust CAG
★★★★★ 4.8 average, 98 Google reviews
"This is an awesome place for people who love to work with wood. I was helped by Kiko and he took his time showing me their stock."
"Kiko was patient and helpful as I selected my lumber. Best customer service I've had at a lumber yard."
"Was completely amazed by the inventory here. Beautiful wood to suit any project and the customer service was incredible."
Our in-house shop in Gainesville, GA, where every slab flattening job is done on our own equipment.
Questions About Slab Flattening at CAG
Do I have to buy my slab from CAG to have it flattened?
No. We flatten slabs and large tabletop blanks that customers bring in from elsewhere, not just material purchased from our yard.
How much material comes off during flattening?
It depends on how much the slab has cupped or twisted. We'll look at the specific piece and give you a realistic estimate before starting.
Can you flatten a slab that's already been glued up into a panel?
Yes, large glued panels and tabletop blanks are flattened the same way as single-board slabs.
Should I flatten before or after kiln drying?
Generally after. A slab that hasn't been properly dried can continue to move after flattening, so we'll advise on the right order for your specific material.
Can you plane the slab to a specific thickness after flattening?
Yes, flattening and planing are often quoted together so the slab leaves at your exact target thickness.
Do you flatten slabs that are already out at a job site?
No, flattening is done in-house on our equipment in Gainesville. Slabs need to come to us or be shipped to us.
Local Pickup, Or Shipped to Your Door
Every order is handled at our shop at 4050 Old Cornelia Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30507. From there, it's your call: pick it up in person, have it delivered locally, or let us ship it to you, wherever you're building.
Communities we serve directly:
Atlanta Savannah Athens Augusta Macon Columbus Rome Dalton Warner Robins Valdosta Albany BrunswickOutside these areas? We ship lumber, slabs, and milled orders nationwide.
Ready to Get Started?
770.869.3377 Request a Quote4050 Old Cornelia Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30507 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Sat by appointment