Buying Lumber

Barndog56

5 year old buck +
My wife and I are replacing our 12 x 16 deck over Labor Day weekend. The big 3 (Menards, Lowe's, and Home Depot) are all the same distance away. It'll have to be delivered as we want to use 16' deck boards to avoid a seam. Price is important, but even more so is getting usable deck boards.

Which store would you trust to deliver quality lumber?
 
Order 20% more than you need, then return the junk after you are done. Standard contractor move around here, the lumber yards are fine with it.
 
The problem there is hauling a 16 footer back to the store in my pickup bed. But I suppose I would find a use for a couple crooked ones somewhere down the line.
 
I agree with ordering extra, BUT issue will be, that if you have no way to take it back yourself, it will cost a bunch extra in returning shipping!
so you can also, just or go and pick it out and just have them deliver what you pick out! might have to talk to store manager , but doubt they will really care, as you picking ordfer saves them from doing it, and it just will get put on side till delivered to you!
same as again if they pulled it!


and also read the label on the wood being used, , typically at MY Lowes, there treated wood is NOT ground contact approved, yet Home depot is?
don;t have any menards near me so cannot say on them at all!
so when I need treated wood I typically always go to home depot, I feel its better grade of pressure treating !
 
One thing to remember is that pressure treated boards inside the stack are often wet, and will bend/twist/crack when they dry. So some of your straight lumber in the store won't be straight when you install it.
 
One thing to remember is that pressure treated boards inside the stack are often wet, and will bend/twist/crack when they dry. So some of your straight lumber in the store won't be straight when you install it.
yes but once you screw it down , it dies stay rather straight has been my experience any how

NOW< pending how long it sits on the side waiting to be delivered, then that's another story LOL
but sure one can work with them to not have it on side too long before delivered and well, put down!

this a good reason why composite decking has some advantage
but the price can be a harder part to swallow up front!
 
The problem there is hauling a 16 footer back to the store in my pickup bed. But I suppose I would find a use for a couple crooked ones somewhere down the line.

Have a sliding window in the back of your pickup? I do in my F150. I've run long boards through the window into the cab. It worked for me for long board transport.
 
My experience with lumber at Menards is ....... terrible; hopefully, others have had a much better outcome. Not much difference between Lowes & Home Depot in price; however, I prefer Lowes. Both are not that much more expensive than Menards, and they will cut boards to specs whereas, Menards will not cut lumber at our store. Menard's chemicals, and specials on tools and other items are frequently hard to beat. If you don't mind messing with rebates, you can save some cash.

P.S. One other aspect of both HD and Lowes; frequently, they have folks who want/need only part of a board (e.g., 3 X 6 half inch plywood) and the customer doesn't want to deal with the excess. Neither company will attempt to sell the residual; in fact, they will give it to you .... so if you need only a couple of small pieces, ask and you might be surprised.
 
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I find Lowes to be spotty. Some days it is picked over and warped and twisted stuff left; at least in the store. I bought a bunch of lumber from Lowes today. I found almost no warped and twisted stuff on the shelf and everything looked great.
 
All of the yards are the same in my experience. I don't know how anyone buys lumber at Lowe's. Ever tried building a house and hauling every stick from an "Indoor Lumber yard". Don't see the attraction. Menards for me, I usually do big projects when the 11% is going on.
 
All of the yards are the same in my experience. I don't know how anyone buys lumber at Lowe's. Ever tried building a house and hauling every stick from an "Indoor Lumber yard". Don't see the attraction. Menards for me, I usually do big projects when the 11% is going on.

I hear you. I have a local lumber yard that I use for large projects. They deliver and unload everything. I have the same issue of having to return some, but they are better than the big box when it comes to that. Most of the projects I do these days are fairly small. I'm building a box blind now. It is only a couple hundred dollars worth of lumber. It was not problem to pick it up on my flatbed trailer and I could select each piece individually. A box blind is about the largest project I'd try this way.

Thanks,

Jack
 
As a contractor, none of our roofing windows or siding would ever come from the box stores but all lumber cones from menards especially treated lumber. I want it as fresh and ridiculously wet as possible since it's still straight at that point. Menards has fastest turn around in this area so it's the "freshest".
Don't have it sitting around drying out prior to install. Get it and use it asap. I generally get it delivered as it's cheaper than burning my time picking and loading it. Don't get a Monday or Tuesday delivery because all those guys that returned the 20 % extra will generally return it Friday sat or sun. Thursday or Friday are better odds of having "straight run" lumber that people haven't tossed around and started drying it all crooked. You'll also be ahead of the game by buying long lengths that the typical homeowner isn't hauling back and forth. 5% extra is the most I ever order extra and the extra goes back to the shop not the store hoping that karma keeps me from getting other people's returns. Imo I think most people would be impressed by lumber quality if yards wouldn't take returns, those returns get sold and returned over and over always ending up on top the piles
 
Barndog, do you not have a local, family owned lumber yard? Or are the box stores your only option? I have HD and Lowes near me, but 90% of the time I use one of 2 family owned stores. Yes, they are a little more expensive. But the customer service is unbeatable. They deliver. Returns are easy. I can call and place an order and they know me by name. My order goes on my account. And it's sitting in my front driveway the next day. I know this isn't really answering your question. For a major project that was going on my house, I wouldn't even think of going with HD or Lowes lumber. Maybe for a a chicken coop.
 
I was just thinking along the same lines as Natty. Maybe I don't realize how blessed I am, but we have 4-5 little family lumber yards around home that are super to deal with. All thinks being equal, I'd way rather deal with those guys. Of course, it depends on how deep into the boondocks you are.
 
When I buy long boards or posts and can't get them installed right away, I store in a shady spot. Will put them on cider blocks on a good smooth surface with more cider blocks on top. This allows them to dry straight. keeping them out of the sun is most important cause they'll warp in a day or two.
 
After doing many decks, Composite decking is your friend. I don’t think you can find quality PT lumber anymore without huge amounts of waste. No waste with composite. 12 by 16 is a small area. PT decking will cost you 500 with waste figured in. Trex will cost 1000 and you’ll be a lot happier in the long run. Well worth it in my opinion for the extra 500. No fighting the boards, no returns, easier install, and no maintainance. Use the hidden fasteners for a good look.
 
Composite is great. But We had a workbench done in our garage/shop at the house. the 16' boards were something like $80 a pop. Looks awesome and will last forever, but that was too expensive for a workbench. Be careful with your Azek or Trex. It can get outta hand in a hurry cost wise.
 
I'd love to have a local lumberyard, but no such luck here. The hardware store has some, but priced for emergency use only!

I wouldn't know where to begin with composite decking, but I suppose I should look into it. Might be hard convincing the wife as we've got wood plank countertops and a wood plank island top. She's a big fan of the natural wood surface.

Thanks to all you guys for the helpful tips.
 
If you go the PT route, then your best bet is to pick it out yourself If you’re not in a big hurry you can kind of monitor the pile at Lowe’s. Wait till it gets way down and they bring in a new batch. But if you only need 20-30 boards you might be okay. Just takes more time as they always put the junk back on top. Leave in a cool place and don’t wait to long to use them. They have Trex right at Lowe’s so you can always look over that option while your there. As to roymunsons post. The Trex I use is around $40 for a 16 ft board. Good quality PT is right around $15 a board. Figure in future maintenance On waterproofing. every 2-3 years to keep it looking good. I’ve found the best thing to use is what they put on log homes. Not the stuff they sell at the big box stores. I’ve had good luck with logfinish.com.
 
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again, keep in mind all treated lumber is not the same quality. there is differences in it,
and I agree composite decking is the way to go if you can afford it , it can save you lot of extra work and maintenance for a period of time, and maybe save you money in the long rug ,to a POINT,
but don't forget it still screws down into treated wood? which over time will /can need replacing!
so its not a once down and forever deal
but it is nice to never have stain or waterproof the stuff LOL

also, not sure where your from, but I see a ton of adds on local craigslist for discounted composite decking, seems many buy in bulk and then sell off to make money, but still cheaper than box stores in my area any how
 
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