Repair
Requests
Request a free quote for pallet repair in the Baltimore area. We pass your request to partner suppliers, and a supplier follows up with you.
Common Pallet Repairs
Deck Board Replacement
Broken, split, or missing top and bottom boards are the most frequent problem. A partner supplier can replace them with boards of similar thickness and width.
Stringer Repair
Stringers carry the load along the length of the pallet. A cracked stringer may be reinforced or replaced, while a badly split one is often a reason to retire the pallet.
Block and Fastener Repair
On block pallets, loose or missing blocks and protruding nails are common. Re-fastening or replacing them keeps the pallet safe to handle.
Sorting and Regrading
Suppliers can sort a mixed pile into repairable pallets, usable pallets, and ones that go to recycling, so you are not paying to fix pallets that will not hold up.
Repair or
Replace?
Repair tends to make sense when damage is limited to a few boards or fasteners on an otherwise sound pallet, especially for standard sizes you use often or custom sizes that are harder to source.
Replacement or recycling is usually the better route when stringers or blocks are badly broken, the wood is rotted or stained by chemicals, or the repair would cost close to what a used pallet does. A partner supplier can compare both options in your quote.
A few broken top or bottom boards, loose nails, or one or two loose blocks on a pallet that is otherwise straight and solid.
Rot, multiple broken stringers, heavy warping, or contamination from spills. Reusing a pallet avoids building a new one, but only when it is safe to handle.
A Buyer's Guide
to Pallet Repair
What to look at on your own pallets, how repair compares with buying used, and what to tell a supplier.
Check the Damage First
Before you request a quote, walk through a few pallets and look at the stringers or blocks, the deck boards, and the fasteners. Deck boards are the easiest to fix, so a pallet with only board damage is usually a fair candidate. Stringer cracks that run along the grain, blocks that have split or come loose, and boards that are rotted through are more serious.
Also note whether the pallet still sits flat and enters a forklift or pallet jack cleanly. A pallet that rocks or racks out of square may cost more to fix than it is worth. Grade descriptions help here: an A-grade pallet has few repairs, a B grade has had some repairs and may have mixed colors, and a C grade has seen heavier use.
Repair Versus Buying Used
For standard sizes such as the 48x40 GMA pallet, buying used or recycled pallets is often an easy alternative to repair, and the same partner suppliers can quote both. Repair earns its place when you have a stack of pallets you already own, when you use a nonstandard size, or when the pallets are fine apart from a few boards.
Ask for both options in one request if you are unsure. Price depends on grade, size, and quantity, and quotes come from the partner suppliers, so comparing a repair quote against a used-pallet quote costs you nothing.
Export and Special Requirements
If pallets are going overseas through the Port of Baltimore, they generally need to be ISPM 15 heat-treated and stamped, which means holding wood at a core temperature of 56 °C for 30 minutes. Repairing a stamped pallet can change its status, so mention export use in your request and ask the supplier which pallets they can provide for that purpose.
Tell the supplier too if the pallets must be a specific size, if a customer inspects pallets on arrival, or if you need four-way entry. Anything that narrows the spec helps a supplier give you an accurate answer.
What to Include
in Your Request
The more specific you are, the easier it is for a partner supplier to quote.
About the Pallets
- •Dimensions, such as 48x40 or a custom size
- •Wood or plastic, stringer or block, two-way or four-way entry
- •Rough quantity and how often you need repairs
- •ISPM 15 stamp needed or not
About the Job
- •The damage you see: boards, stringers, blocks, nails
- •Whether you want pickup, delivery, or both
- •Your Baltimore-area location, since availability depends on partner suppliers
- •Whether you would consider used or recycled pallets instead
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of pallet damage can usually be repaired?
Broken or missing deck boards, loose or protruding nails, cracked or split stringers, and loose or missing blocks are the common repairs. A partner supplier can tell you what is practical once they see the damage described or photographed.
How is the decision between repair and replacement made?
Generally, a pallet with a few damaged boards is a good repair candidate, while one with several broken stringers, rot, or heavy contamination usually is not. The partner supplier makes that call from the details you send, and a pallet that cannot be repaired may be recycled instead.
Does this site repair pallets?
No. Baltimore Pallets is a referral service. You send a free, no-obligation quote request, and we pass it to partner suppliers who handle the repair work.
Can a supplier pick up damaged pallets and bring them back?
Some partner suppliers offer pickup and delivery. Say in your request that you want pickup, and mention the location and how the pallets are stacked or loaded. Availability depends on the supplier.
Can plastic pallets be repaired?
It depends on the pallet and the damage. Wood pallets are far easier to repair. Cracked plastic pallets are often replaced or recycled instead, so tell the supplier the material and the type of damage.
Can repaired pallets be ISPM 15 stamped?
Heat-treated, stamped pallets carry a mark from an accredited program, and repairs can affect that status. If you ship internationally, tell the supplier up front and ask them what they can provide for export pallets.
How do I get a price for pallet repair?
Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers and depends on the type of damage, the pallet size and grade, and the quantity. Submit the form with those details and a supplier will follow up.
What should I include in a repair request?
Pallet size, wood or plastic, rough quantity, the kind of damage you see, whether you want pickup, your Baltimore-area location, and any photos you can describe. Clear details help a supplier quote accurately.
Should I sort pallets before requesting a quote?
If you can, separate pallets that look repairable from those that are badly broken. It helps a supplier estimate and saves time, but it is not required.